Silver, Gold, Platinum, Palladium - Which Precious Metal Suits Your Piece?

The choice of metal determines the look, weight, price, and longevity of a ring. Here are the key differences from a workshop perspective.

Yellow Gold 585 / 750

The classic. 58.5% or 75% fine gold, with the remainder being silver and copper. Warm-toned, low-maintenance, and easy to work with. It develops a light patina over time - something many people actually appreciate.

White Gold 585 / 750

The same gold content as yellow gold, alloyed with palladium and other elements. Because of the high gold content, white gold doesn't achieve a bright white tone on its own – so it's typically rhodium-plated at the end. The electroplated rhodium layer can wear off over time and should be renewed when it does. Anyone who'd rather avoid that maintenance should consider platinum or silver instead.

Platinum 950

Denser than gold (21.4 g/cm³ versus 15.6 g/cm³ for Gold 750), which makes it noticeably heavier to wear. Over time it develops a matte patina that's widely regarded as a mark of quality.

Palladium 950

Visually similar to white gold. Lighter than platinum (12 g/cm³), and currently priced at a similar level.