Gold Wedding Rings

Gold is the most popular metal for engagement and wedding rings, currently and throughout history. While the traditional choice has been yellow gold, white gold is frequently chosen as well. Gold is not only beautiful but durable and long-lasting, making it a perfect choice for wedding jewelry. It can be worn by both men and women and is available in varying colors and levels of purity.

GOLD QUALITIES: Pure gold is a warm, golden yellow color. In it's pure form, gold is too soft to be used for engagement and wedding rings. Gold is alloyed with other metals to increase its strength and durability. Because gold is alloyed with other metals, it can also be made in a variety of colors. Gold alloys are very durable and beautiful choices for engagement and wedding rings.

GOLD PURITY: Gold purity is measured in karats (kt), a unit of measurement used to define the proportion of gold in the gold alloy. Pure gold is measured as twenty-four karat (24k) gold. A higher karat measurement in gold content indicates a higher value of the jewelry item. Gold jewelry should always be stamped with the karat mark. When choosing gold for wedding rings, the best choices are fourteen karat gold or eighteen karat gold.

Eighteen karat (18k) gold is 18 out of 24 parts gold, or 75% gold, and will be stamped 750 or 18k.

Fourteen karat (14k) gold is 14 out of 24 parts gold, or 58.5% gold, and will be stamped 585 or 14k. Fourteen karat gold is the most common gold purity used for jewelry in the United States.

In the United States, the legal limit for the alloy to still be considered gold is 10 karat, which is only 41.7% gold, and will be stamped 417 or 10k.

CARATS AND KARATS: What’s the difference? A carat is a unit of weight for gemstones, including diamonds. A karat is a unit of measurement for the purity of gold.

GOLD COLOR: Yellow gold is the most common color, and is an alloy of gold usually combined with copper, silver, and zinc. White gold is an alloy of gold combined with silver, nickel, palladium or zinc. White gold is not “white”, but rather a “whiter” gold than yellow gold. Rose (pink) gold is an alloy of gold and copper. The saturation of color varies from piece to piece and according to gold content.

WHITE GOLD QUALITIES: In the United States, the jewelry industry predominately uses nickel based white gold. Most times nickel based white gold is finished with a rhodium overlay to give it a bright, silver luster. Rhodium, one of the metals in the platinum family, is very hard and very durable. Over time the rhodium layer may wear off, but a new rhodium layer can be put on by a jeweler if needed. Rhodium plating is such a standard process of white gold, that it is often not even mentioned by jewelers. If you want to know, make sure you ask the jeweler. Rhodium plated rings can be difficult and costly to resize.

In Europe, palladium based white gold alloys are more popular. Palladium based white gold alloys are often not rhodium plated. It is not as white in color as rhodium plated white gold, but it also does not have to be replated with time. It is also less susceptible to tarnishing and discoloration from exposure to household chemicals.

WHITE GOLD HISTORY: White gold alloys were developed in the 1920's as a less expensive alternative to platinum, which was a new and popular jewelry metal. Several different formulas based on gold-nickel-palladium were used to meet the demand. During WWII, the use of platinum and nickel for non-war related items was not allowed, leaving only palladium based white gold alloys. Palladium based white gold alloys are denser, heavier, not as white, and more expensive than nickel based white gold alloys. After the war, the lower cost nickel based white gold emerged as the dominant choice of the jewelry industry.

GOLD CARE. To clean gold jewelry, use warm water, mild soap, and a soft bristled brush. After cleaning and rinsing, dry and polish the gold with a soft cloth. Jewelry polishing cloths will polish out light scratches and shine the metal. When not wearing your gold jewelry, store it safely by wrapping it in a soft cloth or putting it in a fabric jewelry pouch. Keep gold jewelry free from dirt, moisture, perspiration and makeup.

Gold is lasting and durable, but it can get scratched or dented with rough treatment. When doing rough work, it is best to remove your jewelry. Gold jewelry should not come into contact with chlorine and other harsh chemicals. Gold’s worst enemy is chlorine. Repeated exposure to chlorine can weaken gold’s structure, causing it to get brittle and eventually break. Do not wear gold in swimming pools or jacuzzies. Always inspect your gold jewelry for weakness or damage. If needed, it can be taken to a professional jeweler for repair.