Some people find choosing gifts even for the most mundane of occasions difficult so imagine being faced with the task of picking the perfect engagement ring. You might make it easier (emphasis on easier and not just easy) by choosing a classic diamond engagement ring but with so many fabulous ring designs featuring stones other than diamonds, you might not want to be restricted by tradition.
Unless you want to spend hours browsing through thousands of engagement rings in jewelry stores and online, you can make a decent start by deciding on some specifics and eliminating some criteria to narrow your search options.
The first decision you can make is the choice of metal for the ring. The choice of metal can be quite straightforward when you know what the options are. It's not just a case of gold. Anyone who has not bought or taken much notice of jewelry may not realize that gold isn't the only precious metal from which rings are made nor that there is only yellow gold.
Although numerous materials and alternative metals have been introduced to wedding band construction, when it comes to engagement rings, precious metals still rule. Mainly, four jewelry metals are used for engagement rings: gold, platinum, palladium and sterling silver.
Gold
The most common choice for engagement and wedding rings, although in recent times, white gold has taken over yellow gold as the most popular choice for engagement rings. There is also a greater choice in rose gold engagement rings.
The purest form is 24K gold but yellow gold is soft and easily bent and scratched so it is always an alloy with other metals including copper, silver and platinum. The most durable gold is 10K but it also has the lowest gold content.
White gold is an alloy of 75% yellow gold with 25% zinc and nickel (marked as 18K). It was originally developed to imitate platinum, the rarest of the white color metals. Some jewelers prefer 14K white gold which contains 58.5% pure gold. White gold retains its shine longer if rhodium plated.
Rose gold is an alloy of yellow gold with copper usually in the ratio of 75 : 25 (which translates to 18K gold). Rose gold is more durable than yellow and white gold.
Platinum
One of the rarest metals in the world, platinum is one of the strongest precious metals. It is even used to make prongs to hold stones in rings made from other metals. Its rarity increases the price tag but the payoff is its longevity and durability and there is no need to ever have it replated to restore its color or shine.
Palladium
With less of a scarcity factor influencing availability and price, palladium is a cheaper alternative to platinum. It has the same white hue and shiny, mirror-like finish as platinum and it's lightweight and comfortable. The downside is that it is not as durable as platinum and shows scuffs and scratches more easily.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper or zinc. Sterling silver is used for jewelry because pure silver (which is 99.9% silver) is too soft.
Silver has a beautiful moonlike, white hue and is the cheapest of the jewelry metals. It is ideal if someone has a gold allergy or cannot afford the other precious metals (some people buy a sterling silver engagement ring with a view to being able to replace it with a gold one later in life). It does scratch easily and needs regular cleaning to prevent tarnish.
Other metals that might be considered are titanium and tungsten although these are less common in engagement rings. They are more popular for wedding bands, and more especially for men.
Choosing a Metal
There are plenty of different factors to consider when it comes to choosing a metal for engagement rings, from the look of the metal itself to whether or not it is going to suit the choice of stone to the lifestyle of the wearer who is going to be wearing it every single day and so on.
One way to choose is to look for the majority color of the jewelry your ring's intended recipient already owns and wears - this is a sensible option.
Remember diamonds look fabulous in any of the precious metals as do the other gemstones, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. If you are going to choose a semi-precious stone, you may need to be more circumspect about the metal of the setting and band.
So, here are five of the best tips for how to make your most excellent choice from the popular types of wedding ring metals and hopefully, the perfect diamond engagement ring.
1. Consider The Recipient's Lifestyle
One of the biggest factors in deciding on a metal choice should be the kind of lifestyle led by the person who is going to be wearing the ring. If your partner lives a very active daily life with lots of movement and action, then the sensible option is a durable metal like palladium or a superb platinum ring. Both these metals are prized for their incredible strength and resistance to wear and tear.
If life is more of a regular pace, the world of engagement rings in the most popular metal choice is totally open to you. soft metal options like gold and silver.
2. Consider Your Budget
Budget is a crucial factor in selecting the metal for an engagement ring. No one should entertain going into serious debt for the sake of a single piece of jewelry no matter how significant that jewelry is.
Platinum is the least affordable engagement ring metal and sterling silver is the cheapest. 14K and 18K gold are more affordable alternatives.
Metal choice is not the only cost driver so it pays to browse within your price range. For example, you can sacrifice the center stone size in favor of the strongest metal if that is more important to you. You might find, however, that in your intended fiance's mind, the style of the ring and the size of the stone are more important than the color of gold.
3. Consider Skin Sensitivity
People react differently to anything on their skin so there are people who are allergic even to valuable metals. If your partner is prone to allergic reactions from certain types of metal, then you need to pick a smart option and choose an engagement ring that suits sensitive skin.
Generally, in ranking order, the metals that cause the least allergic reactions are platinum, titanium, high-karat yellow gold and sterling silver.
4. Consider Color Preferences
The different metals have distinct colors, even in similar hues, that can affect the appearance of your chosen engagement ring. For example, platinum is naturally extremely white, with a highly polished mirror-like finish and will never tarnish, while gold ranges from cool and shiny white gold, through blushing rose to warm yellow gold. Palladium has something of a similar appearance to platinum but is a slightly darker metal.
One way to choose, popular among people who like color theory and color matching principles is to consider skin tone. Metal colors can enhance certain undertones in the skin.
Cool skin tones look best with bright and silvery i.e. the white metals (white gold, platinum, palladium and silver).
Warm skin tones are best suited to yellow gold and rose gold, the warm-colored metals.
The most versatile, suiting the whole range of skin tones, is rose gold.
Then, there is always the option of choosing a ring with a variety of metals. A mix of yellow and white or yellow and rose, or even all three enable some really stunning designs that meet multiple criteria.
5. Consider Maintenance And Care
The different metals require different levels of maintenance and care. Platinum, for example, is known for its extreme durability and requires minimal maintenance. Palladium too is easy maintenance although less durable than platinum.
Anyone choosing gold for engagement ring should know there is some upkeep required to maintain that brilliance shine. Periodical cleaning is suggested and also, after a time, it may need to be replated to bring back the color and gloss.
Sterling silver engagement rings will require the most maintenance. the least durable of all the precious metals, it needs regular cleaning to prevent tarnishing and also does not perform well under stressful conditions. It's best avoided if the wearer puts their hands through rigorous activities.
Choosing a Stunning Diamond Ring
If you're ready to find your perfect engagement ring, browse the stunning collection at Moyen & Co. We have a wide range of rings in various precious metals and diamonds and other gems and all designs from super-contemporary and vintage-inspired to classic styles. No matter what the personal style of the intended recipient is, we can guarantee you'll find something you love among our pieces of jewelry
