Diamond Searchers

Posted by diamondjim on Thursday, 23 July, 2009 @ 4:32 pm

There are different types of precious metals that are used to make fine jewelry. Jewelry is made out of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Most people have a preference with gold or white when it comes to the color of metal they want in their jewelry.

Gold has a long history and has been used for thousands of years for ornamental decorations and jewelry. 18K and 14K gold make up a majority of engagement rings. The capital letter K stands for karat and is how the amount of pure gold is measured in a ring. 18K gold consists of 75% gold and 25% other metals, such as copper and silver. 14K gold consists of 58% gold and 42% of other metals including copper and silver.

The reason gold is mixed with other alloys is because it is too soft for jewelry otherwise. 18K and 14K both make for stylish jewelry. Rings that are 14K gold are usually less expensive; however, the 18K gold will have a brighter yellow color and will be more durable and valuable. If you are looking for the gold with a silver look you can choose 18K or 14K white gold.

If your loved one prefers white jewelry you can choose between white gold, palladium, or platinum. Platinum is very expensive metal, but one of the most durable metals. Platinum is one of the rarest and most sought after of all the precious metals.

To give you an example of how rare it is; all of the platinum ever mined would fit in the average living room. The platinum jewelry process takes 10 tons of ore and five months to make just one ounce of platinum. Platinum is very strong and heavier than gold and will not wear away or wear down.

Palladium is an excellent choice when it comes to choosing a metal for a ring, because it has many of the same qualities as platinum but it is much cheaper. Palladium is a member of the platinum metals group and for a long time it was not separated from platinum.

Palladium jewelry is continuing to become a popular choice for making fine jewelry. It's lightweight and has a white luster that is even brighter than platinum, believe it or not. Palladium is starting to be the new trend in jewelry and is quickly catching up to platinum. With the skyrocketing prices of Platinum choosing Palladium is a smart choice. It is lighter and is also a natural white metal at a much more affordable price.

If you are environmentally aware you should look for fine and reputable jewelry stores that use recycled metals in their jewelry. Jewelry made out of recycled metals are just as beautiful and have high quality, but not harmful to the environment. A lot of our natural resources are used up mining for precious metals. Using recyclable metal is a way to spare our environment and allows you to purchase a fine piece of jewelry at the same time.

Article from DanforthDiamond.com, a leading authority on loose diamonds, affordable engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

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Posted by diamondjim on Sunday, 19 July, 2009 @ 9:39 pm

Wedding rings are available in a number of metals. Some metals such as white gold, yellow gold, platinum or silver have always been traditional metals; however there are now newer metals of wedding rings that are becoming just as popular.  Dual metals or two-toned metals in wedding rings are also very common and very beautiful .

Choosing the right type of metal for wedding rings for men or women has a lot to do with what your personal tastes are in jewelry and what typical metals you wear. If a couple wears mostly gold, then sticking with gold wedding rings makes sense. If they prefer silver, there are more metal options.

One very popular new metal used in wedding rings for both men and women is titanium. Titanium wedding rings come in a wide range of styles from classic bands to inset diamonds or other gems or even carved or sculpted rings, often in Celtic types of designs.

An interesting feature with titanium wedding rings and bands is that the titanium can actually be permanently colored. This is typically done by oxidizing the titanium to the desired color for a permanent change in the chemical composition of the metal. These rings are very unique in coloration and can range from blues to reds and colors in between .

Other options for metals for wedding rings include the palladium, a relatively new durable metal that is lighter in weight than titanium. Palladium rings are not common but are quickly becoming very popular due to their spectacular finish and sheen.

Yellow and white gold wedding rings for men and women will always be classic and in style. Many of the bands are now inlayed with other metals to provide intricate and beautiful designs, with or without the addition of diamonds . Gold wedding rings come in different types of gold ranging from 14 to 24K. The higher the number the more pure gold is in the band. While the more pure the gold the richer looking the band will be, the softer it will also be. For those that are planning on wearing rings all the time and do a lot of work with their hands a lower 14k band will stay looking beautiful much longer .

White gold and silver wedding bands are also very popular both historically as well as currently. Silver is popular with sculpted bands and wedding rings, with many traditional styles of Celtic or cultural rings often made in silver. Silver and white gold wedding rings are both durable as well as easy to maintain and keep looking beautiful . 

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Posted by diamondjim on Thursday, 16 July, 2009 @ 9:07 am

Wedding rings are available in a number of metals. Some metals such as white gold, yellow gold, platinum or silver have always been traditional metals; however there are now newer metals of wedding rings that are becoming just as popular.  Dual metals or two-toned metals in wedding rings are also very common and very beautiful .

Choosing the right type of metal for wedding rings for men or women has a lot to do with what your personal tastes are in jewelry and what typical metals you wear. If a couple wears mostly gold, then sticking with gold wedding rings makes sense. If they prefer silver, there are more metal options.

One very popular new metal used in wedding rings for both men and women is titanium. Titanium wedding rings come in a wide range of styles from classic bands to inset diamonds or other gems or even carved or sculpted rings, often in Celtic types of designs.

For a really different appearance to wedding rings, titanium provides a highly reactive metal that can be selectively oxidized to produce a variety of colors. These colors range from reds to blues and are permanent within the metal of the ring. Wedding rings with oxidized titanium are very unique and very eye catching.

Other options for metals for wedding rings include the palladium, a relatively new durable metal that is lighter in weight than titanium. Palladium rings are not common but are quickly becoming very popular due to their spectacular finish and sheen.

Inlayed designs, gems or diamonds can be added to the elegant and classic gold or white gold bands for a more elaborate design. Since these bands are very traditional they are always in style and always beautiful. Choosing the right type of yellow gold is an important consideration for wedding rings, especially those with the larger, wider bands. The higher the karat of the ring, especially at the 24k level, the easier the band can scratch. This is because the purer the gold the softer it is. Lower karat rings may be easier to maintain and more durable .

For a silver color ring, traditional metals include white gold and silver. Often silver is used in the very ornate wedding rings and bands, especially those that are sculpted. Since silver and white gold wedding rings are easy to maintain and keep beautiful, they are also considered to be timeless and classic. 

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