Choosing the right type of ring?

When you start to look at rings whether that is engagement rings, wedding rings or fashion rings, there is such a wide choice including the metal it is made from. So, how do you select the best ring for you or your loved one?

At GEM Pawnbrokers, we deal in all precious metals and will offer advice on the best ring for you or your loved one. To help we have created this guide on the most common metals used in making rings.

Platinum is a great choice for rings to be worn all the time and for a lifetime.

Platinum is a very popular choice because it is designed to be hardy and retain its natural sheen, so they don’t fade or alter in colour. Platinum is also naturally hypoallergenic.

Palladium is a good choice for durability and lower maintenance.

Palladium is a form of platinum that is particularly hard-wearing and will not require re-plating and can’t be tarnished. It is a natural white colour like platinum, but it is more affordable.

Gold offers a variety of choice and versatility.

White gold rings tend to be rhodium plated to protect them and give a beautiful shine; however, this can be eroded over time and they can eventually need re-plating.

Yellow gold is often a more traditional choice and depending on the carat level the colour and hardness of the ring will vary.

Rose gold offers distinction and can be used to offset other colours in combined rings. Its hardness varies depending on the level of carats like yellow gold.

Titanium is great for those needing a more hard-wearing ring or with metal sensitivities.

Titanium is an incredibly strong metal that is durable in comparison to many other metals and is hypoallergenic. Titanium is distinctive because it is slightly darker in colour and is lighter than other metals.

Zirconium offers strength and in lightweight metal.

Zirconium offers very similar properties to titanium providing a similar strength and is hypoallergenic. It has a grey to white colour and if heat treated it can be black which is scratch resistant.

Tungsten Carbide is good for those that need scratch-resistant rings.

Tungsten Carbide is a very strong metal which is resistant to scratches but can suffer from fractures if hit on a hard surface due to the brittleness of the metal. It is a hypoallergenic metal which is heavier than other metals.

Silver is most suited to fashion or occasional use rings.

Silver is a common jewelry metal as it is versatile and malleable as well as fairly inexpensive. It is less hard-wearing and probably not the most suited to rings that are worn all the time.

Steel is good for those with a smaller budget or fashion rings.

Steel is not as common for rings because it is not a precious metal like many of the others, but it offers durability, scratch resistance and is hypoallergenic whilst accessible to those with a smaller budget.