A Guide to Jewelry Metals
From timeless gold to modern alternatives — understanding your metal is the foundation of choosing jewelry that lasts.
A free informational reference guide to the types of jewelry metals — their properties, compositions, and what makes each one the right choice for your piece.
Gold
An enduring element found naturally in a distinct yellow color. Gold has an extraordinary heritage with unique qualities. Gold is resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion. Although gold is very strong, it's also the most malleable of all precious metals.
Pure gold is too soft for everyday wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability.
Yellow Gold
Pure gold blended with copper and zinc for a warm, bold hue.
White Gold
Pure gold combined with nickel, zinc, or palladium for a silvery tone.
Rose Gold
A pinkish-red hue achieved by mixing copper and silver alloys.
Durability
Alloyed for everyday wear while maintaining timeless beauty.
Silver
Relatively soft and very malleable. Pure silver, also called fine silver, is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.
Although any metal can make up the 7.5 percent non-silver portion of sterling, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be its best companion, improving the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful color.
Platinum
This metal will last forever, making it the ultimate symbol for true, enduring, and everlasting love. Platinum is durable — its density makes it the most secure setting for your diamond or precious gemstone.
Because platinum is a naturally white metal, re-plating is unnecessary. It will always hold its beauty, making it the preferred choice for engagement rings and fine jewelry meant to last a lifetime.
Palladium
Palladium is a rare precious metal, treasured for its brilliant silver-white surface that can be polished to a high mirror-like shine. Palladium wedding rings are extremely durable and resistant to tarnishing, extreme heat, and exposure to many types of chemicals.
The strength of palladium makes it a preferred metal, along with platinum, for use in ring settings.
Tungsten
Tarnish-resistant with a substantial feel in weight. Tungsten is nearly impossible to scratch or wear down, so even the most delicate details are well-defined and polished after years of wear.
Four times harder than titanium, tungsten retains its polish longer than almost any other metal. A practical and beautiful choice for those who work actively with their hands.
Cobalt
A bright white metal that is highly scratch resistant. Made from a highly durable alloy, cobalt is four times harder than platinum while at the same time less dense. Because of its natural hardness, cobalt jewelry is extremely scratch, chip, and corrosion-resistant.
Its lower density and natural malleability allow for strong, dynamic designs with less weight. Cobalt is also hypoallergenic, making it an ideal choice for those with sensitive skin or an active lifestyle.
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Our team is here to help you choose the right metal for your lifestyle and your moment. Book a personal consultation at our Granger location.
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