3 Interesting Facts about the Traditional Wedding Ring
GETTING MARRIED? Designer White or Yellow Gold Wedding Rings, versus Designer Platinum Wedding Rings- confused?
Is there such a thing as the ‘traditional’ wedding ring?
In the UK and America, we have become accustom to the classic gold band/diamond combination but have you ever stopped to consider other unique options?
Asia
Consider Wedding Rings in Asia. While many countries across the continent opt for gold, they tend to purchase pure yellow gold, usually of 22 and 24 carat whereas western countries tend to select lesser purity for hard-wearing. This purer gold has some ties to religion in Asian countries.
India
In India, the same calibre of gold is used for Wedding Rings, but this is for more symbolic reasons. For Indians, gold is linked to superiority, beauty and attractiveness and according to tradition, the higher the carat, the happier the bride will be in her marriage. A higher gold content is also considered to be longer lasting and so by investing in longer-lasting gold, the belief is a longer-lasting marriage.
Differing Entirely from Traditional Gold
Differing entirely from traditional gold the Native Americans use materials and symbols that have powerful links to their culture. Wedding Rings are almost always made from silver and decorated with semi-precious stones or natural materials such as red coral, shells and turquoise. Just because it isn’t made from the purest gold or the rarest diamonds does not mean to say that your wedding ring is of lesser value, sentimentally.
If you are trying to decide on a Designer Engagement and Wedding Ring, then the following article may be helpful to you
The fact of the matter is that yellow, white gold and platinum have their own unique properties and hence benefits. By and large, these are not explained too well to prospective buyers, but we are here to help
HARDNESS vs MALLEABILITY???!!!
Two properties of metals that aren’t well understood by the jewellery industry as a whole and by jewellery consumers are HARDNESS and MALLEABILITY. Put simply, hardness refers to a metal’s resistance to scratching and denting. A hard metal, just like diamond, the hardest material known, will be resistant to scratches, whilst a soft metal will scratch easily.
Malleability refers to how easy a metal is to bend and turn into different shapes without breaking. A malleable metal will bend easily, whilst a brittle metal will not bend easily.
Whilst it may be true that platinum is harder than gold in its purest form, 18kt white gold is mixed with other metals, most commonly palladium, silver and copper to make it harder. This results in 18kt white gold being harder than platinum alloys, which are most commonly 95% platinum. On the other hand, platinum is more brittle than white gold, and is hard to bend and hammer into shape.
What the hardness and malleability of white gold and platinum means in real life is that a platinum ring will be easily scratched and dented, but will hold diamonds and other gemstones more securely, as platinum is less prone to bending due to its brittleness. However, to get the best of both worlds, we have been encouraging our clients to buy rings with a platinum setting and a white OR YELLOW gold band. This results in a more secure setting for the centre diamond, whilst the gold band results in less scratches and dents.
Platinum’s softness versus white gold is also the main reason why we don’t recommend platinum for mens’ wedding rings.
DENSITY AND WEIGHT
Platinum alloys are about 20% denser than white gold. This results in a ring that feels more substantial, and thus more luxurious, even though it may be very fine.
Platinum is more difficult to work with, and often needs a jeweller with experience to produce a good job. Therefore, the labour cost is roughly 20% more than with white gold. Platinum can not be re-used and re-melted like white gold. Therefore, any scraps and filings must be sent to a refiner which is very expensive.
For me the ideal engagement ring for longevity is a white or yellow gold band with a platinum setting and I hope this article explains why.
How can we help?
We specialise in design of one-of-a-kind bespoke jewellery. We can help you express your love to the one in your life in the most unique way possible. We can even help you combine your old jewellery to create new preserving some of your old memories and giving them a new life.
Contact us today and allow us to help you pop the question in the most romantic and meaningful way possible.
Contact us today Email: helen@hswanjewellery.co.uk. Phone: 0141 959 5586
Helen
Written and researched by Hazel Martin for Helly and Haz of Helen Swan Designer Jewellery>
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