Precious and non-precious metals are highly regarded due to their rarity, aesthetic appeal, and immense demand. These metals come with unique features and specifications, offering a diverse range of metal rings to cater to various preferences.
In this article, we’ll delve into the distinctive attributes of different metals used in ring-making, including cost considerations. Let’s explore!
Types of Metal Rings
As jewelry experts, we understand that selecting the ideal metal ring can be challenging. Therefore, we’ve created this guide to help you choose the metal that best suits your needs.
Rings Made of Precious Metals
Gold Rings
Gold stands as one of the most cherished metals worldwide, symbolizing luxury and wealth due to its timeless beauty and enduring value. While it’s renowned for its golden-yellow hue, gold is also available in white and pink shades.
Gold purity is measured in karats—the higher the karat number, the purer the gold. The most common gold karats are 24K (pure gold), 22K, 18K, and 14K.
Choosing a gold ring is classic and timeless. Gold’s resistance to tarnish and corrosion ensures long-lasting jewelry. Additionally, its flexibility allows for a variety of intricate designs.
Gold rings can be plain or adorned with gemstones, suitable for any occasion or daily wear. Our casual jewelry collection can effortlessly enhance your style. Browse our golden rings to find your favorite piece.
Keep in mind that gold prices fluctuate due to various factors such as market demand, economic conditions, and gold purity. Currently, our gold rings are priced between $189 and $309.
Platinum Rings
Platinum, a rare metal with an eye-catching white-silver appearance, is both strong and brilliant in shine. Like gold, it is considered a luxurious metal, often chosen for its resistance to corrosion and tarnishing—attributes that make it perfect for fine jewelry.
Platinum rings boast elegance and durability, making them popular choices for engagements and weddings.
One of the key benefits of platinum rings is their hypoallergenic nature, making them ideal for individuals with sensitive skin.
Platinum is exceptionally rare, being the third densest metal in its group on the periodic table. It is 30 times rarer than gold and found in limited locations such as Russia and South Africa, contributing to its higher price range.
Silver Rings
For those who favor silver rings over gold or platinum, you’re in luck—silver rings are more affordable, versatile, and readily available. It’s no surprise that JewelryLab’s sterling silver rings are best-sellers.
With silver, a wide range of designs can be crafted—from minimalist to intricate patterns. Its ductility and malleability make it easy to shape and decorate with gemstones or engravings.
While silver rings are more prone to tarnishing and scratching compared to platinum, regular maintenance and cleaning can keep them in good condition. Nevertheless, silver remains durable and can withstand daily wear.
Given its abundance, silver is less expensive than gold and platinum. Our silver rings are priced around $150.
Rings Made of Other Metals
Stainless Steel Rings
This non-precious metal has gained popularity for its modern look and natural silver color. Stainless steel is composed of a blend of iron, chromium, and occasionally nickel, making it a hard and durable material.
It is easy to work with and…
allows us to craft engravings and intricate patterns. Its molten state makes it highly customizable and blendable with other metals.
Being harder than gold, silver, and platinum, stainless steel rings possess a notable resistance to tarnishing, corrosion, and scratching.
Compared to precious metals like gold, platinum, and silver, stainless steel jewelry is more economical, making stainless steel rings a budget-friendly option.
Titanium rings
Titanium, a lightweight alternative metal, has gained substantial popularity in the jewelry industry. Jewelry designers favor titanium for its flexibility and ease of handling.
It’s not only resistant to corrosion, tarnish, and high heat but also boasts a superior strength-to-weight ratio. These properties make titanium rings excellent choices for daily wear.
With hypoallergenic properties, titanium rings are perfect for individuals with sensitive skin, including those allergic to nickel and copper.
Titanium’s abundance makes it relatively affordable compared to precious metals.
Tungsten rings
Tungsten, a very hard metal, is approximately four times harder than titanium and ten times harder than 18K gold, giving it unique, non-precious properties.
Tungsten boasts a gunmetal gray hue and a gleaming shine, exuding a modern and masculine aesthetic. It is a heavy, dense metal with the highest melting point among others.
Due to its impressive hardness, tungsten rings are incredibly resistant to scratches and daily wear, ensuring they retain their polished appearance over time.
Overall, tungsten rings offer a more cost-effective alternative to precious metal rings.
Palladium rings
Palladium, a rare metal that belongs to the platinum group, is about 15 times rarer than platinum and 30 times rarer than gold.
With its natural white color, palladium is often used as a platinum substitute. You’d find it difficult to distinguish between palladium and platinum rings visually.
Furthermore, palladium is hypoallergenic, preventing allergic reactions and irritations.
Though durable, palladium may develop scratches over time. Its rising price has made it more expensive than platinum recently.
Brass and copper rings
Common in the jewelry industry, brass is primarily a combination of copper and zinc, sharing the ductility and malleability of pure copper.
With their warm, reddish-brown glow, brass has a slightly yellowish tone, whereas copper showcases a deep reddish color, offering a distinctly vintage and rustic appearance.
A unique characteristic of brass and copper is their ability to form a patina over time due to oxidation, resulting in a greenish or bluish tint. Some people appreciate this natural patina, while others prefer a more polished look.
Affordably priced compared to precious metals, brass and copper rings can fluctuate in cost based on design complexity and additional details. Our brass and copper rings range from $99 to $159.
Black zirconium rings
Black zirconium, produced through heating and oxidizing processes, has a dark, shiny color that gives it a modern edge. These rings can have either a matte or a shiny finish.
This material is quite durable and resistant to scratches and corrosion, making it perfect for everyday wear without losing its color.
Black zirconium is also hypoallergenic, making it ideal for sensitive skin as it does not contain nickel, a common allergen.
While more affordable than precious metals, black zirconium rings can be pricier than other alternative metals.
Conclusion
Understanding the different types of metal rings helps in selecting the perfect one for your needs. Gold, platinum, and silver remain popular choices due to their precious nature.
Each of these precious metals possesses unique characteristics: gold is great for special occasions, platinum’s durability provides a luxurious yet lasting shine, and silver offers elegance at an affordable price.
Practical, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-effective alternatives like stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, palladium, brass, copper, and black zirconium are equally viable options. They complement casual outfits and make excellent gift ideas.
