There are typically two types of metal used for rings, gold and platinum. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so choose according to your desire and need.
Gold
The purity of gold is measured in karats, not carats which is a measurement of weight for diamonds. A pure gold ring is a 24 karat ring. Anything less than 24 karats is a mixture of gold and an alloy. The table below shows a decrease is karats means a decrease in purity as well.
Karats | Ratio | % Gold |
24 Karats | pure gold | 100% |
18 Karats | 18 parts gold, 6 parts alloy | 75% |
14 Karats | 14 parts gold, 10 parts alloy | 58.33% |
10 Karats | 10 parts gold, 14 parts alloy | 41.66% |
Remember when picking a ring that purity does not equal durability. Gold is very pliable and can chip easily. A ring that is not pure gold will be more resistant to damage. A 24 karat gold ring may seem like a great idea, unless your future spouse does a great deal of hands on work. Find a balance that suits you. Gold comes in two flavors, white and yellow, and shines up nicely.
Platinum
Platinum gives the ultimate answer to durability. This metal is much stronger than gold and is more rare. These features usually come with a heavy price tag as well. Many people go for this kind of ring because of its popularity and rarity. It’s only disadvantages are that it is difficult to repair if something does go wrong, and it tends to dull over time. It is also difficult to polish.
White Gold
Another alternative is white gold. White gold is usually are mixture of gold with a white metal such as nickel. Although nickel is not exclusively used to create white gold, it is the most prevalent. Typically, nickel will comprise 10% of the mixture with copper being thrown in to increase the flexibility of the band. White gold is a good alternative when one wants to have the look of platinum but only has the budget for gold.
Any of these choices are superb metals but the choice is as individual as the diamond you select to sit upon the ring.