Which Metal Should You Choose for Your Engagement Ring?
Choosing the metal for your engagement ring is just as important as choosing the stone. It affects how the ring wears day to day, how much upkeep it needs, and how the stone actually looks on the hand. Here's a simple breakdown to help you decide.
Start With At Least 14k Gold
We recommend 14k gold as your minimum. It's tough enough for daily wear and safe for fine, intricate details — delicate filigree, thin prongs, small cut-outs — which are more prone to snapping in lower-karat gold. We do offer 10k gold, but we wouldn't recommend it as a starting point, especially for a design with any fine detailing.
| Gold Purity | Gold Content | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 10k Gold | 41.7% | Available, but not our recommended starting point — more prone to snapping in fine, intricate details. Fine for bezel set, plain gold styles. |
| 14k Gold | 58.5% | Our recommended minimum — durable and safe for most designs |
| 18k Gold | 75% | Richer colour, softer metal — better suited to platinum for white tones (see below) |
Considering 18k White Gold? Look At Platinum Instead
White gold is naturally a pale yellow and is plated with rhodium to get that bright white finish. Over time, the plating wears down and needs re-dipping. If you're already looking at an 18k white metal, platinum is the better long-term choice — it's naturally white all the way through and simply needs a polish, not re-plating.
| Metal | Natural Colour | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|
| 18k White Gold | Pale yellow (rhodium-plated white) | Needs periodic re-plating |
| Platinum | Naturally white | Just needs polishing |
Choosing By Ring Style
| If your ring shows... | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A lot of visible metal (wide band, halo, vintage design) | Yellow Gold | Yellow gold shows off the warmth and shine of the metal itself |
| A design where the stone is the focus | White Gold or Platinum | White metal fades into the background and lets the stone stand out |
Skin Tone Can Play a Part Too
| Skin Tone | Metals That Tend to Suit |
|---|---|
| Paler skin tones | White Gold, Platinum |
| Deeper, warmer skin tones | Yellow Gold |
Of course, this is just a general guide — the best metal is the one you'll be happy wearing every day.
What About Silver?
We'd steer clear of silver for an engagement ring. It's much softer than gold or platinum, scratches easily, and tarnishes over time — it's not built for the daily wear an engagement ring gets.
The Short Version
- Go 14k gold or higher, always.
- Fine, intricate design? Definitely 14k or higher — 10k is more prone to snapping in delicate details.
- Want white gold at 18k? Choose platinum instead.
- Lots of metal on show? Yellow gold.
- Want the stone to shine? White gold or platinum.
- Skip silver altogether.
