Metal Comparison

At Steven Stone we offer only the best precious metals, hallmarked by Scotland or Birmingham assay offices. We use Platinum, 18ct White Gold, 18ct Yellow Gold and Palladium to manufacture engagement rings, wedding rings, pendants, earrings, and other diamond and gemstone jewellery.

Choosing a Metal

We use 95% pure platinum and palladium, which is popular for wedding rings and engagement rings. For white gold and yellow gold we use 18 carat, meaning that 75% of the metal is pure gold. White and yellow gold is popular for most jewellery types including earrings, pendants, engagement rings, wedding rings and other diamond rings.

Platinum or White Gold?

One of the most common questions our customers ask is - which metal is better Platinum 950 or 18ct White Gold?

One of the main differences between the two precious metals is their weight. Platinum is approximately 33% denser then gold. The other difference is their purity, Platinum is close to being 100% pure, whereas gold varies in purity depending on its carat weight. Both metals are indistinguishable when new and polished, however overtime platinum, develops patina which results in a tarnished effect. Gold can also slightly fade in colour overtime. Both metals can be cleaned and polished to their original colour and shine.

Platinum

Platinum is 95% of its purest form and is an extremely long wearing metal. Most platinum jewellery is more expensive then gold due to its purity, unlike white gold platinum does not need to be coated in rhodium as it is a white metal in its natural form.

Due to the density of platinum, a platinum ring will feel slightly heavier than a gold ring. Platinum is also slightly more expensive then gold.

White Gold

White gold comes in a variety of carat weights depending on its purity usually 18ct, 14ct, 9ct and is an alloy of gold. At Steven Stone we use only 18 carat white and yellow gold. White gold is usually mixed with other metals such as silver or palladium. Yellow gold is mixed with metals such as copper or zinc.

All white gold rings and white gold jewellery is coated in Rhodium, which has similar colour properties of platinum. The Rhodium plating is used to make the white gold look more white as the natural colour of white gold is light grey.

Yellow Gold

At Steven Stone we use 18 carat yellow gold for diamond and gem set jewellery, from engagement rings to wedding rings. 18 carat yellow gold is 75% pure gold and combines other metal alloys, so it is a strong, durable metal ideal for use in jewellery.

In terms of value and popularity, yellow and white gold are very similar; however yellow gold is the standard colour for gold and the most recognisable precious metal type.

Palladium

Palladium is a white precious metal that, like platinum is 95% pure, so naturally is a strong, durable precious metal. Palladium has been used in fine jewellery since 1939 and is the ideal choice to enhance the beauty of diamonds and gemstones set within the metal.

Palladium is a platinum group metal and is thirty times more rare then gold. Palladium provides the same purity, look and strength as platinum. As palladium is 95% pure, naturally it will be stronger then precious metals like silver and gold plus is less likely to tarnish then white gold.