Platinum:
Most people choose platinum because of its durability. Each time other metals are scratched or polished, a tiny bit of metal is lost. In fact, prongs of white gold and yellow gold may wear down so much that you need to have them replaced more often. But not with platinum. A scratch in platinum may leave a mark on the metal, but this metal is so strong, it will not easily come off.
While it is the strongest of jewelry metals, it can scratch and develop a satin sheen of wear. Many people prefer this look, unique to platinum. But if you like the original shine, bring it back in to us so we can restore the original reflective finish.
The majority of platinum jewelry is 95 percent pure platinum combined with 5 percent iridium, palladium, ruthenium or other alloys. For platinum, look for the marks 950 Plat or Plat.
Gold:
Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of everyday wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability. Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode, and though it's very strong, it is also the most easiest to shape or form of all metals.
Gold's purity is noted by a number followed by "k" or "kt". This karat weight can be summarized as follows:
24 karat = 100% gold (pure gold)
22 karat = 91.7% gold (very soft, not recommended for jewelry)
18 karat = 75.0% gold (recommended for fine jewelry)
14 karat = 58.3% gold (found in most jewelry)
12 karat = 50.0% gold (not recommended for jewelry)
10 karat = 41.7% gold (legal limit considered as real gold in the U.S.)
The color of gold is determined by two factors: The type of metal alloys included in it, and the percentage of each metal alloy. The most common colors to choose are yellow, white, and rose.
Because 18kt white gold is 75% gold, and 14kt white gold is 58.3% gold, jewelry made from these metals have a slight yellow color. To enhance the whiteness, most white gold is plated with rhodium, a shiny, white metal which is extremely hard. Depending on it's wear, over time this rhodium plating may wear off, revealing the original metal color. Re-plating is a simple process that can be done by us to restore your jewelry's whiteness. Rose gold gets its color from a large proportion of copper in the metal alloy.
Silver:
Pure silver, also known as fine silver, is soft and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Because pure silver is so soft, it should only be used when flexibility is required, such as in handcrafted jewelry featuring weaving and other intricate designs.
Sterling silver is most often used for jewelry because of its combination of beauty and durability. Most high quality silver items are stamped with a "fineness" or "quality" mark. This mark designates the precious metal content of the jewelry, and under federal law, must be accompanied by a maker's mark or registered trademark. Acceptable quality marks for sterling silver include: sterling, sterling silver, .925, and ster.
Palladium:
A naturally white metal, Palladium is hypoallergenic, will not tarnish and remains white forever. Palladium is 95% pure when used in jewelry, is extremely durable and does not require alloy metals and/or plating for protection, which ensures that it will remain white as long as you own your jewelry.
Palladium, which is listed on the Periodic Table of Elements, is lighter in weight than its sister metal, Platinum. We are using it as an alternative to our white gold in the production of certain manufacturing and are proud to offer this 100% American mined metal.
One of the rarest metals in the world, Palladium is a member of the Platinum Group Metals. These metals are also referred to as "Noble Metals" due to their superior ability to withstand corrosion and oxidation.
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