- .....................................................
| Platinum |
The KING of precious metals WHITE Platinum, a naturally white metal, will never fade or change color. White gold will yellow over time, requiring its rhodium plating to be replaced every 12-18 months to maintain a white appearance. The optimal setting for diamonds is platinum, a naturally white metal that won’t ever reflect color into the diamond. Platinum enhances the brilliance of diamonds and other gemstones. PURE Typically 95% pure, platinum is one of the purest precious metals. White gold, which is either 58% or 75% yellow gold, is mixed with non-precious metals such as nickel, and then rhodium plated to give it a white appearance. Platinum’s purity makes it naturally hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin. DURABLE A platinum engagement ring and wedding band is everlasting, perfect for a lifetime of everyday wear. Platinum’s density makes platinum highly durable, so it doesn’t wear away over time. White gold loses little slivers of metal with every scratch, requiring many rings to be reinforced or reshanked to replace metal that has worn away. SECURE Platinum’s strength and durability makes it the most secure setting for diamonds and precious gemstones. Platinum prongs offer better protection for diamonds, which is why the world’s most significant diamonds, from the Hope Diamond to the 60-Carat Taylor-Burton Diamond, are all set in platinum. Shop for platinum rings |
| Palladium |
Palladium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, and named after the asteroid Pallas, first sighted in 1801. Wise designers have been using palladium to make jewelry since 1939. Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that, together with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium, form the group of elements known as the platinum group metals. Found in Australia, Africa, and South and North America, the vast majority of palladium used in the United States is mined in North America.
TOUGH
Palladium is strong and durable. It is low density, which means it weighs less than platinum - allowing bigger and bolder jewelry designs to be created and worn with ease. Palladium is from the same family of precious metals as platinum and shares its strength. Plus, since it's naturally white, there's no expensive maintenance to keep it brilliant for life.
SEXY Palladium is becoming the metal of choice for a growing number of fashion-forward jewelry designers and is typically less expensive than platinum or gold, making it the preference for savvy shoppers who want affordable luxury. SENSITIVE Those allergic to some other metals will love palladium's purity. Palladium is pure because it gets its color and luster from nature. Other metals that are not naturally white are mixed with nickel to appear white - and nickel can cause allergic reactions. Shop for palladium rings
|
|
Gold |
Au Shop for gold rings
|
| Specialty Metals | These metalworking processes create one-of-a-kind wedding rings with unique patterns. |
| Makume Gane |
Pronounced mo-ka-may ga-ne, means "wood grain" in Japanes as these precious metal patterns tend to resemble the patterns that grow naturally in wood. This metal is an ancient Japanese metalworking art developed by master swordsmiths. It is a very technically difficult and time consuming process that begins by stacking layers of different colored metals and heating them to 1,400°, under extreme pressure, for 10 hours. This allows the atoms from the gold and other metals to fuse together, forming distinctive patterns. The metal is then forged and rolled to set the crystal structure. Finally the gold and other metals are manipulated by twisting and curving to expose the multiple layers, thereby forming unique ring patterns. |
|
Tungsten Carbide TC850 |
This specially engineered, exclusively patented metal formulation is a unique blend of tungsten and carbon that creates a material that's one of the hardest materials used in jewelry. In fact, Tungsten Carbide TC.850TM is ten times harder than gold. As one of the most popular choices for men's wedding bands (second only to Gold), Tungsten Carbide is hypoallergenic and known for being the most scratch-resistant metal choice, ensuring your ring will retain its natural color and alluring luster for as long as you own it. Commercially pure gray titanium was the first new element in 3,000 years to be successfully accepted by the traditional jewelry world. This element is not only hypoallergenic, it is extraordinarily biocompatible. In many cases it is the only metallic solution for consumers who are sensitive to conventional jewelry materials. Shop for Tungsten Carbide rings |
|
Damascus Steel |
Like Makume Gane, Damascus Steel is a unique blend of up to 100 layers of two different types of stainless steel. These layers are forged together to make a beautiful, durable wedding ring. The slow, cyclical process of working the metal layers together is what gives Damascus Steel it’s incredibly unique properties. Damascus Steel rings have increased hardness, strength, resistance to shattering, an ability to be honed to a resilient edge and a unique finish. Like a fingerprint, no two Damascus rings will have the exact same design. This history behind Damascus Steel is one of the most compelling aspects of this metal. Damascus was a type of steel used in the Middle Eastern swordmaking. While the exact origins of the craft are unknown, the blacksmiths producing Damascus became famous for the quality of their superior weaponry. The name Damascus Steel stems from either the original Syrian blacksmiths originating the art or the Damask pattern itself. The technology used to create Damascus Steel became so guarded over the centuries it was eventually lost. Damascus rings are made with stainless steel. Stainless steels contain nickel and are not a good choice for those with nickel allergies. The processing of steel to make our Damascus leaves the metal approximately twice the hardness of Titanium and Cobalt Chrome. Despite its hardness, Damascus rings will scuff and show wear. However, the pattern and texture of the Damascus hides the scratches much better than a normal ring, making Damascus one of the best wearing metals we offer. Damascus rings should avoid contact with salt water and harsh chemicals. Exposure to these strong oxidizing agents can make the ring more susceptible to rusting. Under normal conditions, Damascus steel rings wear very well and do not have problems with rusting. You can clean these rings by ultrasonic, steam or jewelry cleaner. All touch-ups or refurbishing should be done by the manufacturer. |