Metals: Personal Preference
At House of Rajah, our jewelry is crafted with only the finest materials, ensuring you a lifetime of value. The metals you choose make a statement about your style.
Platinum
Platinum has a soft white hue. It's 30 times more rare than gold (which means it's more expensive) and 40% heavier than 14K gold - and it doesn't tarnish or oxidize. Because of its hardness, the details of intricately engraved or embellished rings often look sharper and more precise when done in platinum. Platinum is durable and naturally white, allowing diamonds and other gemstones to appear even more brilliant.
Platinum Purity
Platinum is known for its ability to withstand daily wear without thinning. Platinum in jewelry is 90% to 95% pure, which brings out the beauty of diamonds set in platinum engagement rings. It's also hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for those with skin sensitivities.
Gold
Gold has an extraordinary heritage with unique qualities. As an enduring element found naturally in a distinct yellow color, gold is resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion. Although gold is very strong, it's also the most malleable of all precious metals.
Gold Purity
Gold purity, or how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold, is measured in karats (not to be confused with carats, a measure of gem weight). Karats are divided into 24 parts, so 24 parts of gold - known as 24K gold - is 100% pure. However, 24K gold is soft and easily malleable for everyday wear, so it's mixed - or alloyed - with other metals to make it more durable. This hardens the final product enough to last for many generations.
For example, 14K gold is 14 parts (or 58.3%) gold, 10 parts other metal - a good balance of durability and price because of the higher percentage of alloys used; 18K gold is an alloy of 75% gold and other metals - slightly softer and less durable than 14K and a luxurious choice with a precious appeal. Jewelry must be at least 10K to be sold as gold in the United States.
Yellow Gold
A mixture of silver, copper, pure gold (and a trace of zinc) gives yellow gold jewelry its rich shine. Although the percentages of each metal used to create the alloy vary, all formulas starts with 75% pure gold for 18k gold and 58.3% for 14k gold. The result gives off a classic warm glow that makes an especially good setting for lower color grade diamonds with a faint yellow tint.
White Gold
In order to give white gold jewelry its modern silvery-white color, pure gold is often alloyed with a mixture of nickel, copper and zinc, or palladium and silver. The piece is then plated (meaning it’s covered with a layer of another metal) with an extremely hard element called rhodium to improve whiteness and durability.
Rose Gold
The romantic pink hue of rose gold jewelry is created by using a copper alloy. The more copper in the alloy, the rosier the hue. Rose gold has the same amount of pure gold as yellow or white gold. What’s different is the ratio of other metals that make up the remaining percentage of the alloy mix. Rose gold is a beautiful and unique choice for engagement rings, and its modern-vintage appeal has been an increasingly popular trend in the last few years.