Metal Properties

Many of our pieces can be ordered in a range of metal options. Read our guide to metal properties to help you decide which is best for you…

The unique properties of platinum make it the most expensive of the precious metals.
Platinum is prized for its rarity. It is 30 times more rare than gold. If all the platinum ever mined were poured into an Olympic sized swimming pool, it would scarcely be deep enough to cover your ankles. By comparison, the world’s gold would fill 3 swimming pools.
Platinum is also the most durable of all the precious metals. It does not easily change shape or wear away so precious stones are held firmly and securely. Like any precious metal, platinum can scratch. However, unlike gold, when platinum scratches there is no measurable metal loss and the piece maintains its integrity and mass.
Platinum’s 95% purity makes it ideal for sensitive skin.
It's naturally white in colour so does not require rhodium plating and will not tarnish.
Platinum’s density means that it is the heaviest of the precious metals.

In recent years palladium jewellery has become an increasingly popular choice.
Palladium is from the same family of precious metals as platinum. It is very slightly darker in colour than platinum, and a little lighter in weight.
It's a relatively pure metal making it ideal for sensitive skin.
Palladium is considered to be more hard-wearing than gold.
Recognised as a precious metal, Palladium has its own hallmark.
Palladium is currently lower in price than platinum and 18ct gold, but higher in price than 9ct gold.

Because gold in its pure form is a relatively soft metal it is mixed with other metals to make it durable enough to use in jewellery. Gold content is measured in carats. 9ct gold jewellery contains 37.5% gold, 14ct contains 58.5% gold, 18ct contains 75% gold, 22ct contains 91.75% gold.
Depending on the combination of metals used, white, yellow or rose gold will be produced. Moreover, white, yellow and rose gold jewellery comes in a variety of different shades, depending on the karat of gold in which it is made.
White gold can be plated with rhodium to give it a brighter, whiter colour, so that it looks similar to platinum. However, many of our jewellers choose not to plate their white gold jewellery. Unplated white gold is extremely attractive and does not need to be re-plated over time.
Gold is a relatively soft metal. The lower the carat gold used, the harder the piece of jewellery will be (so, 9ct gold is more durable than 22ct).

All our jewellers use high quality sterling silver. Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals.
Silver is the softest of the precious metals and is likely to scratch over time and can bend under pressure.
Many of our jewellers choose to oxidize their silver jewellery, giving it a blackened appearance.