Engagement Rings Gold – Gold Is
Forever
For couples thinking of engagement rings, gold is the
metal of choice. Historically, it is one of the most popular
metals used in engagement rings. Not only is gold highly prized
worldwide and has intrinsic value, it also symbolizes the
long-lasting value placed on the commitment the couple have
made to each other.
There are a few things you’ll want to know about gold engagement rings before
you buy one. First, gold is measured by karats with 24 karats
being 100% pure gold. Most engagement rings made from gold are
actually an alloy of gold mixed with other metals.
The reason that engagement rings aren’t made from 100% pure
gold is that it is too soft to reliably hold up to daily wear.
You’ll find that engagement rings made of gold alloys range
from 10 karats up to 18 karats. An 18 karat ring will contain
seventy-five percent gold and the rest will be other metals.
Some of the metals blended with gold in making an engagement
ring include copper, nickel, silver, and palladium. This is the
reason that there are various color shades of gold engagement rings to
choose from.
As the number of karats in the gold ring decreases its color
will also change due to the larger presence of other metals.
Although engagement rings can be found as low as 10 karats,
you’ll probably want to buy a ring in the 18 to 14 karat
range.
Although relatively rare, rose gold is being used more
frequently, especially to accent and decorate a ring. The pink
hue in rose gold results from copper mixed with gold. The price
of rose gold is comparable to the time-honored
There are some drawbacks to gold engagement rings. First,
gold is a soft metal and more prone to bumps and scratches.
Gold can also fade, but the good news is that it can be cleaned
and polished and will look as good as new. A major drawback you
may need to keep in mind is that you could be allergic to the
metals used to make the gold ring harder, especially the nickel
and copper. In addition, with gold being a softer metal, it is
more prone to break or bend, thus putting your diamond at risk
of being lost.
On the other hand, gold
engagement rings are less expensive than platinum rings. Having
your gold engagement ring resized is usually not much of a
problem, whereas trying to resize a platinum ring is really not
feasible. And, most of all, gold engagement rings are among the
most highly prized for women.
Most women have gold jewelry in their collections, so a gold
engagement ring will match everything else perfectly. Gold
engagement rings symbolize the ultimate in ideals such as
commitment, and love, and will never go out of style.
|