How To Personalize Your Wedding Ring With Color

Wedding rings are often made of gold or platinum, and the colour of these metals can change over time. Gold comes in three basic colours: yellow, white, and rose. The hue of gold jewellery can evolve due to general wear and chemical reactions with the environment. White gold, for example, is not pure gold but a mix of naturally mined yellow gold and white metals like silver, palladium, nickel, or zinc. Over time, it will turn yellow because gold is naturally yellow. Platinum, on the other hand, is a naturally white metal that will never fade or change colour. However, it can lose its shiny finish and develop a patina or satin sheen from everyday wear. If you want to change the colour of your wedding ring, you can consult a jeweller about plating options or consider e-coating, which offers a wide range of colours and is durable and water-resistant.

White gold rings need re-dipping in rhodium to maintain their colour

White gold is an alloy of gold and a variety of white metals, such as silver, nickel, and palladium. It is not truly white and has a soft champagne hue. To achieve a whiter colour, white gold is often plated with rhodium, a bright, silvery-white metal that is a member of the platinum family.

Over time, rhodium plating on white gold jewellery can wear off, revealing the yellowish-white hue of the gold alloy underneath. To maintain the white colour of white gold rings, they need to be re-dipped in rhodium every few years. This process involves using electric currents to bond a thin layer of rhodium to the ring. The thickness of the rhodium plating and how often the ring is worn will determine how often it needs to be re-dipped, typically every one to three years.

The rhodium plating on white gold jewellery can also be polished off, revealing the natural colour of the gold alloy. This option may be preferred by those who want to avoid the maintenance of re-dipping and embrace the warmer tone of the natural white gold.

Platinum rings will retain their colour

Platinum rings are a popular choice for bridal jewellery, and for good reason. Platinum is a super-stable metal, meaning platinum wedding rings will retain their colour from the day they are first worn. This colourfastness is due to platinum's purity—to be considered platinum, a piece of jewellery must contain 95% or more of the metal. This makes platinum one of the purest precious metals available for purchase.

While platinum rings will retain their colour, they will lose their shiny finish over time and develop a natural patina. This patina finish is caused by surface scratches, which move the platinum from one place on the ring to another. However, this antique-like finish can be reversed by a jeweller, who can restore the ring to its original condition through polishing.

Platinum is also a strong, heavy, and dense metal, making it ideal for holding precious stones in place. Its durability means that platinum jewellery can be passed down through generations and easily resized or reconditioned. Additionally, platinum is the only true hypoallergenic precious jewellery metal, as its high purity means it is less likely to irritate the skin.

While platinum may not be as sparkly as brand new white gold, its colour retention, durability, and hypoallergenic qualities make it an excellent choice for wedding rings.

Yellow gold can change colour due to oxidation or chemical reactions

Gold is a stable and tarnish-resistant metal, so it will not change colour or discolour easily. However, yellow gold can change colour due to oxidation or chemical reactions.

Firstly, it is important to note that gold in its pure form is very soft and is not suitable for making jewellery. Therefore, gold is mixed with other metals to form alloys, which are harder and can be used to make jewellery. The metals used in the alloying process depend on the type of gold. For yellow gold, silver and copper are the metals most used for alloying, while white gold also contains zinc and, depending on the type, it can also contain nickel, palladium or manganese. Rose or red gold has a higher copper content.

The other metals in the alloy can oxidise and be responsible for the colour changes on the surface of the jewellery. Oxidation is caused by exposure to oxygen, and it can affect the colour of various precious metals over time. For example, oxidation is what causes silver to turn black, or copper to turn blue.

Oxidation and discolouration can also be caused by exposure to certain chemicals. For instance, the chemicals in perfumes, soaps, cleaning agents, and even the natural oils produced by your skin can cause discolouration. If you work in an environment with high exposure to heat and fire, such as a kitchen or a forge, the heat could also cause the colour of your ring to change. This process is called thermochromism.

To prevent oxidation and discolouration, it is recommended to avoid exposing your jewellery to cosmetic products, cleaning agents, and chemicals such as repellents or disinfectants. It is also advised to remove your jewellery before swimming in the sea or a pool, bathing, or going to the sauna. When storing your jewellery, keep it in a box lined with a soft cloth or in a small bag with a silica gel packet to prevent moisture and oxygen from causing discolouration.

Gold is measured in karats, which indicate the percentage of pure gold

Gold is measured in karats, which indicate the purity of the gold. Karats measure the parts per 24, so that 18 karat = 18/24 = 75% and 24 karat gold is considered 100% gold. The higher the karat, the more gold is contained in the alloy and the more expensive it will be. Pure gold that has not been mixed with any other metals is therefore the highest possible karat, 24 karat (24k) gold.

Gold is often alloyed with base metals to create jewellery. This is because pure gold is too soft and can be easily damaged. Gold is most often mixed with either silver, zinc, copper, or palladium, creating a different number of karats and different colours of gold, such as rose gold or white gold.

The most common karat used in jewellery is 18k gold. This means that 18 out of 24 parts of the piece is pure gold, a relatively high number. The remaining quarter is made up of other alloys, making the jewellery more durable, better for everyday wear and slightly cheaper.

The colour of gold jewellery can evolve over time due to general wear and chemical reactions with the environmental elements it comes into contact with. For example, oxidation can cause discolouration. This is caused by daily exposure to oxygen. Thermochromism, caused by exposure to heat, can also change the colour of gold.

Pure gold is too soft to be used for a wedding ring

Gold is measured on the Mohs scale of hardness, which assesses how easily it can be scratched. Gold's softness is comparable to that of a block of relatively hard clay and is almost soft enough to be scratched by a fingernail. This softness makes it susceptible to damage from everyday use, especially for rings, as hands endure a lot of wear and tear.

To address the softness of pure gold, it is mixed with other metals to create a harder and more durable alloy. This process makes gold jewellery more resistant to scratches and less prone to denting or bending. For example, 10-karat gold, which has the lowest concentration of gold, is the longest-lasting and most cost-efficient variety.

Additionally, the colour of gold jewellery can be altered by mixing it with different metals. For instance, white gold is achieved by combining 75% pure yellow gold with 25% white metals like silver, nickel, manganese and palladium. Rose gold is created by adding copper to gold.

In conclusion, while gold is a popular choice for wedding rings, pure gold is too soft and pliable for everyday wear. By mixing it with other metals, gold can be made more durable and suitable for long-lasting jewellery, such as wedding rings.

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