Jewelry is all about expressing your unique style in a tasteful way, and the Joslin family loves nothing more than to find or create the perfect fit for each wonderful customer.
Whether you’re browsing for an anniversary ring or trying to send shiny hints to a loved one, Joslin’s is the place to help you feel right at home while you find the right style and fit for your budget.
When it comes to choosing the metal for your wedding band – whether you’re choosing from a selection or designing it yourself – it’s important to keep several things in mind: durability, price, maintenance, and of course, aesthetic.
Platinum – When engagement rings come to mind, many people’s first thought is of platinum and diamonds – a classic choice for a good reason! Platinum is a durable metal for a ring that will last a lifetime – and longer! While the price comes at a higher cost due to the metal’s weight, the durability of platinum can be well worth creating a family heirloom for years to come. Platinum complements diamonds very well, but the choice of gemstone is entirely up to your own taste and style. That being said, platinum isn’t for every stone; in fact, platinum isn’t for every diamond. Any slightly colored, or off white diamond may clash with the metal’s shine; the platinum can cause your diamond to appear more yellow or off-hue than it is. Platinum is ideal for a high-quality, long-lasting piece, but the durability and the demand for the perfect stone come at a higher cost.- Gold – Ever the timeless and romantic metal for wedding bands, gold has long been a favorite choice. Because gold is such a soft malleable metal, it is used in metal alloys to create a stronger metal type that will hold up better than pure gold. This variety in the metal mixture is what causes the different hues! Take a quick look into the various types of gold:
Yellow Gold – This classy blend of gold and zinc, palladium, or even a bit of copper is always a popular choice. While less durable than platinum, yellow gold complements slightly off-color diamonds much better, bringing a warmth to the stone instead of creating a clash of the shines. Yellow gold is quite the desirable metal for many gemstones for this very reason; if you’re considering emeralds or rubies for your wedding ring, yellow gold is an excellent pairing for your piece. For warmer skin tones, yellow gold is a stunning look, especially for olive or darker hues.
White Gold – White gold is made of yellow gold and another more “silver” metal like platinum, palladium, or silver. To cover the yellow hues of the gold alloy, the jewelry is often coated or “plated” with rhodium. Similar in appearance to platinum, white gold brings sophistication but at a lower price. However, it’s important to know that every few years, the ring will need to be replated since the rhodium will wear off; this maintenance is not expensive but it is something to consider when choosing your metal. Another insider tip is to make sure that your white gold ring does not contain any nickel; white gold used to be mixed with nickel at times and while this practice is largely discontinued, it’s still a fact to be aware of since many people experience skin irritations or discolorations from nickel. As long as your white gold doesn’t contain nickel, the metal is an excellent choice for a wedding ring and pairs especially well with cooler or fair skin tones.
Rose Gold – An alternative and nontraditional choice, rose gold is a romantic warmer hue of gold caused by the alloy’s larger percentage of copper. This copper actually gives the gold a stronger durability as well! Rose gold has become increasingly popular and pairs well with most stones; experts say it complements the red spectrum of gemstones especially well – rubies, garnets, or pink sapphires, for example. Other professionals advise pairing rose gold metal with your diamond and smaller “redder” stone to give it a halo effect. Copper is, however, not a hypoallergenic metal; while it does not cause nearly the amount of irritation or discoloration that nickel does, it still can irritate the most sensitive of skin so consider this when choosing your wedding ring metal. Rose gold looks great on any skin tone, and the varied levels of copper mean you can select a shade that pairs best with your own gorgeous hue.
- Silver – Silver is not as common as it once was because its supply is greater than it used to be; however, silver is quite the top notch metal for working with intricate designs and certainly worthy of remaining a highly recommended wedding band metal. When choosing a gemstone for silver, keep in mind that the same characteristics of platinum apply to silver aesthetics; colorless diamonds look stunning, but various shades of off-color diamonds or other gemstones can mismatch. As far as durability, sterling silver is mixed with a bit of copper to make it more durable than pure silver but the shine remains brilliant! That being said, silver does tend to tarnish with time and will require regular maintenance or polishing; this is fairly inexpensive and can be done right here at Joslin’s! One of the cheaper wedding metals, silver is a beautiful choice for a couple on a budget.
There is quite a variety when it comes to choosing or designing your wedding ring. Platinum, silver, and gold varieties are the most popular but if you’re looking for something a bit nontraditional, be sure to check out the popular metal types for men’s weddings bands for options like palladium or tungsten. Ultimately when it comes down to your engagement ring or the wedding band itself, what matters is your style and preference.
Visit us to start browsing the fine selection of women’s wedding bands or take the custom design route with Elicia! Take a quick look at how unique the jewelry casting process is for each client and then call today to set up an appointment to talk about the right wedding band for you!
