This is one of the most obvious questions when it comes to engagement ring design, but many grooms find it the hardest to answer – partly because there are so many options!
Here’s what you need to know about each of them:
- Platinum
The purest choice, but also the most expensive. Platinum’s rarity and density put it at a higher price point than gold, but its hue makes it attractive and wearable, and its strength gives you more options when it comes to design.
- Yellow gold
Long-lasting and non-tarnishing, you might associate yellow gold with your mother’s jewelry box, but recent engagement ring trends have seen it come back in a big way.
- White gold
White gold’s silvery hue provides the wearability of platinum at a lower price point, but it also comes with more maintenance. It requires regular rhodium plating to keep it white and bright, and will periodically yellow with wear. It is also not hypoallergenic.
- Rose gold
Complementary to a range of skin tones, rose gold is less traditional but still very attractive and has a soft, feminine feel. Like any variation of gold, it can cause allergic reactions in some wearers.
- Silver
The least hard-wearing of these metals, silver’s main attraction is its classic beauty and its comparatively low price point. Tarnishing will be a big problem with a silver engagement ring, which is why most couples opt for a similar hue in another metal.
