
Metals
$$$$ - Platinum
Platinum is a natural white, dense metal. It is the rarest metal, making it more expensive then pure gold. Platinum is considered to be the strongest metal, weighing 60% more than gold. Overtime the metal will turn to a matte/patina finish.
Platinum is very durable but does scratch easier then gold. Platinum is great for those who may have a nickel allergy or sensitive skin because it hypoallergenic.
$$$ - Palladium
Palladium is similar to platinum in the sense that it is a natural white metal and will turn to matte finish overtime. Palladium is not as heavy as platinum and is also less expensive. Palladium has a comparable price to 14K gold. Palladium is great for those who may have a nickel allergy or sensitive skin because it is hypoallergenic.
$$ - Gold
Gold is naturally found in yellow and can be found in a number of different purities. The purest form of gold is 24 karat. You will rarely see rings in 24 karat gold because it is soft to set diamonds in. 18 karat, 14 karat and 10 karat are the most commonly used. Gold is less susceptible to scratching and denting. You can find gold in different colors; yellow, white and rose.
White gold is made up of yellow gold and other alloys like silver and nickel. Because of the mixture white gold can have a slight yellow hue to it. It is commonly dipped in a rhodium platting to give it a brighter white finish. Rose gold is made up of yellow gold and copper alloys. Due to the other alloys white and rose gold are not hypoallergenic. If you want to stick with gold as a metal, yellow would be the best choice if you have allergies or skin sensitivities.
$ -Titanium
Titanium is a very strong and durable metal but can be scratch like the precious metals. The metal has a high ductile strength, but can be bent out of shape under pressure. Titanium will not tarnish like silver does and is less expensive then gold, which makes it a popular metal option especially in men’s wedding bands. It is possible for the metal to be resized if there are no inlays or stone, but it cannot be sized down.
$ - Sterling Sliver
Silver is a popular metal choice for jewelry. It is a soft, malleable metal that is slightly harder than gold. It is generally the most affordable precious metal. Like white gold, rhodium platting is commonly used to brighten up the look of silver jewelry. Silver can tarnish over time and should be polished with a polishing cloth regularly to maintain its appearance.