| Visual appearance |
|---|
| An increasingly popular choice in recent years, this offers the wearer a softer, romantic look. A rose gold ring works particularly well with pink diamonds. | A traditional choice which lends itself well to classic and vintage diamond engagement rings. | More contemporary than yellow gold, white gold is a dazzling silvery white in colour. | An iconic choice for engagement rings. Silvery white in colour, platinum accentuates the sparkle and brilliance of a diamond. | Palladium is a naturally white metal. As it is newer to the bridal sector, not all craftsmen are experienced in working with it, so the variety of ring designs made in Palladium is less extensive. |
| Durability |
|---|
| Copper in the alloy strengthens rose gold making it the strongest of the golds. This is a wonderfully durable choice, suited to hands-on jobs and active lifestyles. | High carat yellow gold can be scratched relatively easily, so consider the gold carat choice if your partner has an active lifestyle. See below for more detail. | White gold is, in fact, stronger and more durable than yellow gold, but it does require more regular maintenance than other metal rings. | Extremely strong, will never fade and is difficult to damage. | Palladium is an extremely durable and malleable metal ring, this makes it easy to design with. |
| Ongoing maintenance |
|---|
| Other than cleaning, no maintenance is required. | Yellow gold needs to be cleaned and polished regularly. | Because it features rhodium plating, white gold must be re-plated with some regularity to maintain its colour. | Other than cleaning, no maintenance is required. | Other than cleaning, no maintenance is required. |
| Physical make-up |
|---|
| Rose gold is a gold and copper alloy that is sometimes also referred to as red gold or pink gold. | Yellow gold is an alloy of pure gold combined with metals such as zinc and copper. | White gold is an alloy of gold and a white metal such as palladium, manganese, or nickel. | Platinum is a very rare metal and a very pure metal (often around 90% - 95% pure Platinum). | Palladium is a metal with a very high percentage of purity when used in jewellery. |
| Skin tone & type |
|---|
| Suitable for all skin tones, but particularly flattering against olive or darker skin. Due to the inclusion of copper, rose gold can sometimes cause allergic reactions with very sensitive skin. | Suitable for all skin tones, but particularly complementary against olive or darker skin tones. | Suitable for all skin tones, but especially attractive against fair and rosy skin tones. If the alloy contains nickel this can cause skin reactions for those with sensitive skin. | Suitable for all skin tones. Due to its purity, platinum is a good choice for those with sensitive skin. | With its lustrous white appearance, palladium is versatile choice that flatters all skin tones. It is also hypoallergenic. |
| Price |
|---|
| Depending on caratage, rose gold is similar in price to white or yellow gold. A rose gold ring is typically less expensive than a similar platinum metal ring. | Depending on caratage, a yellow gold ring is similar in price to a white or a rose gold ring. It is less expensive than its platinum equivalent. | Depending on caratage, white gold is similar in price to rose or yellow gold. Though white gold is more affordable than Platinum, it requires regular maintenance which may cause it to be more costly in the long run. | Due to its unique characteristics and superior durability Platinum is usually the most expensive choice of all precious metal rings. | Due to the fact palladium is much lighter than platinum this is a cost-effective option. However, the lightness of this precious metal might feel strange for some. |
