There are a lot different types of metals used for making jewelry. There are also many combination of metal used – these are known as alloys. One example is gold where 18 carat gold will contain 75% pure gold with the balance being made up copper, nickel, silver pr palladium.

Jewelry made from platinum or silver are generally made in their purest form. Since gold is so soft it can be difficult to create intricate jewelry. To counter this, harder metals like silver or palladium are added to make the finished product much stronger.

Creating an alloy can be difficult. We want to preserve the look of the natural metal yet the addition of other metals can change the overall look. If want gold then we want to see that natural gold look. Owning gold is also a symbol of wealth – the more gold, and the purer that gold, the wealthier you are thought to be.

Once you mixed gold with silver and palladium you have create an alloy. This particular mixture is different to most as it turns the gold into a white metal rather than the yellow we are used to. This has been put to advantage and sold as white gold – the cheaper alternative to platinum.

When it comes to selecting the best metal for jewelry, there are several things to consider. First, the hardness – how easy is it to bend into shape and how long will last. For example, a pure gold wedding band will wear away in several years. On the other hand, a pure gold broach could last for decades.

As platinum and silver are both hard metals, they tend to last a long time. Platinum is quite expensive when compared to silver and gold. While white gold is more expensive than the traditional yellow gold, the final price will depend on what proportion of gold is in the alloy and what other metals were added. Palladium of course is far more expensive than gold itself.

When selecting jewelry you have a choice. Silver is by far the cheapest – however it does not have the look of white gold or platinum. Platinum is the most expensive and it is long wearing. If you are looking for something in the middle in your jewelry white gold is the answer. It’s priced midway between silver and platinum – is reasonably long wearing and looks great.