Metals and karats
Every product page says what a piece is made of. This is what those words mean, and why the same ring costs more in one metal than another.
What each metal is
| Metal | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 10k gold | 41.7% gold, alloyed for strength | The hardest-wearing gold; a paler color. |
| 14k gold | 58.3% gold | The usual choice for rings worn every day. |
| 18k gold | 75% gold | Richer color, a little softer, heavier in the hand. |
| Platinum | A dense white metal, around 95% pure | Naturally white, never needs replating. |
| Gold vermeil | A thick layer of gold over sterling silver | Gold color at a silver price; the gold wears over years. |
| Sterling silver | 92.5% silver | Bright white; it tarnishes and polishes back. |
White, yellow and rose
Gold is yellow. White gold is alloyed with white metals and usually plated with rhodium for its brightest white. Rose gold has more copper in the mix. The karat tells you how much gold there is; the color tells you what it is mixed with.
Recycled gold
The gold we use is refined from gold that already exists, rather than newly mined. Recycled gold is chemically the same as new gold.