Heavy Metals: Platinum and Gold

There are three choices when it comes to an engagement ring: 1) Platinum, 2) Yellow Gold, or 3) White Gold.

Over the past 20 years, yellow gold has fallen out of favor, with platinum and white gold being seen as more stylish choices. The beauty of platinum and white gold is that they tend to reflect the colors of a diamond engagement ring more so than yellow gold. As a matter of chemistry, white gold is an alloy of gold (ie. it is gold and silver or palladium). This is where the concept of Karat comes in. Karat is a measure of the purity of the material. An 18K gold ring has 75% pure gold (the element). The higher the karat, the softer the ring and the more easily it will get scratched and dented. Accordingly, 18K is considered the optimal karat (with pure gold coming in at 24 karats). Not to throw a wrench into your knowledge, but platinum is measured slightly differently. Platinum, in case you weren't aware, is the king of the precious metals.

Platinum

Typically, platinum, the element, is alloyed with some other metal to make an engagement ring, similar to the way white gold is an alloy of elemental "yellow" gold and some other metal (sometimes even platinum). In the case of platinum, alloys include titanium, iridium or ruthenium (depending on the commodity price), however they are used in small quantities in order to maintain platinum's high purity. Platinum wedding rings are not measured in karats, contrary to gold wedding bands. Look for platinum wedding bands that have "PT 900" or "950 Plat" imprinted on the inside of the band. This means that the wedding ring is 90 or 95% pure platinum, and 5% of some other metal.

Yellow Gold or White Gold

Whereas a platinum ring will have high levels of purity, a typical gold wedding ring or gold engagement ring which will be between 14k and 18k. Translation: As much as 42% of your wedding rings could be made of something other than gold. Nevertheless, white gold is particularly popular as a less expensive investment than platinum. Buyer beware, however, as you're paying for a metal that should last a lifetime, rather than one whose yellow gold elements (pardon the pun) will begin to show within a couple of years (or even months.) White gold ranges in appearance anywhere from pale to silver and white gold wedding bands are silvery because the elemental gold is alloyed with a blend of silver and palladium for strength and color. Today, many white gold wedding rings are also coated with rhodium for extra brilliance.

Cost of An Engagement Ring
Once you've decided on a style, it's time to determine how much you can spend on the ring. Traditionally, a man is expected to spend at least the equivalent of two months salary on a diamond engagement ring, although a lesser amount is acceptable, particularly since the advent of national jewelers chains and online buying. (Yes, people are buying engagement rings online!) Before you revolt over tradition, there are several reasons why the engagement ring was expected to be so costly (at least, back in the day.)
-So that the young lady—and, not least, her family—would know that you had made a conscious effort at saving in order to propose to her.
-By saving for the ring, you show that you're also capable of saving for a future home.
-Should the couple fall upon hard times, there would always be the ring to 'pawn' in order to get through.

Indeed, an engagement ring was seen as more than the union of a man and wife, but an investment in family jewelery.

Fortunately, times have changed and the pressure to 'prove your worth' by spending two month's salary on an engagement ring has been relaxed. The guys at Groom Groove believe that what is truly important is that you spend enough to show her how much she means to you. For more on the two months salary tradition, click on the link.

Read more about engagement rings from GroomGroove.com:

• A short and sweet guide to diamond rings
• What is a GIA Certificate and do you need one?
• Buying an engagement ring online
• Should the engagement ring be a surprise?
• Two Months Salary!?!
• Diamond Engagement Ring Calculator
• Learn about the metals in a men's wedding ring (Yes, you'll wear a ring, too!)

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