Jewelry Guides
Metals, made simple
Your metal changes how your ring looks, how strong it is and how much care it needs. Here's what to know about each one.
Good to know: 14K gold is our most popular choice. 18K has a deeper, richer gold color.
The quick guide
Short on time? Start here.
| Metal | Looks | Care needed |
|---|---|---|
| 14K yellow gold | Soft, champagne gold | Low |
| 14K or 18K white gold | Bright white | Medium, replate about once a year |
| 14K rose gold | Soft pink | Medium |
| 18K yellow gold | Deep, rich gold | Medium, a little softer |
| Platinum | Naturally white, never changes color | High |
Care needed means how often your ring needs a checkup and touch ups to stay looking new.
Most popular: 14K gold
14K gold costs less, is strong and is the easiest to care for. Love a deeper, richer gold color? 18K has more pure gold, and it's a studio favorite.
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Pick your gold color
All gold starts out yellow. We mix it with other metals to make it stronger and to change the color.
Yellow gold
Warm and classic. It doesn't need plating, so it keeps its color. A polish brings back the shine.
White gold
Bright and white, so diamonds look icy. It gets a thin, shiny white coat called rhodium. When the coat wears off, we add a fresh one to make it bright again.
Rose gold
A soft pink color that comes from copper. It needs a polish over time to keep its glow. 14K is blush pink. 18K is a richer, orange-pink.
Two-tone
Want warm gold with an icy diamond? Pick two-tone: white gold prongs on a yellow or rose gold band.
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14K or 18K?
Karat tells you how much pure gold is in your ring.
14K gold
58.5% pure gold, mixed with stronger metals. It costs less, has a soft champagne gold color and holds up great to everyday wear.
18K gold
75% pure gold, so the gold color is deeper and richer. It's a little softer than 14K, so it can show small scratches sooner. A polish brings back the shine.
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White metals: how they wear
14K white gold, 18K white gold and platinum all look the same bright white on day one. The difference is how they change over time.
White gold over time
White gold gets a rhodium coat, a shiny white metal from the same family as platinum. With everyday wear, the coat slowly rubs off and shows the gold's natural color underneath, a soft yellowish white. 18K white is a little more yellow underneath than 14K white.
Replating white gold
When the coat wears off, we replate it. We recommend replating no more than once a year. Each time, we lightly polish the ring first, and every polish takes off a super thin layer of gold.
Platinum over time
Platinum never changes color. Instead, it scuffs and gets dull, and a polish brings back the shine. It never loses metal, no matter how many times it's polished.
The trade off
White gold stays crisp and bright between replatings, but loses a tiny bit of gold each time. Platinum never loses metal, but it's softer, so it scuffs, bends and looks worn sooner.
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Platinum: what to know first
Platinum is beautiful and naturally white, but it's softer than gold and needs more care. Here's the honest truth before you choose it.
It bends more easily
Platinum is softer than gold. Over time, rings can bend out of round into an oval shape, and prongs can get pushed and flattened.
It scuffs and dulls faster
Platinum scuffs and looks worn sooner than gold. It never changes color, and a polish brings back the shine without taking away any metal.
It needs a thicker band
Platinum rings need a band at least 2mm wide so they keep their shape.
It needs a special jeweler
Repairs and resizing need a skilled platinum jeweler. Not every jeweler can work with it.
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How hard is each metal?
This is a scratch test score. A higher number means harder to scratch.
| Metal | Score |
|---|---|
| 14K white gold | About 165 |
| 14K yellow gold | About 150 |
| 14K rose gold | About 150 |
| 18K white gold | About 140 |
| 18K yellow gold | About 125 |
| 18K rose gold | About 125 |
| Platinum | About 80 |
Scores are on the Vickers hardness scale. Harder means fewer scratches, but every metal gets small scratches over time. A polish fixes them.
Our center stones
Lab grown diamonds
Real diamonds grown by people in a lab. They look and sparkle just like natural diamonds and cost much less.
Natural diamonds
Diamonds grown deep in the earth. Every natural diamond we sell follows the Kimberley Process, which means it's conflict free.
Colored gemstones
We can set sapphire, ruby, morganite or moonstone too. Sapphire and ruby are very hard and great for every day. Morganite and moonstone are softer, so they need gentler wear.
Questions people ask
Should I pick 14K or 18K?
14K is our most popular. It costs less and has a soft champagne gold color. 18K has more pure gold and a deeper, richer color. Both work for everyday wear. 18K just shows small scratches a little sooner.
Why is my white gold turning a little yellow?
The white rhodium coat is wearing off and showing the gold's natural soft yellowish white. That's normal. We can replate it to make it bright white again. We recommend replating no more than once a year.
Is platinum stronger than gold?
No. Platinum is heavier, but it's softer. It bends and scuffs more easily than gold, so it needs more care and a band at least 2mm wide. The good news: it never changes color and never loses metal when it's polished.
Are your diamonds conflict free?
Yes. Our natural diamonds follow the Kimberley Process. Lab grown diamonds are made in a lab, so they're never mined.
Can I get a certificate for my stone?
Yes. Our diamonds come with grading reports, and we can provide certificates for some gemstones when you ask.
Can I change the center stone in my ring?
Yes. We can make your ring with a different center stone. Text us your idea and we'll help.
Do you sell moissanite?
No. We only sell real diamonds, lab grown and natural, plus colored gemstones.
Still deciding?
We'll help you pick
Text us and we'll help you choose the right metal for your style and how you live. Or come see them side by side at our studio in Huntington Beach.
