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The Four Types of Precious Metals at Kayes

In the world of fine jewellery, the choice of metal is just as significant as the gemstones it adorns. From the timeless elegance of platinum to the warm allure of yellow and rose gold, each precious metal brings its own unique character and charm to jewellery pieces. 

In this guide, we'll delve into the distinctive qualities of the four precious metals we offer at Kayes: Platinum 950, 18ct Yellow Gold, 18ct Rose Gold, and 18ct White Gold, helping you understand their characteristics and choose the perfect metal for your jewellery preferences.

It is important to note that as with all precious metals, each one will have a hallmark to show its authenticity. For more information on hallmarking read our Hallmark Guide.

Platinum 950 - Precious Metal

Platinum 950

Naturally white in colour platinum is a versatile, hypo-allergenic & durable metal. It is a naturally occurring metal, rarer than gold.

Platinum is exceptionally hard in its pure state. Other metals are added to make it suitable for jewellery creations.

Platinum 950 refers to the purity of the metal. It is 95% platinum with a 5% mix of other metals.

18ct yellow gold - precious metal

18ct Yellow Gold

Yellow gold is golds most traditional hue. Gold is measured in carats and divided in to 24 parts. Pure gold is 24cts.

18ct gold means it is 75% pure gold with a 25% mix of varying alloy metals. This is why 18ct gold will have a '750' stamp.

The alloys are added to strengthen the metal, making it suitably durable for everyday wear.

18ct White Gold - Precious Metal

18ct White Gold

18ct white gold has a similar silvery hue to platinum. White gold is made from pure yellow gold & other white metals.

As yellow gold is present, due to natural wear and tear overtime, you may notice a slight yellow sheen as the outer layer is worn away.

This is easily fixed with a simple process called rhodium re-plating. Rhodium comes from the same metal family as platinum & will restore is lustrous sheen and serve as a protective layer.

18ct Rose Gold - Precious Metal

18ct Rose Gold

The romantic hue of rose gold is achieved by mixing a combination of pure gold & copper.

The most common alloy of rose gold is 75% pure gold with 25% copper, which makes 18ct rose gold. There is no such thing as pure rose gold, as the only gold colour found naturally is yellow.

Rose gold was first created and used for fine jewellery in the 19th Century.

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