Gold is, well, the standard precious metal for rings. Most people seek out gold for their wedding bands and engagement rings in classy measure. Many people choose 14K or 18K gold for their engagement and wedding rings as oppose to 10K because the pure gold content and richer color, and yet, 10K gold is still a quality metal choice.

Karats
When you look at gold jewelry, you notice there are several different choices. Pure gold is 24K gold, but it is not often used alone to make jewelry, due to its softness. It is alloyed with base metals for use in jewelry, which makes it harder and changes its color slightly. Fine jewelry is usually made from either 14K or 18K gold, both of which contain a certain percentage of copper or other metals in the alloy. All golds are mixed with other metals to create a distinct color and hardness. Because 18K gold is closer to the pure 24K gold, jewelry made from 18K gold is often a brighter and shinier gold than the jewelry made from 14K gold. However, the majority of fine jewelry - and especially engagement rings and wedding rings - is made from 14K gold.

Color
Most of us think about that golden tone when referring to gold jewelry. However, gold comes in multiple colors used in jewelry. Popular gold colors include yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. Yellow gold the truest color of raw gold out of all the gold colors. To create white gold, gold metal is usually mixed with a white metal such as nickel, zinc, or palladium to give it the silvery appearance that defines white gold. Similarly, to produce rose gold, pure gold is mixed with copper - the higher the copper content, the redder the gold will appear. Rose gold jewelry can come in 22K, which is the highest karat form and known as crown gold. Some rings include two or three of these gold colors, such as two tone wedding bands, to give them more versatility and uniqueness. Gold comes in various colors other than yellow gold.

Value
The value of gold depends on its durability, gold purity, weight, and processing. Rings made from 14K gold are durable and can withstand the rigors of everyday life. While white gold is generally slightly stronger than yellow gold due to the mix of alloy that make it white gold, both white and yellow gold can easily handle the rigors of daily life on the finger. The more gold and purity a jewelry item has, the more it will cost.

Sometimes the type of gold used in a ring is less important to a gold ring shopper than the design of the ring. The type of metal is simply a compliment to the desirable design of the ring and gemstone, but understanding what gold is all about can help a shopper make the critical decision between gold and platinum or even another metal.

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