Obviously an extremely important detail to think about when choosing your engagement and wedding rings is durability, after all you’ll be wearing them for a long time! Some metals and stones are harder wearing than others, while some jewellery will require more care. It is important to remember, however, that jewellery is precious and should be treated as such – even the hardest wearing materials will require care and maintenance. Don’t expect to wear something on your hand every day for the rest of your life and for it not to receive some wear and tear. The good news is that rings can be re-polished to as good as new every couple of years.
Jewellery metal
If you choose jewellery with white metal the big question will be whether to opt for white gold or platinum. Marketing has championed platinum as the superior metal over the last ten years, but both metals have positives and negatives. Platinum jewellery is naturally white in colour whereas white gold is slightly off-white and is normally plated in a metal called rhodium to give it a whiter look. This plating will wear off and will need to be re-plated every one or two years. Platinum on the other hand will remain the same colour but will dull down much more quickly. White gold jewellery will stay polished for much longer than platinum rings.
Oddly, while platinum is a harder wearing metal, white gold is a better choice for stone set rings. As platinum is a very dense metal it absorbs no shock if it is knocked and therefore settings can move more easily. White gold will absorb a lot more of the shock from a knock and so will keep your diamond more secure. Both are durable metals but both will require care and maintenance.
Rose gold and yellow gold jewellery has come back into fashion, having been out of favour for the past number of years. Either is a great choice as they will stay looking shiny and will not lose their colour.
For men’s wedding rings there is so much choice now – titanium, palladium, gold and platinum are the more common metals but some men are opting for steel, tungsten carbide and carbon. Palladium is very similar to platinum but much more affordable – it is a great option for someone looking for a brighter coloured ring. For a duller look, consider titanium. A lightweight, naturally grey material; it is extremely durable, affordable and very masculine in look.
Gemstones
Diamonds are the hardest wearing of all gemstones but it is important to know that they are not indestructible! They can still chip – especially corners of princess cut, pear shape and marquise shape stones. Diamonds are less likely to be scratched so will stay looking newer than coloured stones.
If you are considering a coloured gemstone for your engagement ring, you will need to treat it with more care. Some stones are harder wearing than others – sapphire and ruby are very durable, whereas emerald, opal and pearl will almost certainly need to be replaced over time. If you are determined to have a pearl engagement ring that’s absolutely fine, you just need to be prepared to replace the pearl a good number of times throughout your life.
Choosing a high quality gemstone is important when thinking of durability – large inclusions in stones can create weak points and will make them much more vulnerable to breaking than a cleaner, brighter gemstone.
- Ann Chapman of Stonechat Jewellers
Images: Courtesy of Stonechat Jewellers