Pros and Cons of Different Metal Types

While it's true that Ritani rings come in variety of different metal types, the advantages and disadvantages of each type may not be readily apparent. Here is a quick rundown of three of the most popular metal types, and some pros and cons of each.

• Gold Pros:
  • It has a traditional luster and beauty that has been prized for centuries.
  • It's malleable, and easily configured into an infinite vareity of designs.
  • It can be combined with other metals to create different colors (yellow, white, rose).
  Cons:
  • The pure form can't be used for jewelry, as it's too soft and won't hold its shape even with normal wear. Even when combined with other metals to form stronger alloys, a gold ring requires yearly checkups to ensure a tight fit around your diamonds.
  • When gold is scratched, or even just polished, some of the molecules are actually worn away, resulting in a slight loss of mass over time.
  • Gold is not necessarily hypoallergenic.
• Platinum Pros:
  • Platinum is strong, durable, and doesn't lose mass over time -- any scratches that occur merely push the metal aside, instead of removing it.
  • It's a rarer metal than gold, giving it a higher appreciation over time.
  • It's hypoallergenic, so it won't react with certain chemicals and acids found naturally on the skin.
  Cons:
  • The natural silver-white hue can unintentionally highlight (by contrast) any color present in your diamonds. Most platinum diamond engagement ring settings do best with a diamond with a color rating between D and H.
  • Given its rarity, a platinum setting can be more expensive than the same setting in gold.
• Cobalt Pros:
  • This is a very strong metal, which doesn't oxidize (rust) easily. In fact, cobalt is used in many surgical tools for exactly these characteristics.
  • Cobalt, like platinum, is hypoallergenic.
  • It can occur in darker shades, which can offer an eye-catching and sophisticated departure from traditional metal types.
  Cons:
  • Stronger metals are actually more likely to shatter if you regularly wear them during high-impact sports (such as racquetball, where your ring hand may quite often slap against a solid wall). This is because their strength gives them an inherent lack of flexibility.
  • That same lack of flexibility imposes some design limits for cobalt settings.

Ritani rings offer a wide variety of options, but bear in mind: there is no "perfect" metal. Each has its strengths, and each has its weaknesses. But arming yourself with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision will ensure that your ring will be perfect for you.