When choosing an engagement or wedding ring, attention often focuses on the diamond, but the choice of metal is just as important. The precious metal affects the appearance, comfort, durability and even the way the ring ages over years and decades of wear.

Today, there are more options than ever. Alongside traditional yellow gold, popular choices include white gold, rose gold, platinum and palladium. Each has its own characteristics, strengths and distinctive appearance.

At Torkkeli Jewellery, all the precious metal alloys we use are nickel-free, and our jewellery is responsibly handcrafted using recycled precious metals.

Yellow Gold: A Timeless Classic

Yellow gold is the most traditional precious metal used in jewellery. Its warm colour has remained popular for generations and works beautifully in both classic and contemporary ring designs.

Many people are surprised to learn that pure gold is not normally used for everyday jewellery. The reason is simple: pure gold is too soft for regular wear. Instead, jewellery is made from gold alloys.

14k gold, also known as 585 gold, contains 58.5% pure gold, while 18k or 750 gold contains 75% pure gold.

Yellow gold is an excellent choice for anyone who appreciates timeless style, the natural warmth of gold and traditional fine jewellery.

Benefits of Yellow Gold

• Timeless and highly valued appearance
• Naturally warm colour
• Does not require surface plating
• Easy to maintain and repair

White Gold: Modern and Refined

White gold is one of the most popular metals for engagement and wedding rings. Its light colour enhances the brightness of diamonds and gives jewellery a clean, contemporary appearance.

Many white gold alloys on the market are rhodium-plated to achieve a bright white surface. Rhodium plating gradually wears away with use and may need to be renewed during future maintenance.

At Torkkeli Jewellery, we use palladium white gold alloys with a naturally light colour that does not require rhodium plating.

Because there is no surface coating to wear away, long-term maintenance is often simpler and more cost-effective. The colour of the ring also remains natural throughout its lifetime.

Benefits of White Gold

• Elegant, light appearance
• Enhances the brightness of diamonds
• Our alloy does not require rhodium plating
• Easy to maintain over the long term

Rose Gold: Warm and Distinctive

Rose gold is recognised by its beautiful warm, reddish tone, created by combining gold with copper.

In recent years, rose gold has become increasingly popular for engagement and wedding rings. Its soft warmth complements many skin tones and offers a distinctive alternative to traditional yellow and white gold.

Rose gold also has one interesting characteristic. Unlike many other gold alloys, 18k rose gold is often slightly harder than a comparable 14k rose gold alloy. This is due to the specific composition of the metal.

Benefits of Rose Gold

• Warm and romantic colour
• Distinctive yet timeless appearance
• Pairs beautifully with diamonds
• A personal alternative to classic gold tones

Platinum: One of the Finest Precious Metals

Platinum is one of the world’s rarest and most highly valued precious metals.

For those looking for a naturally bright white metal, platinum is often an exceptional choice. Its natural colour is whiter than most white gold alloys, and it does not require surface treatments to maintain its appearance.

Platinum is also a very dense metal, which means it feels slightly heavier on the hand than gold. Many people consider this substantial weight part of its luxurious appeal.

Platinum used in fine jewellery is typically very high in precious metal content. Because of its purity, it is also considered a highly skin-friendly option and is particularly well suited to sensitive skin.

Unlike many other metals, platinum tends to displace rather than lose metal when scratched during normal wear. This characteristic contributes to its exceptional longevity as a material for jewellery designed for everyday use.

Benefits of Platinum

• Naturally bright white colour
• Exceptional longevity
• Highly suitable for sensitive skin
• Rare and prestigious precious metal
• Excellent choice for diamond jewellery

Palladium 500: A Less Common White Precious Metal

Palladium belongs to the same platinum-group metals as platinum. It has a naturally light and elegant colour, making it particularly interesting for those looking for an alternative to white gold or platinum.

We also create selected ring designs in 500 palladium.

The hardness of 500 palladium is close to that of 14k white gold, making it well suited to everyday wear. Palladium is also naturally nickel-free.

Benefits of Palladium

• Naturally light colour
• Well suited to daily wear
• Nickel-free
• A more unusual and distinctive choice

What About Silver?

Silver is a beautiful and traditional precious metal that is widely used in jewellery.

Its light colour appeals to many people, and it is an excellent material for pendants, earrings and many other types of jewellery.

However, silver is less commonly used for engagement and wedding rings. The main reason is that it is softer than gold, palladium and platinum.

With everyday wear, silver scratches and wears more quickly, which is why it is not generally considered the ideal choice for a ring intended to be worn for a lifetime.

14k or 18k Gold?

One of the most common questions concerns the purity of gold.

14k gold contains 58.5% pure gold, while 18k gold contains 75%.

It is easy to assume that a higher carat automatically means a better choice. In reality, the decision depends more on personal preference and how the ring will be worn.

14k gold offers excellent durability and is the most commonly used gold alloy in jewellery in Finland.

18k gold contains a higher proportion of pure gold and is widely regarded internationally as a standard for luxury fine jewellery. In yellow gold in particular, the higher gold content creates a deeper and richer colour.

Both are excellent choices, and there is no single right answer.

All Our Precious Metal Alloys Are Nickel-Free

Nickel allergy is one of the most common sensitivities associated with jewellery.

For this reason, all precious metal alloys used by Torkkeli Jewellery are nickel-free. This helps make our jewellery as suitable as possible for sensitive skin.

Which Ring Metal Should You Choose?

There is no single answer that works for everyone.

If you love the warmth of gold, yellow gold may be the perfect choice. If you prefer cooler tones, white gold, palladium or platinum may feel more natural. Rose gold offers a softer and more individual alternative to traditional gold colours.

The differences between metals are often easiest to understand when you can see and compare them side by side.

At Torkkeli Jewellery, we are happy to help you find the precious metal that best suits your style, everyday life and budget.

Ultimately, the right material is the one that still feels like your own decades from now.