Platinum or Gold

It's your choice of what metal you prefer for your engagement ring or custom design jewelry. We design in platinum, 18K white gold, 18K yellow gold, 14K white gold and 14K yellow gold. Here are a few things to know about each metal:

Platinum is the strongest, most pure jewelry metal. Its density is much heavier than gold, therefore, increasing the weight of the jewelry. Due to its strength it is very resistant to damage.  As it wears over time it accumulates nicks in the metal that give it a worn look. The cost of platinum is more expensive than gold and takes more time to polish and repair. When platinum prongs are used to set diamonds, they can take about 10-12 years of wear and should be checked once a year for security.

White or yellow gold is the most common choice of metal for jewelry. Its malleable structure makes it ideal for forming jewelry designs. For the look of platinum at a much lower cost, 18K white gold or 14K white gold is a good choice. It is easy to repair and polish. As it wears it maintains its shine, however, may need to be plated with rhodium, a platinum alloy, once in a while to maintain the “whiteness” look of the gold. This is done each time a ring is brought in for polishing. Laurie's Diamonds uses 18K Precise white gold, an alloy combination that maintains the “whiteness” of the gold without the need for plating. When white gold prongs are used for setting diamonds they can take about 5-7 years of wear and should be checked once 2 times a year for security.