Guide to metals

When searching for supreme quality jewelry, it's extremely important to know what you're buying. From gold to titanium, consumers need to know about the metals involved in their jewelry. You may have your choice of setting, so be sure you know what's best for you and your budget.

Gold

One of the most versatile metals, gold is considered a standard setting for most jewelry because it can maintain its luster for years and years. Gold is measured in Karats, which is then divided into 24 parts. If gold is pure, it is called 24 Karat. Gold is a soft metal, so it's often combined with other materials to make it stronger; as a result you'll likely see 14 Karat gold, which is 14 parts gold and 10 parts from other alloys. 18 Karat gold is 18 parts gold and ix parts other alloys. Generally, these other alloys include copper and silver to create yellow gold. For white gold, the pure gold is combined with copper, zinc and nickel.

Silver

One of the most diverse metals around, silver is used for jewelry of all kinds as well as household items and accessories. Silver is similar to gold in that it is a very soft metal. To be used for jewelry, it is often combined with copper or other metal alloys to make it stronger. The term "sterling silver" applies to silver that is mixed with less than 7.5 percent alloy; this means that sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver. Sterling silver is considered extremely strong - you'll often see it stamped at "sterling" or with "925" to indicate that it's sterling. Silver is a metal that is prone to tarnish. Make sure you polish your silver regularly - you should clean tarnish before it builds up so you don't damage your jewelry.

Platinum

Considered the most precious of metals, platinum is often selected for wedding bands. It is much more rare than gold - estimated to be five times as rare. To be properly considered platinum, the metal needs to contain at least 90 percent pure platinum; a metal can be considered gold if it has 41 percent or more pure gold. Some jewelers are offering a lesser form of platinum with 58.5 percent platinum that is often called 585 platinum. Platinum does not tarnish, nor can it be distorted when exposed to heat. Many consumers who have allergies prefer platinum because it is hypoallergenic.

Other metals

While gold, silver and platinum are the most common metals used for jewelry, they aren't the only ones. These metals also are used in some types of jewelry:

• Titanium: Three times stronger than steel, titanium is attractive because of its strength. It is hypoallergenic and won't corrode. It also weighs less than gold. It cannot be resized.
• Stainless Steel: Less likely to rust or corrode, stainless steel is gaining popularity in jewelry design. It is considered to be a fairly strong metal.
• Tungsten: One of the newest metals used in jewelry, tungsten is resistant to corrosion and is very dense - four times harder than titanium. It cannot be resized and is considered very low maintenance.