Choose your Metal
- Platinum is pure, rare, and eternal. Platinum is generally 95% pure. It will not fade or tarnish and keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum's purity makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin. This exquisite metal is 35 times rarer than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the platinum in the world were poured into one Olympic swimming pool it would be scarcely deep enough to cover your ankles. It’s also safe to wear in a chlorinated swimming pool unlike yellow or white gold. Platinum’s density and weight make it more durable than other jewelry metals. An identical ring in Platinum will weigh 60% more than a 14k gold version. Platinum does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly and securely. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, the scratch on a platinum piece is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost.
- Yellow Gold is loved for its warm rich color. It provides a lovely contrast to show off a dazzling white diamond. Gold has been the most treasured of the precious metals since the beginning of time. Pure gold, or 24K, has a deeply warm and rich color, but it is extremely soft and easily damaged. Gold jewelry is alloyed with other metals, such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc to give it strength and durability. 18K gold is 75% gold; 14K is 58.5%; and 10K is 41.6%. The higher the karatage, the richer the color and the purer the metal. Chlorine, bleach or other corrosive chemicals dissolve the alloy portion of the metal, creating porosity and reducing durability. If you’re an avid swimmer, remember to remove your gold before entering the pool.
- White Gold and other colors of gold are achieved by varying the alloys mixed with gold to produce a certain hue. Different proportions of these alloys give gold its rose, green, or white coloration. The white color gold was developed during World War II as a substitute for Platinum which had become unavailable. Though very similar, the look is not identical. White Gold is considered to possess a cool white hue while platinum has a slightly warmer white cast. White gold is commonly plated with a metal in the platinum family called Rhodium. This finish gives white gold a brighter white appearance and helps to prevent discoloration that would gradually occur otherwise. This plating can wear off but can easily be restored. Because of its lower cost, white gold replaced platinum in popularity even after platinum returned. It remains a more affordable yet beautiful alternative.
We require certificates of origin through the "Kimberly Process" to insure
all diamonds from
Mills Jewelers are "Conflict Free". Click here for more
information.
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