Skip to main content
Taylor's Jewellers logo
  • Engagement &
    Love Rings
    • Engagement Rings
    • Semi-Mount Rings
    • Create Your Own
  • Collections
    • Ania Haie
    • Movado
    • Coeur De Lion
    • Gabriel & Co
    • PANDORA
    • Maple Leaf Diamonds
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • ELLE
    • Crown Ring
    • Bleu Royale
    • Meditation Rings
    • Citizen
    • Noam Carver
    • Keith Jack
    • Torque
    • Paragon Fine Jewellery
  • Jewellery
    • Loose Diamonds
    • Bridal
      • Engagement Rings
      • Semi-Mount Rings
      • Create Your Own
    • Bracelets
      • Charm Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Gold Bracelets
      • Silver Bracelets
      • Alternative Metal Bracelets
    • Charms
      • Silver Charms
    • Earrings
      • Stud Earrings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Hoop Earrings
      • Drop Earrings
      • Gemstone Earrings
    • PANDORA
      • Gift sets - Pandora
      • Safety Chains - Pandora
      • Spacers - Pandora
      • Chains - Pandora
      • Pendants - Pandora
      • Bracelets - Pandora
      • Charms - Pandora
      • Rings - Pandora
      • Earrings - Pandora
      • Necklaces - Pandora
      • Clips - Pandora
    • Pendants & Necklaces
      • Chains
      • Diamond Pendants
      • Gemstone Pendants
      • Pearl Necklaces
      • Silver Pendants
    • Rings
      • Anniversary Bands
      • Diamond Rings
      • Stackable Rings
      • Fashion Rings
      • Gemstone Rings
    • Tie, Cuffs & Clips
    • Watches
      • Women's Watches
      • Men's Watches
    • Wedding Bands
      • Men's Wedding Bands
      • Women's Wedding Bands
      • Alternative Metal Bands
      • Baby-Earrings
      • Baby-Bracelets
      • Baby-Necklace
      • Giftcards
      • Cleaning Products
      • Giftware
  • Our Store
    • About Us
    • Repairs
    • Jewellery Services
    • Return Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Education
    • Jewellery Education
    • Diamond Education
      • The Four Cs of Diamonds
      • Diamond Buying Tips
    • Choosing The Right Setting
    • Learn About Gemstones
      • Birthstone Guide
      • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewellery Care
      • Caring for Fine Jewellery
      • Diamond Cleaning
      • Gemstone Cleaning
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
    1. Home
    2. Education
    3. Metals

    Learn About Metals

    Metals

    There are many different metal types that are used to make jewelry, and we've listed some popular metal types below.

    •  Yellow Gold
    •  White Gold
    •  Rose Gold
    •  Platinum
    •  Palladium
    •  Silver
    •  Cobalt
    •  Tungsten
    •  Titanium

    Yellow Gold is an alloy made of a mixture of pure gold and either zinc and copper. The higher the karat amount, the more pure the gold.

    Style Information:

    • Has that classic “Gold” look
    • Pairs great with Garnets and Diamonds
    • Can be softer or easier to break depending on purity

    Mohs Scale:

    • 18k 2.8 hardness level
    • 14k 3.5 to 4 hardness level

    White Gold is a form of gold with a distinct pale white or cream color; its an alloy of gold and at least one white metal; either nickel, manganese, or palladium, which typically makes up apprx 10% of the alloy.

    Style Information:

    • Goes great with Diamonds
    • Cheaper alternative to Platinum
    • Commonly 9-1 gold to nickel

    Mohs Scale:

    • 18k 2.8 hardness level
    • 14k 3.5 to 4 hardness level

    Rose Gold has a “rose” tint from the gold-copper alloy that composes it. It is also known as “pink gold” and “red gold”, and historically was very popular in Russian, which has also earned it the name “Russian Gold”, though it is far and away most well known as Rose Gold.

    Style Information:

    • Highest Karat version is known as “Crown Gold”
    • Pairs great with colored stones
    • Currently trending

    Mohs Scale:

    • 18k 2.75 hardness level
    • 14k 3 to 4 hardness level

    Platinum is a metal that is incredibly resistant to corrosion, even at high temperatures. Apart from jewellery, Platinum is used in the treatment of cancer. Because of its white color, it will not cast any tinting on any stones that are used.

    Style Information:

    • An alternative to Silver, White Gold or Palladium
    • One of the least reactive metals
    • Heaviest of the precious metals

    Mohs Scale:

    • 4 to 4.5 hardness level

    Palladium is a beautiful silvery-white metal that resembles Platinum. This metal has become much more valued in recent years and is used in a pure form in jewellery, and for combining with gold to form white-gold alloys. Because of its near white coloring, it will not cast any tinting on any stones it is used with.

    Style Information:

    • An alternative to Platinum or Silver
    • Does not tarnish under normal conditions
    • Used as an early treatment for tuberculosis

    Mohs Scale:

    • 4.75 hardness level

    Silver is one of the cornerstone precious metals, silver has long been used in jewellery, currency, and investment bullion. It is extremely malleable and pairs beautifully with most stones.

    Style Information:

    • Silver has been used as early as 3000 BCE
    • Very affordable
    • Associated with the ability to stop paranormal creatures such as vampires or werewolves

    Mohs Scale:

    • 2.5 to 3 hardness level

    Cobalt is a silver-grey highly magnetic metal, cobalt is used primarily in alloy compounds used in wear-resistant men’s wedding bands. Cobalt can appear blue-hued in the correct light.

    Style Information:

    • Cobalt pigments, specifically the blue, have been used for thousands of years
    • The Democratic Republic of Congo currently extracts about 40% of the world's cobalt supply each year
    • The name Cobalt comes from the German word kobold, meaning “goblin ore”

    Mohs Scale:

    • 5 hardness level

    Tungsten has the highest boiling point and strongest tensile strength, which means it is nearly impossible to scratch, though under extreme force it will shatter. It is naturally steel grey and has a subdued look.

    Style Information:

    • Production of tungsten is difficult due to its high melting point
    • Because of its conductive and anti-corrosion properties, tungsten is often used to make electrical wiring
    • Tungsten is the heaviest of all elements known to play a biological role

    Mohs Scale:

    • Tungsten: 7.5 hardness level
    • Tungsten carbide: 8.5 to 9 hardness level

    Titanium is an extremely versatile metal that is resistant to most types of corrosion. It’s value stems from its strength-to-density ratio, the highest amongst any metallic elements.

    Style Information:

    • Extremely valuable in machinery
    • Very difficult to bend
    • Titanium is used in a variety of surgical implants and tools, as it is not likely for the body to reject it

    Mohs Scale:

    • 6 hardness level
    Jewelry
    • Loose Diamonds
    • Bridal
    • Bracelets
    • Charms
    • Earrings
    • PANDORA
    • Pendants & Necklaces
    • Rings
    • Tie, Cuffs & Clips
    • Watches
    • Wedding Bands
    Designers
    • Ania Haie
    • Movado
    • Coeur De Lion
    • Gabriel & Co
    • PANDORA
    • Maple Leaf Diamonds
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • ELLE
    • Crown Ring
    • Bleu Royale
    • Meditation Rings
    • Citizen
    • Noam Carver
    • Keith Jack
    • Torque
    • Paragon Fine Jewellery
    Our Store
    • About Us
    • Repairs
    • Jewellery Services
    Taylor's Jewellers
    Taylor's Jewellers
    17 Victoria St. W.
    Alliston, ON L9R 1W1
    (705) 435-6460
    Store Information
    Monday:Closed
    Tuesday - Saturday:10:00am - 4:00pm
    Sunday:Closed
    Follow Us

    © 2021 Taylor's Jewellers. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.