Canberk Koksal

If you are wondering what the difference between white gold and silver is? Or if you’re like many who didn’t know there was such a thing called white gold, today we have got you covered!
Kick back and get ready to become familiar with what you need to know before going on the jewellery hunt next.

What is white gold?

It is a beautiful shimmering cocktail of pure gold and other metals, making it stronger and allowing it to develop a whiter colour. Just like yellow gold is measured in karats, often so is white gold! This is to calculate the purity.

What is silver?

Silver is (as us jewellery enthusiasts know) more than just what coins are made of, this specific shiny piece of metal has decorated us for years. It is often a combination of silver and copper, to give it extra strength and durability when we wear it.

Extra fact:

When you’ve been shopping for jewellery in the past, trying rings on, admiring their glitz, testing out what diamond shape is best suited to your fingers (maybe for that special day). Whatever the occasion, you may have or haven’t noticed that there is a number stamped into the metal. This is how you can tell the percentage of pure silver to copper making up that particular ring!

White Gold vs. Silver

You might now be wondering which one is better between the two, but it is all about what you are looking for. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect engagement ring, if you’re unsure what the difference between white gold and silver really has when you’re wearing it, let us make this big decision a little bit easier.

First let's break it down into categories that you might be considering to achieve your fairy tale dreams!

Durability:

Depending on the type of person you are and your typical day-to-day activities the strength of your ring is sure to be an important component. If you find yourself to be active, doing a lot of things, maybe you’re a little bit of a clumsy person, then a white gold ring is the way to go. This will be your saving grace from scratches, dents, and anything else that could create imperfections on your special ring. However, this all depends on the purity of the ring (i.e the karats).
If you are more of a dainty person who isn’t too worried about bumping your ring, silver may be the way to go (that is if you prefer how it looks). This is because silver is softer so it's much easier to scratch with daily wear and tear. 

Affordability: 

White gold is on the pricier side, whereas silver is one of the most affordable metals for your jewels. If you are on team white gold, don't let this discourage you, it may be more expensive than silver, but it is less than platinum.

Nickel:

Got a nickel allergy?
Nickel is used in both silver and white gold, but not to worry. White gold is plated with Rhodium which will protect your dainty fingers from any nickel that your ring is mixed with. Keep in mind though, this plating will eventually wear off depending on how often you wear it and look after your rings.
Silver on the other hand is also mixed with nickel but it is usually only the smallest amount present, so if this isn't a worry for you, you are set!

Maintenance:

Like all pieces of jewellery in your lovely collection it should be a ritual or routine involved with cleaning them.
At the very least white gold needs to be re-plated with Rhodium, which is the quickest and easiest way to restore its appearance. This can be scheduled for every two years, it's not an expensive process and some jewellers even do this for free.

Silver on the other hand needs regular cleaning and polishing to ensure that it stays looking its best. Silver is prone to tarnishing! It will never rust but we always want our jewels to look their best when they are on display.

Whichever you decide there is no doubt it will look beautiful, as engagement rings represent so much more than what metal they are. To preserve these moments that your ring represents between you and your partner book yourself in for twice a year check-up for professional cleaning. Especially if you are slack with your at home routine (that's okay though, life gets hectic).

“Does my wedding ring need to be the same type of metal as my engagement ring?”

At the beginning of your engagement ring shopping, it’s all about the aesthetic, what is going to look the nicest on my finger, which diamond will sparkle the brightest, and which ring will compliment my finger most. For the partner who is on the hunt is likely to feel the pressure, what will get the approval of her family members, friends and most importantly the fiancé to be.

With all of these thoughts rushing through your head, what metal the engagement ring will be, might be one of the last things that you consider. However, this decision, although not the first to ponder, it will influence the kind of wedding band that follows later.

Here is a list of the top three most commonly asked questions when it comes to choosing the engagement ring and the wedding band afterwards.
“Can I wear gold jewellery with a silver engagement ring?”
“Should my engagement ring be silver or gold?”
“Can you wear a yellow gold wedding band with a white gold engagement ring?”

Lets be honest ladies and gentlemen, there are no rules when it comes to what your engagement ring should look like and what metal the wedding band should be. The rules for styling bridal jewellery are changing year by year, and the norm for having a uniform styled metal ring is out. In modern times brides everywhere are beating to their own drum and preferring their engagement rings and wedding bands to be less matchy-matchy. The rings that you choose should be a true representation of your individuality and style and not based on what fashion magazines tell us is correct and acceptable!

Just remember, platinum looks just as good next to a gold or rose gold wedding band. 

For those of you who want a little help with mixing your metals, here is our basic engagement ring and wedding band pairing run down:

1. What do you want?
You need to remember, you’re the one who has to wear the rings, so you may as well stack whatever metals you want and wear them proudly!

2. How to make mixing work for you.
If you’re not into the matchy-matchy look but don’t want to look like a hot mess with rings that clash. Our tip for you is to look for subtle similarities, this could be shape, stone type, or design.

3. Have fun with shapes.
The best thing about our modern society and creative jeweller minds, is that wedding bands offer so many shapes that allow you to express your individuality. Gone are the days of restricted styles and basic ring designs, we have so many more options! You might like to try the criss-cross band with a central stone engagement ring or maybe something else you notice in the shop that creates a harmonious layer.

4. Colours.
When it comes to mixing your metals, like the silver engagement ring and gold wedding band. Colour can become a feature in the stacking process and act as a catalyst to bringing the look together.

5. To pull the look together.
Find an identical element that you like the most about engagement rings and wedding bands and roll with it. Even though you’re planning on having different metals you can play with identical shapes and diamonds to tie the stack together.

6. Mood.
You can rock whatever style you like, but a good rule of thumb is to stick with a mood. This means sticking to styles that are vintage inspired or modern, for example, this can help to ensure your rings don’t clash. Like we say though, your ring should represent you and these are just guides laid out as suggestions. It's for those who struggle to encapsulate the style they see themselves wearing.

Looking to restore that sparkle and shine back into your diamond ring?

We all have certain rings that we love and adore wearing all the time or just for those special occasions. Either way, just like having a skincare and hair care routine, it's important that we follow a routine for our jewellery!

Which is why we want to share with you some of our favourite do’s and don'ts when it comes to making sure your babies stay in pristine condition. 

If you’re on this blog you probably have a diamond ring that is in need of some TLC and an extra special routine, or you know someone who is in need of these tips. 

Tips for keeping that forever sparkle

1. Regular short cleans at least once a month 
2. Being gentle when washing or wearing
3. Check what metal your ring is made of, because all materials are different and require specific attention

Your different rings demand different attention to cleaning, which is why we want to provide you with the top blanket rule when it comes to looking after your babies.

Blanket rule one, plain soap and water will clean all your unique array of rings. 

How to clean white gold diamond rings

Overtime, as we know it, our rings tarnish naturally, and yes, it is sad to know that our favourite rings won't always hold the same shine that it did in the beginning. We can’t stop the process, but we can prevent and preserve the shine and memories that our jewellery can represent.

Whether it's an engagement ring, antique or an heirloom we want to make sure you are looking after your pieces correctly. Which is why we always say, before you wash your rings it is always best to check the stone to make sure that it isn't loose (a heartbreaking situation to think about indeed).

We want to let you in on a little daily wear and care secret. If you forget to do your weekly ring care routine like most of us may do in our busy lives. We have some tips that will give yourself a bit of leeway in between cleans. If you follow these next few things, you are sure to get away with a monthly clean rather than weekly. 

General daily care tips

When you have a stunning diamond engagement ring it can be hard to want to take it off. But what we need to remember is how to properly look after and preserve such a beautiful and memorable piece of jewellery. 

• 1) When you are busy meal prepping, cleaning up after yourself or desperate for that warm bath after a long day of work. Your diamond ring (or any ring for that matter) will thank you tremendously if you take it off before doing any of these things.
• 2) It's important to look after your skin and strictly follow a self-care routine. But for the sake of looking after your jewellery, take off your rings to avoid chemicals and lotions tarnishing them!
• 3) Sunscreen is another important skincare step not to skip, but when it comes to applying it, your engagement ring will thank you for not putting it on whilst wearing it.
• 4) For the sporty girls out there, you do not want to risk wearing your valuable rings whilst playing ANY type of sport or gardening for that matter.
• 5) For the best way to keep your ring shining like the diamond it originally was, it can be beneficial or even sacred to store it in a special spot at the end of the day. 

For extra white gold engagement ring care instructions

To take your ring care routine to the next level, white gold needs to be dipped in a plating called rhodium every few years. Sounds expensive or difficult? Surprisingly, it’s not, and often jewellers do this for free!

You can thank us later when you can see the long-lasting effects that good care of your jewellery can have.

And if you enjoy reading along with our blogs, be sure to check in as regularly as you can to make sure you don’t miss an update!