Choosing your ring metal

All RUUSK Jewellery is made from Solid Gold, or Platinum, to ensure that you can wear your very special piece(s) for your lifetime to come. 

With a focus on durability and sustainability, we mindfully procure all our metals from local refiners and recyclers of precious metal who are committed to reinvesting in green technology and methods. 

So you can understand the differences between each Gold Carat (ct), Gold Colour and our alloys, we’ve put together a guide so you can choose the best option for you. 

Carat

Gold carat refers to the percentage of gold in relation to the other metals present in your jewellery. Because pure gold is soft and highly malleable, it’s rarely used to create jewellery that you want to last a lifetime. And this is why we do not offer jewellery made in 100% gold, also known as 24ct, or 24k if you live in America. 

Instead, we offer 18ct, 14ct & 9ct gold which means that pure gold has been mixed with other alloys to create jewellery that is strong enough to wear everyday. 18ct gold contains 75% pure Gold, 14ct - 58.5% and 9ct - 37.5%. The higher the proportion of gold, the more valuable and expensive your special piece will be. 

All RUUSK pieces come with a small stamp indicating your very special piece's gold carat. However, please let us know if you would prefer to omit this stamp when placing your order. 

In regards to durability, it would seem logical to assume that because 9ct contains less solid gold, it is ‘harder’ and therefore more durable. However, when we think of hardness and durability in gold we can relate this to glass and plastic: 

Glass might be harder than plastic, but it is also more prone to cracking and breaking. And the flexibility in plastic can help make it more durable. It is for this reason, we recommend 14ct and 18ct, especially for engagement and wedding bands, as 14ct and 18ct are thought to be more durable than 9ct. 

Additionally, because solid gold is tarnish-resistant and hypoallergenic, 18ct is the most tarnish-resistant and hypoallergenic option. So if you have any allergies to metals or sensitive skin, we strongly recommend opting for 18ct.

Most importantly, it’s worth noting that when you’re stacking all your fine jewellery pieces together, you need to match the gold ct as each has a different level of softness and hardness. This ensures one of your special pieces won’t wear into the other and is best practice for longevity and durability. And as long as the gold ct’s match, you can play around with gold colours & high polished or matt finishes. 

Colour

Your preferred gold ct will also affect the colour of your very special piece. And this affects Yellow, Rose & White gold differently: 

Yellow Gold

One of the most traditional shades in jewellery, yellow gold celebrates the natural tones of pure gold. 

Mixing pure gold with alloys, such as Silver and Copper, for strength, higher percentages of gold will result in a brighter shade of yellow. 

As such, 18ct is a richer and brighter yellow than 9ct because higher percentages of gold result in a brighter shade of yellow; our 14ct and 9ct Yellow are very similarly toned. Rose Gold

Rose gold is created by mixing solid gold with alloys, such as copper, for that beautiful reddish hue. 

Because 9ct rose gold contains more copper and less solid gold, 9ct rose gold tends to have a slightly stronger reddish colour. And 18ct rose gold will have a subtler rose gold hue as it contains more solid gold (solid gold being naturally yellow). 

Some people have sensitivities to Copper so we recommend, should your budget allow, to opt for 18ct as this reduces the Copper content. It also creates a more tarnish-resistant and hypoallergenic ringWhite Gold

Created by mixing solid gold with alloys such as palladium and silver, white gold is perhaps the most misunderstood of all the gold colours. As solid gold is yellow, with White Gold the colour change is created by the other alloys it is mixed with. To further heighten a bright white look, it is industry standard to rhodium plate all white gold jewellery. Rhodium-plating gives white gold jewellery a bright, white appearance.

When 9ct, 14ct and 18ct white gold pieces are rhodium plated, they will all initially look the same. But over time, as the rhodium plating fades, you can see the differences in White Gold tones. 

Unplated white gold tends to have more of a yellow or grey hue with 9ct white gold being a warm white tone and 18ct being a darker white-grey. We don't rhodium-plate our matt white gold pieces as most prefer to allow these grey white tones to come through. 

Otherwise, all RUUSK high polished white gold pieces are rhodium plated so they match other white gold jewellery that you wear. If you would prefer to leave your piece unplated, please let us know when you place your order. Or, should you wish to restore your special piece to its original bright, white shine, we can re-rhodium plate your special piece when required; please contact us for more information. 

Platinum

If you like the tones of white gold or silver, but would prefer an alternative alloy to gold, platinum is a wonderful option. Known for being one of the most durable metals on earth, platinum can be used in a purer form than gold and typically forms 95% of your special piece. 

A metallic white to silver-grey tone, platinum is 20% denser than gold and is much heavier. A naturally occurring white metal, it does not require rhodium plating. 

Platinum is also a great hypoallergenic choice for those with sensible skin. And to find out more, we’ve also put together a blogpost here comparing the differences between white gold and platinumIf you have any questions, need help or want more information please don't hesitate to contact us. We're always happy to help.