Design Your Own Engagement Ring, Platinum Or Gold

Platinum or gold? No, we are not talking about the color of your AmEx card here, but the color of the metal you are planning for your engagement ring. The very first decision when designing your own engagement ring will be what metal you will be wanting your ring to be crafted from. Your basic choices are platinum or gold. Gold is available in a variety of colors including white, yellow or rose.

While platinum is certainly a more costly metal it does have a few long term advantages over gold. Firstly, platinum is a harder metal and will not wear down. Secondly, it will not lose its shine or tarnish, whereas white gold that has been rhodium plated needs to be re-plated periodically to maintain its shine. Thirdly, platinum is hypoallergenic.

Platinum can also be used to advantage in settings to help showcase your diamond. The ring setting will be less obtrusive, and the white metal setting can actually make your diamond look a little larger. The high shine of the platinum will enhance the fire and sparkle of your diamond engagement ring.

A platinum engagement ring will certainly last you a lifetime. This ring will be just as shiny in 20 or 50 years as the day he slips it on your finger. Have you ever noticed how worn your grandparent's gold engagement and wedding rings have become over time? Well, with platinum your engagement ring will never fade away.

Platinum is certainly becoming more and more popular with the celebrities. The extremely high shine of the metal does exude a luxurious glamor.

Platinum rings can also look superb with stainless steel wrist watches. As we all know, stainless steel watches are another hard wearing jewelry item, and range in styles from athletic to formal.

Gold may be less expensive initially, but in terms of wear and tear, and repairs over a lifetime, it may well be a case of false economy. However, many girls do like the color that gold is available in. Ultimately it comes down to personal choice. If you prefer yellow or rose gold, then go for it. Perhaps you could have the claws or the setting made from platinum or white gold to highlight the diamond and have the actual band made from the metal of your choice. Or alternatively, have a platinum band that will not wear, and then have colored gold of your choice engraved or filigreed to give you a highly decorative and unique ring.

Yet another alternative is to incorporate both yellow and white metals for more complex designs. This can be a great way to get the best of both worlds or to perhaps keep the price of your engagement ring down. By incorporating both a yellow gold with platinum or white gold in your engagement ring, you will be always able to continue wearing both your yellow and white gold jewelry.

Custom made engagement rings are a fantastic way of ensuring that your engagement ring is absolutely made to your finest requirements. Contemporary designs of engagement rings can allow you a great selection of metals from which to craft your ring. Platinum, gold, or a mix of both, when designing your own engagement ring, the choice is totally yours.