Precious metals

Our jewellery is available in a wide range of precious metals, varying in colour, value and hardness.

Further information on precious metals and how they are certified and valued can be found on our hallmarking page.

As we manufacture our jewellery on-site, we also buy scrap precious metals at competitive rates, or we can use your old jeweelery in your new design. See our scrap precious metals page for more details.

Gold

Because of the softness of pure (24k) gold, it is usually alloyed with base metals for use in jewellery, altering its hardness and ductility, melting point, color and other properties. Alloys with lower caratage, typically 22k, 18k, 14k or 10k, contain higher percentages of copper, or other base metals or silver or palladium in the alloy. Copper is the most commonly used base metal, yielding a redder color. Eighteen-carat gold containing 25% copper is found in antique and Russian jewellery and has a distinct, though not dominant, copper cast, creating rose gold. Fourteen-carat gold-copper alloy is nearly identical in color to certain bronze alloys. White gold alloys can be made with palladium or nickel. White 18-carat gold containing 17.3% nickel, 5.5% zinc and 2.2% copper is silvery in appearance. Nickel is toxic, however, and its release from nickel white gold is controlled by legislation in Europe. Alternative white gold alloys are available based on palladium, silver and other white metals, but the palladium alloys are more expensive than those using nickel. High-carat white gold alloys are far more resistant to corrosion than are either pure silver or sterling silver.

Gold Carat

Many of our jewellery items are available in the following gold purities:

  • 9ct
  • 14ct
  • 18ct
  • 22ct

Gold Colour

By using different metals in the gold alloy, a wide range of shades and clours can be achieved:

  • Yellow gold - alloyed with other metals maintaining a rich golden colour.
  • White gold - alloyed with white metals, for example silver or palladium to give a silvery finish.
  • Rose gold - alloyed with metals such as copper to give a reddish tint.

Silver

Platinum

Platinum is a grey-white precious metal.

Palladium

Palladium has been officially acknowledged as the latest precious metal trend for the fine jewellery industry with the advent of a hallmark to guarantee its fineness.

From 22nd July 2009, the four UK Assay Offices can mark Palladium articles with a legally recognised Hallmark, applied under an amendment to the Hallmarking Act 1973.

The interest in Palladium both within the jewellery trade and among consumers has grown strongly in recent years, driven by an increased demand for quality jewellery in white precious metal.

Palladium, one of the platinum group metals is tarnish resistant, white and durable.