How Yellow Gold Engagement Rings Are Made

by Michelle Elkins

Yellow gold engagement rings have a simple, timeless appeal. Unlike their white gold and platinum counterparts, the sumptuous colour of gold diamond engagement rings generates warmth and a becoming glow. This makes it the best metal against which to set the dazzling brilliance of a diamond. Contrary to what many people believe however, gold in jewellery is not used as it comes out of the ground.

In its purest form gold is far too soft and malleable for day-to-day use, which makes it vulnerable to scratching and bending out of shape. In order to make it useable for items such as yellow gold princess cut engagement rings metals such as copper, nickel or silver are added to form an alloy. These can be added in different quantities to create different strengths and are measured in karats, with 24 karats signifying pure gold. Most engagement rings in the UK are created with 18 karat gold. Many people are allergic to the nickel that is added so a European Union Directive has been brought into restrict the amount that can be used. although some jewellers opt to stay away from it altogether.

Gold itself is a fascinating material which is so ductile that just one gram of it can be stretched out to form a sheet of one metre squared without breaking. This makes it superb for shaping into a variety of intricate and detailed designs. It is also still relatively rare which is why it is considered a precious material and therefore suitably expensive. The term the "acid test" actually derives from the test for gold. Other baser metals will dissolve in nitric acid while gold remains insoluble.

Fortunately though yellow gold is less expensive then platinum and with Internet jewellery stores offering prices of anything up to 60 percent below those on the high street, it means you do not need to wait for an engagement rings sale to find your very own discount engagement ring in this beautiful and highly prized metal.