Metal Properties

Ambrosia and its team of experienced jewelers have the skills, tools, and materials required to cast in a wide selection of metals, including precious, semi-precious, and alternative metals. Learn more about each metal's unique features, and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Gold is the most popular choice for men's and women's wedding rings and fine jewelry. When choosing Gold for your next piece of jewelry, consider two factors: color and karat.

• Color- When mined from Mother Nature, gold is a warm, yellow color. To create other variations of color, we add alloys during the casting process to make white or rose gold. Some diamonds and gemstones look best in specific gold colors. 
• Karat- The portion of pure gold in a ring is called 'Karat.' The weight or size of a diamond is called 'Carat.' They are both pronounced the same, but they have two completely different meanings in jewelry.
  • The higher the proportion of gold used in a ring, the more valuable the ring is. Pure gold is stamped as 24-karat, yet it is too soft to be used for jewelry. Other metal alloys are added to the gold mixture to make a stronger and more durable setting. The higher the karat number, the higher the amount of gold in a ring.
  • For example, a 14-karat stamp means that 14 parts out of 24 karats are pure gold. If a ring is stamped 18-karat, it contains 75% pure gold, 14k is 58.5% pure gold, and 10-karat only has 41.7% gold. Here at Ambrosia, most of our gold jewelry is created in 14k, but we have the flexibility to cast in all karat options.

Platinum is among the purest and most valuable of the precious metals. It is rarer than gold and more than 60% heavier than 14 karat gold. In its purest form, Platinum is one of the naturally occurring white precious metals that will not tarnish and does not require Rhodium plating.

Platinum is highly durable and is used for detailed designs with rare gemstones. This white metal is a perfect choice for those with allergies or for those who have experienced reactions to other metals. Platinum contains no skin irritants and has one of the highest purity standards in jewelry. Platinum is stamped either 950 or PLAT.

Palladium is a member of the platinum family and is one of the rarest and scarce metals in the world. It is known for its hypoallergenic features because it is nickel-free and contains no skin irritants. The most significant difference between Platinum and Palladium is the weight. We love Palladium because it is lightweight, similar to White Gold, but its color will not tarnish, fade, or require Rhodium plating, similar to platinum.

Sterling Silver is the most popular alloy of silver, especially in the jewelry world. You will often see silver branded as 925 silver. Sterling Silver can tarnish, so proper care is necessary by using our polishing cloths and magic tarnish remover solution.

Continuum Silver is a remarkable new solution to sterling silver jewelry. It contains over 95% precious metals, including palladium, which prevents the silver from tarnishing. It is significantly stronger than traditional silver and does not require rhodium plating. All Ambrosia silver jewelry is nickel-free and is a suitable option for those with metal allergies.

Tungsten Carbide is a Swedish word that means “heavy stone.”  Tungsten is the hardest, most scratch-resistant material on the market.  We offer Tungsten in its natural dark gun metal gray color. When purchasing a Tungsten band, be sure to buy from a reputable manufacturer to prevent quality issues with overseas Tungsten producers. A tungsten ring can be removed with vice-grips in case of an emergency. 

Cobalt boasts a beautiful, Platinum-like color and is lightweight and hypoallergenic. It is a great choice if you want a white gold-looking ring but not at the gold price. Cobalt rings will not chip or crack, making them great for diamonds and custom work. They are malleable up to a half-size and can be removed with a diamond-tip ring cutter in an emergency.

Titanium was the first contemporary metal on the market. It is known for being extremely lightweight and for its hypoallergenic features. Our rings are made from aircraft-grade five titanium, the most durable grade available. It has a gray color similar to tungsten but half the weight.

Black Diamond Ceramic is a state-of-the-art material. Unlike black-coated tungsten, ceramic will forever retain its color and shine. It is as scratch-resistant as tungsten carbide but without the weight. Ceramic is non-metallic, which is excellent for those who may have allergies. Ceramic rings can be removed with vice grips if needed.

We will recommend which metals are best for your design based on your design and budget.