ALL ABOUT METAL TYPES AND ACCENT STONES

I know, it’s a hard decision to make. When I ordered my very first breastmilk ring, I knew I wanted solid white gold, but had not idea what karat. I went with 10K white gold and clear cubic zirconia accent stones. After 2 years of wearing my ring daily, I realized the accent stones were dull. After attempting to clean them, they were still not shining like they once were. So I started doing some research into why, and the differences in 10K and 14K solid gold. Here’s what I found out:

Accent Stones

  • Moissanite

    Moissanite accent stones have a hardness of 9.25, making them the second hardest gemstone and one of the hardest substances on earth. Moissanites offer greater durability and greater shine than cubic zirconias, and will not scratch, cloud, or fade over time. They have a high resistance to dirt and oils, and with proper care will be sparky and clear for a lifetime! You cannot go wrong with adding moissanite accent stones to your jewelry. 

  • Cubic Zirconia

    Cubic Zirconia accent stones are the more affordable option, but they only last around 2-5 years. Cubic Zirconia stones are considerably less durable than Moissanite and Diamonds and typically scratch or become cloudy within 2-3 years of daily wear, or 5 years of occasional wear. 

  • Diamonds

    Diamonds are slightly harder than moissanite, coming in at a harness level of 10 - the highest it can go. While diamonds are slightly harder, moissanite stones have more fire and brilliance. Diamonds are often chosen over moissanite when the stone is larger and a center stone in the jewelry. Sometimes accent diamonds are chosen over moissanite simply because of their purity, value, and overall hardness. The only thing that can scratch a Diamond is another Diamond!

  • Overall, moissanite and diamonds are definitely your best bet in choosing accent stones that will last a lifetime, especially in such a special and sentimental piece of jewelry. Moissanite will outshine a diamond and will last a lifetime. Diamonds will last a lifetime and hold more sentimental value. You can’t go wrong with either of these stones! Moissanite are going to be the more cost effective alternative compared to a diamond. While moissanite is more cost effective than a diamond, cubic zirconia are much more cost effective than either of these stones and are most popular due to their affordability. It really comes down to preference, cost, and how often you’ll be wearing your jewelry! My personal pick is moissanite because of its shine. 

Metal Types

  • Sterling Silver

    Sterling Silver is the most popular metal purchased from Precious Grace, and is a very good choice! Sterling Silver is a beautiful and affordable option, and is a harder metal than gold! However, if not worn daily, Sterling Silver can tarnish overtime. If your Sterling jewelry does tarnish, all it takes is a little polishing with a silver polishing cloth and it’s back to its beautiful, sparkling self! Sterling Silver can be worn all day, everyday with no issues! 

  • 10K Gold

    10K Gold (white, rose or yellow) is significantly cheaper than 14K Gold. It is the lowest grade of Gold accepted in the U.S market and is the least pure. 10K Gold is composed of 41.7% Gold and 58.3% Alloy, making it the least pure Gold option and also the strongest Gold option. 10K Gold will appear more dull than other Gold options as it contains the most Alloy. 

  • 14K Gold

    14K Gold (white, rose or yellow) is the most commonly used Gold for jewelry settings. It is composed of 58.3% Gold and 41.7% Alloy. Most choose 14K Gold over 10K because of its perfect balance of clarity and durability. This Gold is brighter and can handle everyday wear. 14K Gold is the most commonly used for engagement and wedding rings. 

I get questions often about Sterling Silver turning your fingers green. This CAN happen, but doesn’t happen very often. The reason it’s possible is because Sterling Silver is made with copper and nickel alloy. If you don’t have an allergy to copper or nickel alloy, the chances of Sterling Silver turning your finger green is very minimal. I personally have never had any of my Sterling Silver rings to turn my finger green, and I wear them daily. The downside to Sterling rings is the fact that most of them come with Cubic Zirconia accent stones. Lots of jewelers won’t add Diamonds to a Sterling Silver setting because of cost. You are welcome to reach out to me if you’re wanting a Sterling Silver setting with Diamond or Moissanite accent stones and I can certainly check to see if that’s an option!

While some jewelers offer Gold Plated jewelry, I do not. This will never be something I offer due to the quick fading that occurs in this type of jewelry. Gold Plated jewelry is simply Sterling Silver jewelry with a very light coating of Gold on top. Which means with very light wear, the plating of gold will wear off and you’ll be left with a piece of jewelry that looks like a mix of silver and gold.

Gold Filled rings are offered on my website in very select pieces. These are rings that are made of Sterling Silver with a thick layer of Gold over top. This thick layer is typically thick enough that it will not wear off with normal to occasional wear, but it is possible!

Overall, 14K Gold uses more pure Gold than 10K, but since 10K Gold contains more Alloy, it is a bit more durable than 14K Gold and less expensive. Alternatively, Sterling Silver is more affordable than 10K Gold and is stronger, it just requires more maintenance whereas Gold can be worn without much maintenance at all. Sterling Silver and white gold are very similar in color, but if you are wanting the yellow or rose look, 10K or 14K are your best bet! My personal preference is Sterling Silver and 14K Gold!

I hope this was helpful to you! As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any further questions! -Sydney.