Skip to main content
  • Education
    • Jewelry Education
    • Diamond Education
      • The Four Cs of Diamonds
      • Diamond Buying Tips
    • Choosing the Ring
    • Learn About Gemstones
      • Birthstone Guide
      • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewelry Care
      • Caring for Fine Jewelry
      • Diamond Cleaning
      • Gemstone Cleaning
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
  • Contact
  • Search
  • (864) 261-0700
Score's Jewelers logo
  • Engagement
  • Bridal
    • Bridal Jewelry
      • All Bridal Jewelry
      • Engagement Rings
      • Women's Bands
    • Diamond Search
    • Design Your Engagement Ring
    • Get Engaged
  • Brands
    • Gabriel & Co
    • Allison Kaufman
    • Color Merchants
    • Benchmark
    • Lafonn Jewelry
    • Citizen
    • Valina
    • Diadori
    • ELLE
    • IDD
    • Imperial Pearls
    • Master IJO Jeweler
    • Naledi Collection
    • Obaku
    • Parle
  • Jewelry
    • Bridal Jewelry
      • Engagement Rings
      • Womens Bands
    • Pendants & Necklaces
      • Diamond Pendants
      • Color Stone Pendants
    • Rings
      • Fashion Rings and Color Stones
      • Mens Bands
    • Earrings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Color Stone Earrings
    • Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Color Stone Bracelets
    • Mens Watches
    • Womens Watches
    • Sterling Silver
      • SS Rings
      • SS Earrings
      • SS Bracelets
      • SS Necklaces
    • Fashion
    • COLLEGIATE
  • Diamonds
  • Our Store
    • Our Store
    • Your Master IJO Jeweler
  • Services
  • Account
  • My Bag
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Metals

Learn About Metals

Metals

There are many different metal types that are used to make jewelry, and we've listed some popular metal types below.

  •  Yellow Gold
  •  White Gold
  •  Rose Gold
  •  Platinum
  •  Palladium
  •  Silver
  •  Cobalt
  •  Tungsten
  •  Titanium

Yellow Gold is an alloy made of a mixture of pure gold and either zinc and copper. The higher the karat amount, the more pure the gold.

Style Information:

  • Has that classic “Gold” look
  • Pairs great with Garnets and Diamonds
  • Can be softer or easier to break depending on purity

Mohs Scale:

  • 18k 2.8 hardness level
  • 14k 3.5 to 4 hardness level

White Gold is a form of gold with a distinct pale white or cream color; its an alloy of gold and at least one white metal; either nickel, manganese, or palladium, which typically makes up apprx 10% of the alloy.

Style Information:

  • Goes great with Diamonds
  • Cheaper alternative to Platinum
  • Commonly 9-1 gold to nickel

Mohs Scale:

  • 18k 2.8 hardness level
  • 14k 3.5 to 4 hardness level

Rose Gold has a “rose” tint from the gold-copper alloy that composes it. It is also known as “pink gold” and “red gold”, and historically was very popular in Russian, which has also earned it the name “Russian Gold”, though it is far and away most well known as Rose Gold.

Style Information:

  • Highest Karat version is known as “Crown Gold”
  • Pairs great with colored stones
  • Currently trending

Mohs Scale:

  • 18k 2.75 hardness level
  • 14k 3 to 4 hardness level

Platinum is a metal that is incredibly resistant to corrosion, even at high temperatures. Apart from jewelry, Platinum is used in the treatment of cancer. Because of its white color, it will not cast any tinting on any stones that are used.

Style Information:

  • An alternative to Silver, White Gold or Palladium
  • One of the least reactive metals
  • Heaviest of the precious metals

Mohs Scale:

  • 4 to 4.5 hardness level

Palladium is a beautiful silvery-white metal that resembles Platinum. This metal has become much more valued in recent years and is used in a pure form in jewelry, and for combining with gold to form white-gold alloys. Because of its near white coloring, it will not cast any tinting on any stones it is used with.

Style Information:

  • An alternative to Platinum or Silver
  • Does not tarnish under normal conditions
  • Used as an early treatment for tuberculosis

Mohs Scale:

  • 4.75 hardness level

Silver is one of the cornerstone precious metals, silver has long been used in jewelry, currency, and investment bullion. It is extremely malleable and pairs beautifully with most stones.

Style Information:

  • Silver has been used as early as 3000 BCE
  • Very affordable
  • Associated with the ability to stop paranormal creatures such as vampires or werewolves

Mohs Scale:

  • 2.5 to 3 hardness level

Cobalt is a silver-grey highly magnetic metal, cobalt is used primarily in alloy compounds used in wear-resistant men’s wedding bands. Cobalt can appear blue-hued in the correct light.

Style Information:

  • Cobalt pigments, specifically the blue, have been used for thousands of years
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo currently extracts about 40% of the world's cobalt supply each year
  • The name Cobalt comes from the German word kobold, meaning “goblin ore”

Mohs Scale:

  • 5 hardness level

Tungsten has the highest boiling point and strongest tensile strength, which means it is nearly impossible to scratch, though under extreme force it will shatter. It is naturally steel grey and has a subdued look.

Style Information:

  • Production of tungsten is difficult due to its high melting point
  • Because of its conductive and anti-corrosion properties, tungsten is often used to make electrical wiring
  • Tungsten is the heaviest of all elements known to play a biological role

Mohs Scale:

  • Tungsten: 7.5 hardness level
  • Tungsten carbide: 8.5 to 9 hardness level

Titanium is an extremely versatile metal that is resistant to most types of corrosion. It’s value stems from its strength-to-density ratio, the highest amongst any metallic elements.

Style Information:

  • Extremely valuable in machinery
  • Very difficult to bend
  • Titanium is used in a variety of surgical implants and tools, as it is not likely for the body to reject it

Mohs Scale:

  • 6 hardness level
Score's Jewelers
Score's Jewelers
150 Civic Center Blvd
Anderson, SC 29625
(864) 261-0700
Store Information
Hours
Sunday:Closed
Monday:Closed
Tuesday:9:30am-6:00pm
Wednesday:9:30am-6:00pm
Thursday:9:30am-6:00pm
Friday:9:30am-6:00pm
Saturday:9:30am-6:00pm
Follow Us
Jewelry
  • Bridal Jewelry
  • Pendants & Necklaces
  • Rings
  • Earrings
  • Bracelets
  • Mens Watches
  • Womens Watches
  • Sterling Silver
  • Fashion
  • COLLEGIATE
Our Store
  • Our Store
  • Your Master IJO Jeweler
Designers
  • Gabriel & Co
  • Allison Kaufman
  • Color Merchants
  • Benchmark
  • Lafonn Jewelry
  • Citizen
  • Valina
  • Diadori
  • ELLE
  • IDD
  • Imperial Pearls
  • Master IJO Jeweler
  • Naledi Collection
  • Obaku
  • Parle
Exclusive Offers

Signup for special offers and discounts.

  • Independent Jewelers Organization
  • Gemological Institute of America

© 2023 Score's Jewelers. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.