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Finding the right wedding ring is a rare moment where heritage, aesthetics, and lifestyle meet. It’s about more than just a ‘budget’ or ‘durability’. It’s about how your ring feels against your skin and how it will age alongside you.
Whether you are drawn to the cool, substantial weight of Platinum or the ancient, sun-drenched warmth of Gold, each metal carries its own character. At Jacqueline & Edward, we work exclusively with solid precious metals – never plated, never mass-produced, ensuring that whatever you choose is as honest as the promise it represents.
Platinum wedding rings are famous for their brilliant luster, durability and luxurious feel. While it has roots stretching back to the ancient Egyptians, it wasn’t until the 19th century that chemists and metallurgists figured out the secret to making it truly workable.
Unlike gold, when platinum is scratched, the metal isn’t lost; it is simply displaced. Over the years, this creates a soft patina of wear that many love as it’s a visual record of your life together. This patina creates a soft, matte finish that gives it a vintage look, although it can always be polished back to look like new if you prefer.
We only use ethical 950 (95% pure platinum) which means every gram of our platinum is 100% recycled. It is a choice that honours the earth, offering a conflict-free path to luxury.
Browse our Platinum Wedding Rings
Yellow gold is the quintessential wedding metal. It is the colour we first imagine when we think of a wedding band – a warm, iconic glow that has been cherished for millennia.
Yellow gold in its purest form is 24ct but due to the fact pure gold is extremely soft you will commonly see 18ct, 14ct and 9ct variations. These numbers represent the amount of gold within the composition of the alloy of your ring. As an example, 18ct gold is 75% pure gold with the rest of the alloy being made up of silver and copper for increased strength and durability whilst maintaining colour.
By changing the carat of your ring you are changing the working properties of the gold. An 18ct gold ring will have a more rich and buttery colour. As you reduce the carat weighting, the harder, more robust and more affordable a gold ring becomes. But the colour also becomes slightly paler and you lose some of that richness as less gold is used. It is worth noting that our 18ct and 14ct gold alloys are practically indistinguishable in colour, but the 14ct alloy is definitely harder and is a perfect choice for that active lifestyle.
This is where our story truly begins. Whether we are using our own ethical alloys or melting down your family gold to create a new heirloom, we always infuse a piece of natural river gold into the mix should that be something you find meaningful – a hidden connection to the wild rivers of the UK and beyond which may hold a special place in your heart.
Browse our Yellow Gold Wedding Rings
White gold is an elegant, sophisticated choice for those who love the cool tones of platinum but want the heritage and warmth of gold. While all white gold uses a mix of pure gold and other white metals like palladium, nickel and zinc, to tone down the yellow hues, not all white gold is created equal;
As mentioned, to create white gold, gold is usually mixed with other white metals like palladium, nickel and zinc. It’s worth finding out what white metal(s) have been used as each one creates different working properties which impact the durability, malleability, and colour of the white gold. Our choice is platinum. There is a good reason it is considered a premium metal. It is however, a real challenge to create and work with, probably why most others choose elements like zinc.
It’s also worth noting that just like yellow gold, the colour of white gold will change slightly depending on the carat you choose. We actually find our 9ct white gold is “whiter” than our 18ct white gold owing to the higher concentrations of silver in the alloy.
Most high street white gold is rhodium-plated – a thin chemical layer used to hide the earthier normally very yellow tones of white gold. That plating eventually wears off (often within 6 months), requiring regular maintenance. We never plate our rings unless requested to create a complete colour match to pre-existing engagement rings. Our white gold is a platinum-rich alloy that is white all the way through. It has a gentle hue that is permanent, beautiful and unchanging through time. It is designed to last and is maintenance-free…
The Unique Character of our White Gold
Our platinum based white gold has been researched, designed and proofed within Jacqueline & Edward, which means there is no alloy or colour quite like it in the country. It is without doubt the most exclusive and high quality white gold you can buy. It is not designed to make a cheap white gold colour which needs plating, nor a brownish coloured “white” gold alloy owing to the use of palladium (which is also too soft). Our alloy is designed to be durable, yet as close to white as an alloy can be without being platinum. There is a hue of colour to it, but it is subtle and elegant. If you want the perfect colour match against an engagement ring, it can still be plated to match should you wish, albeit we find 98% of our Clients don’t follow this path.
Browse our White Gold Wedding Rings
| Feature | Platinum | White Gold | Yellow Gold |
| Colour | Brilliant natural white | Warm, earthy white (no plating).
White similar to platinum if rhodium plated. |
Buttery yellow |
| Weight | Substantial and heavy | Light and comfortable, slightly heavier than yellow gold owing to the platinum in the alloy. | Light and comfortable. |
| Durability | Highly durable and hard wearing. | Durable – dependent on alloy mix (platinum rich mix helps durability significantly compared to other white gold alloys) and carat. | Softer, more prone to scratches. |
| Maintenance | Develops a patina over time but can be polished. | Solid white gold never needs re-plating. To maintain a high polished finish, it will need repolishing.
If rhodium plated, will need replating every few years. |
To maintain a high polished finish, it will need repolishing. |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes | May contain nickel so check the alloy mix. | May contain nickel so check the alloy mix. |
| Purity | Typically 950 (95% pure), 900 (90% pure), and 850 (85% pure). Normally in the UK the purity is 950. | 18ct (75% pure gold), 14ct (58.5% pure gold) and 9ct (37.5% pure gold). 14ct and 9ct are becoming more popular due to escalating gold prices. | 18ct (75% pure gold), 14ct (58.5% pure gold) and 9ct (37.5% pure gold) |
Read more about our Ethics & Sustainability
Ready to find your perfect ethical wedding ring? Explore our collections:
If you’re still weighing up your options, let’s have a conversation in our Yorkshire workshop, virtually or over email.
Enquire about a Bespoke Wedding Ring, Book a Workshop Visit or Email us
