When you purchase a ring at Jewelry by Johan, you are in control over the result of the final product. Nearly any ring can be made in any metal or material you choose. Below is a list of metals and elements that we offer. The metal you choose can greatly effect the look of your design, impact durability and influence final cost.
Metals Education
JBJ METAL OPTIONS AT A GLANCE
We offer a variety of precious and alternative metals for your ring creation. Precious metals include gold, silver and platinum. Alternative metals include titanium, tungsten and zirconium.
* = Hypoallergenic and $ Lowest - $$$$$ Highest Cost
* = Hypoallergenic and $ Lowest - $$$$$ Highest Cost
READ ON for more detailed information about the differences in our jewelry metal options in respect to affordability, durability, hypoallergenic properties, finish options, and other factors. Or, contact us and we’ll help you pick the perfect metal for your style, lifestyle and budget.
PROS & CONS OF METAL OPTIONS
Click on the name of the metal options below to see pros, cons, price comparisons and more.
GOLD
Colors: White, Yellow, Rose
Types: 10K, 14K or 18K (higher karat = more pure gold, more pliable, more yellowish hue).
Pros: Gold is beautiful, valuable and easy to work with, making it a viable choice for a variety of jewelry designs. It also comes in many colors.
Cons: It scratches easily, has a high cost, and white gold is traditionally rhodium-plated (we do not rhodium plate our gold!) to make it look more white; this added plating scratches off and needs to be re-plated annually.
Cost: $$$ Med - $$$$$ Highest; cost increases as the karat weight increases.
Finish Options: Any finish can be chosen for rings with no inlays. You are limited to Polished, Matte, Brushed and Sandblasted on rings with inlays.
Any type of gold used in jewelry is an alloy that consists of: silver, copper, zinc, nickel, palladium – the addition of these elements makes jewelry durable for everyday wear and alters color (e.g. more copper is added to create rose gold). Avoid gold if you have a nickel allergy. The white gold we use is X1 white gold nickel alloy; it does not require rhodium plating.
Gold Karat and Color Options at JBJ
White Gold: Unplated vs. Rhodium Plated
As mentioned above, we do not rhodium plate our white gold. This leaves it with a slight yellow hue that's very minimal and hard to discern with the naked eye, especially when it isn't adjacent to a plated white gold ring. With rhodium plated rings, replating is recommended every year and this costs around $75 each time. With JBJ white gold rings, there is no extra maintenance!
PLATINUM
Color: White
Pros: Platinum is the most luxurious metal and is a very white color. It’s also hypoallergenic.
Cons: This is the most expensive metal, and it scratches easier than palladium.
Cost: $$$$$ Highest
Finish Options: Any finish can be chosen for rings with no inlays. You are limited to Polished, Matte, Brushed and Sandblasted on rings with inlays.
Beautifully bright and precious, platinum is the go-to metal for head-turning jewelry. Platinum consists of: ruthenium, iridium, platinum. Platinum is hypoallergenic, and will retain white color. However it is susceptible to scratches, just like any other metal.
SILVER
Color: White
Pros: Silver is the least expensive precious metal. It’s very white in color and is valued for its natural beauty.
Cons: It tarnishes over time, but can easily be cleaned at home. It’s more scratch resistant than gold.
Cost: $$ Medium
Finish Options: Any finish can be chosen for rings with no inlays. You are limited to Polished, Matte, Brushed and Sandblasted on rings with inlays.
Pure silver is relatively soft, very malleable, and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The silver we use consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of alloy. Many times you will see this same type of jewelry hallmarked with 925 to indicate its composition.
TITANIUM
Color: White
Pros: Hypoallergenic, does not crack under pressure, affordable. A lot of options for finish.
Cons: Not as white as platinum, must be cut off in emergency, scratches easiest of all alternative metal rings.
Cost: $ Low
Finish Options: Any finish can be chosen for rings with no inlays. You are limited to Polished, Matte, Brushed and Sandblasted on rings with inlays.
This metal is versatile and low cost! You can give it different finishes or textures that make it stunning in presentation! Titanium is a very lightweight but durable metal that does have the ability to scratch, which can be buffed out. The type of titanium used in our rings is the same used in biomedical implantations and aerospace applications.
TUNGSTEN
Color: White
Pros: Tungsten is hypoallergenic and the most scratch resistant metal. It also has a very affordable price. In case of a medical emergency, it is easily removed; it requires no cutting or sawing.
Cons: Heavy, which could be a pro for some wearers. Due to its hardness, it doesn’t bend, so it breaks if enough force is applied.
Cost: $ Low
Finish Option: Polished only.
Tungsten is the 2nd hardest metal and is extremely scratch resistant. It is heavy in comparison to its popular counterpart titanium. When you hold or wear this ring you can feel the slight weight of something substantial. It does have the ability to shatter if it is hit too hard against something or dropped on a hard surface. The tungsten we use is composed of tungsten, carbon and nickel.
DAMASCUS STEEL
Color: White & Grey
PROS: Hypoallergenic, hard, affordable and unique.
CONS: Flexible.
COST: $$$ Medium
FINISH OPTION: Polished Only.
Damascus steel is recognized by its distinct swirling pattern; it is a culmination of the repeated heating and forging of strips of stainless steel and iron. In historic times, it was commonly used in the creation of knife and sword blades.
It is important to note that a damascus ring's profile (round vs. flat) impacts the pattern; flat profile rings have more horizontal, straight lines while a round profile ring's pattern (pictured) contains more ovals, curvy lines and swirls.
STAINLESS STEEL
Color: White
PROS: Strong, durable affordable and easy to maintain. It's hypoallergenic, too!
CONS: Value doesn't appreciate. Prone to dents if it contacts heavy and/or sharp objects. Tougher to repolish than other white metals.
COST: $ Low
FINISH OPTION: Any finish can be chosen for rings with no inlays. You are limited to Polished, Matte, Brushed and Sandblasted on rings with inlays.
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, carbon and chromium, which makes it corrosion-resistant or "stainless". The majority of our stainless steel jewelry, particularly our rings, are damascus, but we have some bracelets, cuff links and other accessories. And, if desired, we can custom craft you many of our existing rings with stainless steel substituted for a different metal.
ZIRCONIUM
Color: Blackish-Grey
Pros: Hypoallergenic and durable.
Cons: If scratched deep enough beyond the oxidized, black surface layer, the natural silver layer could be exposed. But the ring can sometimes be buffed and re-oxidized.
Cost: $$ Medium
Finish Options: Matte and Brushed.
This naturally silver/white element has the chemical symbol Zr and atomic number of 40. Outside of its jewelry applications, zirconium is primarily used in nuclear reactors due to its high heat and corrosion resistance.
BLACK CERAMIC*
Color: Black
Pros: Ceramic is just as scratch resistant as tungsten. It’s black color is not plating like black tungsten, so can’t scratch off. Black Ceramic isn’t a metal so it won’t set off metal detectors. Just like tungsten, it’s hypoallergenic.
Cons: Due to its hardness; it doesn’t bend, so it breaks if enough force is applied.
Cost: $ Low
Finish Option: Polished only.
The ceramic in our rings is Hi-Tech Ceramic or Jewelry Grade Ceramic. It is mixed with carbon to form a lightweight carbide similar to tungsten carbide. We use it in place of tungsten because it is almost as hard, but it can be made to be black. Similar to tungsten carbide, ceramic could chip if dropped on a hard surface.
*Not a metal, but used the same as traditional metals in our jewelry creation, including ring sleeves (inside) and edges.
ELYSIUM* CRUSHED DIAMOND
Color: Black
Pros: Never changes color, scratch, or fade. Hypoallergenic and incredibly hard and durable.
Cons: High price point. Limited customization options.
Cost: $$$$$ Highest
Finish Options: Polished and Matte
Crafted by our partner Elysium Designs, these black rings are made of pure lab-grown diamond crystals – all compressed together under 1 million PSI and 2700° F. These lightweight and extremely durable rings are 16-18 carats total, dependent on ring size. In an emergency a ring cracker is capable of breaking the diamond band.
*Not a metal, but used the same as traditional metals in our jewelry creation, including ring sleeves (inside) and edges. We cannot use Elysium in custom ring designs.
Which Metal Is Best For YOU?
Hopefully, you've been able to narrow it down after reading everything above!
If you'd like to inquire about the viability of supplying your own metal for a custom piece, or if you have any additional metal questions, please contact us to chat with one of our jewelry experts.