The Metal Guide
The foundation of every beautiful piece of jewellery begins with the metal. At Imperium Jewel House, we meticulously source and alloy our metals to ensure lasting durability, brilliant shine, and exceptional comfort.
Understanding Gold Purity (Karats)
18K Gold (75% Pure)
18 Karat gold consists of 75% pure gold mixed with 25% alloy metals. It offers a rich, warm yellow hue and is considered the premium standard for fine jewellery. It is ideal for pieces worn occasionally or for those who prefer the luxurious depth of traditional gold.
14K Gold (58.3% Pure)
14 Karat gold is made of 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% alloy metals. This blend makes it significantly more durable and resistant to scratches than 18K gold. We highly recommend 14K gold for daily-wear jewellery, such as engagement rings and wedding bands.
Gold Colors
Yellow Gold
A timeless classic. Pure gold is alloyed with copper and zinc to maintain its natural warm, rich yellow color. It is the most hypoallergenic of all the gold colors and requires the least maintenance.
Rose Gold
Romantic and vintage-inspired. Rose gold gets its beautiful pink hue from a higher concentration of copper alloy. It complements all skin tones beautifully and is highly durable.
White Gold
Sleek and modern. Pure gold is alloyed with white metals like nickel or palladium. To achieve its brilliant white finish, it is plated with rhodium. Note that rhodium plating may wear off over time, revealing a slight yellowish tint, and will require replating.
Platinum (PT950)
Platinum is a naturally white, extremely rare, and highly durable metal. We use PT950, which is 95% pure platinum. Unlike white gold, platinum does not require rhodium plating and will never fade or change color. While it can develop a natural "patina" (tiny scratches) over time, it loses very little metal when scratched, making it the most secure setting for diamonds.