Questions about Silver vs. Gold for colored stone rings

[T L]

The difference between the wear and tear you see in platinum versus silver is that platinum is developing a patina whereas silver is actually wearing down. They both show scratches much easier than white gold, but platinum is a strange beast. It is gummy. It scratches and dents quite easily, but the metal is being displaced more than it is being scratched off. People who prefer to work in platinum like it for that reason; despite it not holding a finish, it is a very durable metal.

I have never worked with the new alloys, but silver is just horrible to work with compared to gold. It will never polish up as nicely. It heats up too quickly. Silver solder is way harder to control than gold solder. It is significantly softer than gold (yes, even 18k and especially white nickle alloys.) And a jewellers margins on silver are complete crap. Anytime I do a job in silver I always end up feeling ripped off because there is just no room in what people are willing to pay for the material to make up for the labour costs. So the work is less pleasant and we get paid less for it. Not fun.

And gold just is nicer. I have had this discussion with many a friend and family member who prefer silver. I come from a family of silver loving people. It is fine to like silver better, but (and they hate when I say this) gold is just a nicer material. If you ever had to bring something from a rough casting to a high polish you would know exactly what I mean. It is really hard to explain, but gold has a luster that is just magical to watch being brought out. Silver just can't compare. It goes dull and lifeless despite its very pretty colour.

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, well, I did mention above that gold is very pretty. I mean if it wasn't, we wouldn't have the world fighting over it, or have beautiful works of art like this, fit for kings.

http://www.historyembalmed.org/images/mask-of-king-tut.jpg

I only mention silver, because I think it's more economical when gold prices don't seem to be coming down for jewelry, from my experience.

What is your opinion of 10K? Is it durable, good, economical at the same time?

 

[Euphony]

I will be honest that I have no experience working with 10k. I don't care for the colour, but if you are rhodium plating that might not matter to you. Unlike higher karats, it will tarnish. It is much harder than silver, but I just have never cared for it. It is snobbery on my part, though. I fully admit it.

What Michael says is very, very true. The material cost is a relatively small fraction of what you are paying for when looking at the majority of the jewellery being discussed on this site. Unless you piece is very heavy, you are not saving tons of money by lowering the karat. On the average ring I see posted on this site, there would be $100 max difference between a 14k and 18k. On big heavy men's bands that have relatively low labour costs, I think it is worth considering the price break you might get at a lower karat. But for most rings I just wouldn't want to invest so much in labour to have lower quality metal. I personally do not see the point.

 

[T L]

I will be honest that I have no experience working with 10k. I don't care for the colour, but if you are rhodium plating that might not matter to you. Unlike higher karats, it will tarnish. It is much harder than silver, but I just have never cared for it. It is snobbery on my part, though. I fully admit it.

What Michael says is very, very true. The material cost is a relatively small fraction of what you are paying for when looking at the majority of the jewellery being discussed on this site. Unless you piece is very heavy, you are not saving tons of money by lowering the karat. On the average ring I see posted on this site, there would be $100 max difference between a 14k and 18k. On big heavy men's bands that have relatively low labour costs, I think it is worth considering the price break you might get at a lower karat. But for most rings I just wouldn't want to invest so much in labour to have lower quality metal. I personally do not see the point.

Actually, I was quoted $100 less on an inexpensive mass produced piece by going 10K gold, instead of 14K, and the piece isn't very heavy at all, maybe 3 or 4 grams total. I am going white gold, so it's not going to look any different than other karat pieces IMO. I don't mind 10K rose or white gold, and I don't get nickel allergies. I'm saving about 25%, and to me, that's a huge difference. I have several 10K rose gold pieces and I like them. For me, if you're going to do 14K or up, I would consider it more for yellow gold alloys. I love buttery 18K for example. My 10K pieces have held up exceptionately well, and no stones are getting loose. I have more of that problem with 18K.

Thanks again for your opinion, very appreciated, as is everyone who took the time to respond.