Metals are ancestral materials of traditional jewelry and over time different types of alloys and mixtures have been incorporated to achieve jewelry that is resplendent and long-lasting.

In jewelry stores you can find a wide list of metals to make accessories, each with characteristics that make them more effective (and also safe) than others.

This range covers everything from precious metals such as gold and silver to so-called base metals such as copper.

In this article we will show you the most commonly used alloys in jewelry, so that you can differentiate them and choose the one that best suits you.

What is an alloy?

If you have ever heard of jewelry alloys but still have doubts, we will explain what they consist of.

An alloy is a material that results from the mixture of two or more metals or non-metallic elements. These have different properties than the base metal used, so that they can give it greater strength, lightness or any other aspect that is being sought.

Alloys used in luxury jewelry

Precious metals such as gold and silver are used in luxury jewelry, which are handled as close to their pure state as possible to guarantee the highest quality of the jewelry.

Is there such a thing as 100% gold jewelry? Making a piece of jewelry using only gold or silver is impossible. Why? Because these metals are not strong or hard enough on their own , which prevents them from taking the desired shape. Natural state of gold, that is, in the photo you can see 100% pure gold

Taking into account that in order for these metals to be handled and have a particular design, it is possible to mix them with other metals. By making this combination, the appropriate results and a jewel that lasts longer are guaranteed.

Read on to learn about some of the metal alloys used in luxury jewelry and what the result of each one is. Of course, we will also tell you which ones you can get at Laurella.

In gold

Gold is the most highly valued material in the world of jewelry, since you didn't know that more than half of the gold extracted is used for this sector.

This precious metal, when mixed with other metals, changes color, so striking combinations and jewelry can be achieved.

Another important point to know is that the caratage of gold can vary depending on the amount of other metal in its composition and also on the type of metal used. These two factors determine the quality of the jewel.

Some of the most requested alloys in jewelry and that we use in our brand:

18k yellow gold

18k yellow gold is composed of 75% gold and 25% copper and silver. Wedding rings made in 18k yellow gold

18k orange gold

18k orange gold is composed of 75% gold and 25% copper, which is what gives it its characteristic hue. Wedding rings made of 18k orange gold

18k rose gold

In 18k rose gold we use 75% pure gold, copper and a smaller amount of silver. Engagement ring made of 18k rose gold with natural diamond

18k white gold

White gold or shine has become very popular in recent years. At Laurella we work with 75% gold and 25% palladium.

It is worth noting that we do not use Nickel in this alloy, as it has been proven that this material can be harmful to your health. Engagement ring made of 18k white gold and natural diamonds

In silver

When it comes to silver jewelry, it must be considered jewelry that it must be made of at least 92.5% silver. If it is made with less than this percentage, it is considered costume jewelry.

The alloy we use for silver at Laurella is:

• For 950 silver jewelry: 95% silver and copper
• For 925 silver jewelry: 92.5% silver and copper Ring made of 950 sterling silver

Would you like to know more about the difference between 950 silver and 925 sterling silver? We recommend this article. Click here

We hope you enjoyed this article, but above all that you learned about alloys and which ones you can get from our brand. This way you can be more aware of what you use and we can be more transparent with you.

Don't forget that you can leave us your comments below or through our social networks.

If you would like, you can also purchase and enjoy your jewelry directly through our website or in our Larcomar module.