White Gold or Yellow Gold for your Engagement Ring?

Choosing the best Gold for for Your Engagement Ring 

Gold remains one of the most versatile and popular metals for engagement rings, with 18ct White Gold and 18ct Yellow Gold being top choices among brides. While Platinum also features prominently, White Gold and Yellow Gold are adored due to their stunning beauty as well as infinite variation of designs.

White Gold vs Yellow Gold

Understanding Gold Purity and Wearability 

For engagement rings, 18ct Gold is the recommended choice due to its optimal balance of purity and durability. Comprising 75% pure gold and 25% metal alloys, 18ct Gold maintains the rich hues and lustre while providing the strength necessary to securely hold diamonds and precious stones. This blend makes 18ct Gold ideal for everyday wear and ensures that your engagement ring will stand the test of time.

See more here: Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring Metals

Although one might assume pure 24ct Gold is a superior choice, its softness makes it unsuitable for engagement rings. It is a more delicate and soft metal that is suited for a special occasions only, not for everyday use. To maintain the integrity and strength of an engagement ring setting, gold will be mixed with other metal alloys such as palladium, silver and copper to further enhance its durability.

The alloy mix also influences the gold's colour, 24ct yellow gold being the brightest and richest colour whilst 9ct yellow gold will appear as the subtlest and paler shade.

Choosing between White Gold and Yellow Gold

When selecting between White Gold and Yellow Gold for your engagement ring, consider how each metal complements your centre stone and personal style. Different golds can drastically change the overall style and appearance of your ring.

White Gold is a popular choice with a White Diamond. Combined together they make a harmonious union and enhance the diamond's brilliant sparkle. 

Yellow Gold, on the other hand, provides a warm and classic look that contrasts beautifully with a diamond and enhances coloured gemstones. This metal is known for its durability and rich colour, making it a great choice for showcasing vibrant stones.

Mixing two metals and having a two-toned ring such as 18ct White Gold claws and Yellow gold band is also the best option to highlight your centre diamond and be guaranteed to match your existing jewellery collection.

Different engagement ring settings also lend themselves better to certain metals. Platinum is best suited to solitaire settings, and 18ct Golds are best suited to Halo settings and diamond band designs.  

Yellow Gold band and White Gold claws 

For Diamond engagement rings, a centre stone will interact with their setting like a mirror. The metals will have an effect on the overall appearance of a diamond. Due to their many facets, diamonds are highly reflective and will mirror their claws.

For Diamonds graded D, E and F, a white gold or platinum setting will elevate their beauty. This will emphasise their colourless and near colourless nature. Be mindful that Yellow Gold and Rose Gold claws may reflect a faint colour to the diamond. And on the contrary Yellow and Rose Gold can make a diamond graded below G appear whiter out of contrast.

To best accentuate your diamond engagement ring, at Janai we craft many of our diamond rings to have White Gold claws even with a Yellow Gold design. This way you show off the diamonds intense brilliance and sparkle no matter what your band preference.  

At Janai we go one step further and polish the interior of our settings to ensure maximum sparkle of the Diamond.

Gold and Style 

For many clients, they instinctively have a certain preference. For a ring worn for a lifetime, it is best to follow your personal taste and not get caught up in fleeting trends. The most important thing - choose a design that is going to make you happy.

• 18ct White Gold is a timeless classic. At Janai our 18ct gold is mixed with palladium based alloys, as they are both premium quality and hypoallergenic as they contain no nickel. White Gold is commonly mixed with palladium and silver, then finished with a Rhodium plating to enhance its overall brightness. The widest range of rings are made out of this precious metal.
• 18ct Yellow Gold is a classic and traditional choice. It is strong and durable. Due to the percentage of gold the yellow colour will stay true over time. This is a very popular choice. 
• 18ct Rose Gold is a romantic choice - it is more unique. It is more durable than yellow and white golds due to the copper alloy mix. The colour will not fade or change.
• Platinum, while not a gold variant, is another precious metal option. It is naturally white and doesn’t fade over time. Platinum is also naturally hypoallergenic, so it’s a great choice for those with sensitive skin. At Janai we use Platinum 950, the most premium and purest form. We use cobalt-based alloy to enhance durability and increase its overall whiteness. 

White or Yellow Gold for pairing Wedding Rings?

Your Wedding Rings and Engagement Rings do not have to be made from the same metal, but they must be the same hardness. It is possible to mix and match any 18ct White/Yellow/Rose Gold metals with each other and they will wear together in harmony. So you may have a White Gold Engagement Ring with a Yellow Gold wedding band or another combination you desire.

You should not mix Platinum Setting Engagement/Wedding rings with 18ct Gold Engagement/Wedding rings. If you place a platinum engagement ring against a gold wedding band - the platinum will scratch and gradually wear away at the gold, as it is softer metal. Platinum rings are harder than gold, so a platinum engagement ring should only be worn against a platinum wedding band.

White Gold or Yellow Gold for your Engagement Ring in Melbourne?

Whether you choose White Gold, Yellow Gold, or a combination of the two metals, the key is to select a style that resonates with your personal taste and complements your lifestyle. At Janai, we offer bespoke services to help you design a unique engagement ring in Melbourne that reflects your individuality and ensures a lifetime of joy.


A well made and good-quality engagement ring should last for generations. Our diamond specialists can assist you with all of your custom designs, adding a unique and personal touch for your precious moments. Handcrafting an exquisite ring with Janai allows you to create a piece that is truly yours, reflecting your personal taste and style. 

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