Skip to main content
Want a unique experience? Book your concierge appointment Here
  • ALEXANDRIA LOCATION 703-836-1401
  • MIDDLEBURG LOCATION 540-687-3100
  • Contact Us
    • Make an Appointment
    • Old Town Alexandria
    • Middleburg
    • The Inn at Little Washington
    • Salamander Resort & Spa
  • My Account
  • Search
  • Wish List
Mystique Jewelers
  • Love & Engagement
    • Mystique Engagement Rings
      • Vintage Inspired
      • 3-Stone Settings
      • Classic Solitaire
      • Halo Settings
      • Settings With Sidestones
      • Men's Engagement Rings
      • Gemstone Engagement Rings
      • Pave Rings
      • Channel Set
    • Shop Diamonds
      • Lab Grown Diamond Education
      • Natural Diamond Education
    • Wedding Bands with Stones
    • Wedding Bands without Stones
    • Create a Wish List
    • Contact an Expert
  • Jewelry
    • New Arrivals
    • Rings
      • Diamond Rings
      • Gold Rings
      • Gemstone Rings
    • Earrings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Diamond Stud Earrings
      • Gold Earrings
      • Gemstone Earrings
    • Earring Charms
    • Bracelets
      • Gold Bracelets
      • Fashion Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Gemstone Bracelets
    • Necklaces
      • Diamond Neckalces
      • Gold Neckalces
      • Gemstone Necklaces
    • Pendants & Enhancers
    • Pearls
    • Charms
    • Estate Jewelry
    • Men's Jewelry
      • Watches
    • Equestrian Jewelry
    • Mystique Fine Jewelry
    • Gifts Under $500
    • Sale Items
    • Gift Cards
  • Custom Design
    • Start a Project
    • Custom Work
  • Our Brands
    • Ammara Stone
    • DOVES
    • Evocateur
    • Gumuchian
    • Jude Frances
    • KC Designs
    • Lawson Dahl
    • LexiMazz
    • Lika Behar
    • Lisa Nik
    • Lizabeth
    • Mystique Equestrian Collection
    • Peter Storm
    • Roman + Jules
    • Temple St. Clair
    • The Mazza Company
    • The Mystique Collection
    • Three Stories
    • Uneek
    • Vincent Peach
    • William Henry Studio
    • Benchmark
    • Forge
    • Tantalum
  • Concierge
  • Services
    • Our Services
    • Jewelry Repairs & Resizing
    • Jewelry Appraisal
    • Jewelry Cleaning, Polishing, & Maintenance
    • Stone Matching & Setting Stones
    • Watch Repair
    • Jewelry Engraving
    • Financing
    • Gold Buying & Consignment
  • The Mystique Story
    • About
    • What's Happening
    • Conflict Free Diamonds
    • Education
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Metals

Learn About Metals

Metals

There are many different metal types that are used to make jewelry, and we've listed some popular metal types below.

  •  Yellow Gold
  •  White Gold
  •  Rose Gold
  •  Platinum
  •  Palladium
  •  Silver
  •  Cobalt
  •  Tungsten
  •  Titanium

Yellow Gold is an alloy made of a mixture of pure gold and either zinc and copper. The higher the karat amount, the more pure the gold.

Style Information:

  • Has that classic “Gold” look
  • Pairs great with Garnets and Diamonds
  • Can be softer or easier to break depending on purity

Mohs Scale:

  • 18k 2.8 hardness level
  • 14k 3.5 to 4 hardness level

White Gold is a form of gold with a distinct pale white or cream color; its an alloy of gold and at least one white metal; either nickel, manganese, or palladium, which typically makes up apprx 10% of the alloy.

Style Information:

  • Goes great with Diamonds
  • Cheaper alternative to Platinum
  • Commonly 9-1 gold to nickel

Mohs Scale:

  • 18k 2.8 hardness level
  • 14k 3.5 to 4 hardness level

Rose Gold has a “rose” tint from the gold-copper alloy that composes it. It is also known as “pink gold” and “red gold”, and historically was very popular in Russia, which has also earned it the name “Russian Gold”, though it is far and away most well known as Rose Gold.

Style Information:

  • Highest Karat version is known as “Crown Gold”
  • Pairs great with colored stones
  • Currently trending

Mohs Scale:

  • 18k 2.75 hardness level
  • 14k 3 to 4 hardness level

Platinum is a metal that is incredibly resistant to corrosion, even at high temperatures. Apart from jewelry, Platinum is used in the treatment of cancer. Because of its white color, it will not cast any tinting on any stones that are used.

Style Information:

  • An alternative to Silver, White Gold or Palladium
  • One of the least reactive metals
  • Heaviest of the precious metals

Mohs Scale:

  • 4 to 4.5 hardness level

Palladium is a beautiful silvery-white metal that resembles Platinum. This metal has become much more valued in recent years and is used in a pure form in jewelry, and for combining with gold to form white-gold alloys. Because of its near white coloring, it will not cast any tinting on any stones it is used with.

Style Information:

  • An alternative to Platinum or Silver
  • Does not tarnish under normal conditions
  • Used as an early treatment for tuberculosis

Mohs Scale:

  • 4.75 hardness level

Silver is one of the cornerstone precious metals, silver has long been used in jewelry, currency, and investment bullion. It is extremely malleable and pairs beautifully with most stones.

Style Information:

  • Silver has been used as early as 3000 BCE
  • Very affordable
  • Associated with the ability to stop paranormal creatures such as vampires or werewolves

Mohs Scale:

  • 2.5 to 3 hardness level

Cobalt is a silver-grey highly magnetic metal, cobalt is used primarily in alloy compounds used in wear-resistant men’s wedding bands. Cobalt can appear blue-hued in the correct light.

Style Information:

  • Cobalt pigments, specifically the blue, have been used for thousands of years
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo currently extracts about 40% of the world's cobalt supply each year
  • The name Cobalt comes from the German word kobold, meaning “goblin ore”

Mohs Scale:

  • 5 hardness level

Tungsten has the highest boiling point and strongest tensile strength, which means it is nearly impossible to scratch, though under extreme force it will shatter. It is naturally steel grey and has a subdued look.

Style Information:

  • Production of tungsten is difficult due to its high melting point
  • Because of its conductive and anti-corrosion properties, tungsten is often used to make electrical wiring
  • Tungsten is the heaviest of all elements known to play a biological role

Mohs Scale:

  • Tungsten: 7.5 hardness level
  • Tungsten carbide: 8.5 to 9 hardness level

Titanium is an extremely versatile metal that is resistant to most types of corrosion. It’s value stems from its strength-to-density ratio, the highest amongst any metallic elements.

Style Information:

  • Extremely valuable in machinery
  • Very difficult to bend
  • Titanium is used in a variety of surgical implants and tools, as it is not likely for the body to reject it

Mohs Scale:

  • 6 hardness level
Mystique Jewelers Locations
    Old Town Alexandria
    123 S. Fairfax Street
    Alexandria, VA 22314
    (703) 836-1401
    Store Information
    Middleburg
    112 W Washington Street
    Middleburg, VA 20117
    (540) 687-3100
    Store Information
    Salamander Resort & Spa
    500 N Pendleton St
    Middleburg, VA 20118
    Store Information
    Jewelry
    • Wedding Bands without Stones
    • Mystique Engagement Rings
    • Wedding Bands with Stones
    • Rings
    • Earrings
    • Earring Charms
    • Bracelets
    • Necklaces
    • Pendants & Enhancers
    • Pearls
    • Charms
    • Estate Jewelry
    • Men's Jewelry
    • Equestrian Jewelry
    • Gifts Under $500
    • Sale Items
    • Mystique Fine Jewelry
    • Diamond Fashion Rings
    • Engagement Rings
    • Fashion Rings
    • Pendants
    • Pearl Earrings
    • Earring Jackets
    • Gift Cards
    Collections
    • Ammara Stone
    • DOVES
    • Evocateur
    • Gumuchian
    • Jude Frances
    • KC Designs
    • Lawson Dahl
    • LexiMazz
    • Lika Behar
    • Lisa Nik
    • Lizabeth
    • Mystique Equestrian Collection
    • Peter Storm
    • Roman + Jules
    • Temple St. Clair
    • The Mazza Company
    • The Mystique Collection
    • Three Stories
    • Uneek
    • Vincent Peach
    • William Henry Studio
    • Benchmark
    • Forge
    • Overnight
    • Tantalum
    Our Store
    • Our Story
    • Custom Jewelry Design
    • Services
    Mailing List

    Sign up for special offers and discounts

    © 2022 Mystique Jewelers. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.