Platinum is rare and heavy, but it is more durable than gold and is sold in purer form. Platinum is not sold according to karat weights. It is stamped PT or plat in the United States to indicate that it is platinum. Because of its purity, platinum is excellent for people who are allergic to other metals. Its light color also makes it popular. Like white gold , it makes very white diamonds appear even brighter. The platinum used for our Design Your Own jewelry in the Prestige Diamond Collection is mixed with ruthenium alloy only.

Gold does not corrode or tarnish. The quantity of gold in a given alloy is expressed in karats (K or KT). Pure gold is 24K; 18K gold is 75% gold and 25% other metals. Generally, 14K is .585 or 58.5 % gold and .415 or 41.5% of other metals. The gold used for our Design Your Own jewelry in the Prestige Diamond Collection is .5853 for 14K and .753 for 18K.

Precise® White Gold by W.R. Cobb is the white gold without excuses. Just a light buff restores a ring to its showroom brilliance. Unlike other white gold products, it requires no rhodium plating, which can wear off over time. Since some people have a sensitivity to the nickel in traditional white gold, Precise® White Gold was created to minimize the sensitivity. All white gold used for our Design Your Own jewelry in the Prestige Diamond Collection is Precise® White Gold.

Palladium is also gaining popularity as a precious metal. It is in the platinum family and is mined from the ground just like all other precious metals. Palladium is 12.6% harder than platinum and is hypoallergic. Like Precise® White Gold, palladium requires no extra plating to retain its luster and beauty. The palladium used for our Design Your Own jewelry in the Prestige Diamond Collection is mixed with ruthenium alloy only.