The vast majority of diamond jewellery in the UK is traditionally produced using yellow gold (9kt and 18kt), white gold (9kt and 18kt) and 950 platinum.

WHITE GOLD & YELLOW GOLD
Gold itself is a yellow metallic element. In its pure form, it is too soft to be used for making diamond jewellery. As a result, white gold is actually 75% gold mixed with other alloys to provide it with the strength and finish required.

When a piece of white gold diamond jewellery has been produced, it is plated in rhodium which provides the item with its metallic finish. Over time, however, especially with items which are worn on a daily basis such as diamond engagement rings or diamond eternity rings for example, the rhodium can tarnish and the item might need re-polishing every 18 months or so.

18kt yellow gold is more yellow than 9kt yellow gold, with 18kt yellow gold having a richer golden colour, making it a more popular choice than 9kt for ladies diamond engagement rings. This is due to the fact that 18kt yellow gold is purer than 9kt, with 9kt yellow gold having been mixed with more non-gold alloys.

In practical terms, 18kt gold generally holds up to everyday wear better than 9kt gold and tends to look better than 9kt as it ages over the years. However, as a result of this, 18kt gold does command a slight price premium over its 9kt counterpart.

950 PLATINUM
At 95% pure, platinum is the purest of all the precious metals - this is why it is sometimes referred to as 950 platinum. This purity level provides a fantastic shiny finish to a diamond engagement ring, perfect for maximising the brilliance of the diamond itself. 950 platinum is rare, and is 30 times rarer than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the platinum in the world were poured into a single Olympic size swimming pool, it would scarcely be deep enough to cover your ankles. As a result, you do pay a premium for this metal.

So, why does platinum seem to be endlessly growing in popularity? The answer to this lies in its density and weight, which makes it much more durable than other jewellery metals. As a result, firstly, it provides the most secure setting for the diamond in a diamond engagement ring. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, the scratch on an item of platinum diamond jewellery is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost. Finally, platinum's purity makes it hypoallergenic and idea for those with sensitive skin.

HALLMARKING

It is a legal requirement in the UK (not so in any other country) for all items of precious metal jewellery to be hallmarked. The hallmark is a tiny stamp on the inside of the item and is your guarantee of the precious metal content, and must carry this hallmark to conform to the Hallmarking Act, 1973.

British hallmarks have acted as a safeguard to purchasers of precious metal articles for seven centuries. Hallmarking is still one of the most important forms of consumer protection, and in 1975 was extended to include platinum. The consumer benefits in many ways. For example, it is an offence for any trader to sell or describe an article as gold, silver or platinum unless it has been hallmarked. There are some exceptions to this - for example, gold articles weighing less than one gram, silver articles weighing less than 7.78 grams and platinum articles weighing less than half a gram. Certain specific items are exempt if made before 1975, such as stone set gold rings and platinum articles.

WHY DO I NEED PROTECTION? - Pure gold, silver and platinum are too soft to be used in jewellery or domestic articles and are normally alloyed with other metals. This lowers the intrinsic value and also raises the question of how much other metal has been added. It is impossible to tell what proportiojn of precious metal there is in any article without the help of laboratory analysis. Colour alone is no guide, as even brass can look like gold...especially if it has been plated with gold.

HOW DO HALLMARKS PROTECT ME? - Hallmarks on an article show that is has been tested at an official Assay Office in the UK and they certify that the metal used conforms to one of the legal standards of fineness or purity. The Assay Offices in Britain are incorporated by royal charter or by statute and are all independent of any trade organisation. The tests are extremely accurate analyses which are normally carried out on small samples removed from the articles before they have been finally polished.

All hallmarking in the UK is carried out by The UK Assay Office (see www.theassayoffice.co.uk for more information). In all, there are 4 Assay Offices of Great Britain, located in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh.

You can rest assured, of course, that all items of diamond jewellery from www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk are hallmarked as such.