Home / Diamond Education / Precious Metals
The Monroe Yorke Guide

The metals behind the moment.

A diamond may catch the eye, but the metal carries it for a lifetime. Yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum — each tells a different story, ages a different way, and feels different on the hand. This is the complete Monroe Yorke guide to precious metals: caratage, alloys, hallmarks, care, and how to choose.

— at the bench, our master jewellers shape an 18ct band by hand —
Why The Metal Matters

The setting is the story.

The diamond is the focal point. The metal is what holds it close to the skin every day for the next fifty years. It governs the colour temperature of the ring, how the diamond reads in different light, how often a wedding band is re-polished, whether the wearer's skin reacts, and how the piece will be worn and remembered by the next generation.

Every Monroe Yorke piece is hand-finished in our Australian atelier from one of four metals: 18ct yellow gold, 18ct rose gold, our signature 18ct palladium-based white gold, or 950 platinum. Lower caratages and other alloys are available on request. Each one is independently assayed and stamped under the Australian hallmarking system — your guarantee that the precious-metal content is exactly what we claim.

We don't sell metal — we sell what holds your stone for a lifetime. That decision deserves the same care you'd give the diamond itself.
At A Glance

Four metals, compared.

The honest summary: every fine-jewellery metal we use will last a lifetime if cared for. The choice is about colour, weight, rarity and budget — not durability.

  Yellow Gold White Gold Rose Gold Platinum 950
ToneWarm, classic goldCool, snow-white (rhodium)Warm pink-redNaturally bright white
Purity (MYD standard)18ct (75%)18ct (75%) palladium-alloyed18ct (75%) copper-alloyed950 (95%)
Density (relative)ModerateModerateModerateHeavy — ~40% denser
HypoallergenicYes (palladium-alloyed)Yes (palladium-alloyed, nickel-free)YesYes — gold-standard
Re-platingNeverEvery 2–4 years (rhodium)NeverNever
Relative price$$$$$$$$$$

All figures are for our standard atelier alloys. Speak to a Monroe Yorke specialist for full technical specifications.

The Four Metals

Each one tells a different story.

Begin with the colour you'll fall in love with on the hand — the technical questions are easier from there.

Yellow Gold

The Classic · 18ct · 750

Yellow gold is the colour the world has worn for five thousand years. Its warmth flatters every skin tone, and at 18 carat it carries 75% pure gold in an alloy of silver and copper that gives it just enough strength for daily wear without dulling its richness.

It is the metal of heritage pieces and traditional engagement rings — the one most likely to be passed down. It develops a soft patina with age that many wearers come to love; a quick polish at our bench restores it to new in minutes.

  • Warmest, most traditional tone
  • No plating, no maintenance schedule
  • Particularly flattering on warm skin tones
  • Pairs beautifully with champagne and warm-toned diamonds
Browse Yellow Gold Rings

White Gold

The Modern Standard · 18ct · 750

White gold is gold made bright by alloy. Monroe Yorke uses a high-grade palladium-based recipe — never nickel — finished with a layer of rhodium, the rarest of the platinum-group metals, to give it the snow-white finish associated with platinum at a friendlier price point.

The result is a contemporary, cool tone that lets a diamond read at its absolute brightest. The rhodium plating wears gradually over years; we re-plate it under our Lifetime Care Programme so it stays as bright as the day you collected it.

  • Coolest, most contemporary tone
  • Palladium alloy — nickel-free, hypoallergenic
  • Lighter weight than platinum, ~half the cost
  • Free re-rhodium plating every 2–4 years
Browse White Gold Rings

Rose Gold

The Romantic · 18ct · 750

Rose gold is gold married to copper. The copper gives it that distinctive warm pink-to-red glow and, almost as a side-effect, makes it one of the most resilient gold alloys in fine jewellery. It is our most colour-stable metal: rose gold never needs plating, and its tone deepens beautifully with wear.

It rose to prominence in Imperial Russia in the early 1800s, was rediscovered by the Art Deco era, and is now one of our most-requested metals for a reason — it suits virtually every skin tone, every diamond colour, and every hand.

  • Warm pink-red tone unique to copper alloys
  • Hardest of the gold colours — resists daily wear
  • Never needs re-plating; colour deepens gracefully
  • Universally flattering across skin tones
Browse Rose Gold Rings

Platinum 950

The Pinnacle · 95% Pure · 950

Platinum is the rarest of the precious metals used in jewellery — thirty times scarcer than gold, mined in only a handful of places on earth. Our 950 alloy is 95% pure platinum, the purest grade widely available in fine jewellery, and the international standard for the world's leading houses.

It is dense, naturally white forever, and famously holds claws and prongs more securely than any other metal. A platinum ring is also the only setting metal that is hypoallergenic by composition rather than by alloy choice. It is the metal you choose when the answer to every question is "the best, full stop."

  • Naturally white — never plated, never yellows
  • Densest precious metal — substantial on the hand
  • Holds prongs and claws more securely over decades
  • 30× rarer than gold — the heirloom-grade choice
Browse Platinum Rings
Caratage Explained

What the number on the inside of your ring means.

Pure 24-carat gold is too soft to set a stone in. Every gold ring is therefore an alloy — a measured blend of pure gold with harder metals. The caratage tells you exactly how much pure gold is in the mix, out of a possible 24 parts.

9ct375

37.5% pure gold · alloyed with silver, copper and zinc. Hardest gold alloy, paler colour, more affordable. Common in the UK and budget jewellery; rarely used by Monroe Yorke for engagement rings.

14ct585

58.5% pure gold · the American mid-point. A noticeable step up in warmth from 9ct, still hard-wearing. Available on request for custom commissions.

18ct750 · MYD STANDARD

75% pure gold · the international fine-jewellery standard. The richest colour you can wear every day without it being too soft. Every Monroe Yorke gold ring is 18ct unless specifically requested otherwise.

24ct999

99.9% pure gold · investment-grade and bullion only. So soft you can dent it with a fingernail. Never used for jewellery; included here for completeness.

Our Recommendation

For an engagement ring or wedding band that will be worn every day for the next half-century, 18ct is the right answer for almost every wearer.

The Monroe Yorke Signature

Our white gold is palladium-based, not nickel-based.

Most white gold sold in mass-market jewellery is alloyed with nickel — cheap, effective, but it triggers a contact allergy in roughly one wearer in ten and tends toward a slightly grey or yellowish undertone.

We made a choice years ago that we have never reversed: every Monroe Yorke white gold ring is alloyed with palladium, one of the platinum-group metals. Palladium is significantly more expensive than nickel, but it is naturally hypoallergenic, naturally whiter, and considerably more stable over a lifetime of wear. Then we finish each piece with a layer of rhodium — the rarest precious metal on earth, brighter and whiter than platinum itself — for that signature snow-white finish.

The result is a ring that holds its colour, holds its lustre, and wears as though it were carved from a single block of moonlight.

75%
Pure 18ct gold
0%
Nickel content

Inside our 18ct palladium-based white gold

Au · Pd 18CT WHITE
Pure gold (Au) 75%
Palladium (Pd) ~17%
Silver & trace ~8%
Finished with rhodium plating
A Word On Platinum

Thirty times rarer than gold.

Platinum was used by pre-Colombian South American craftsmen long before Europeans had the technology to melt it — its melting point is so high that even Renaissance jewellers could not work it. It is mined today in only a few places on earth: South Africa, Russia, and a handful of smaller sites in North America.

That rarity is the reason platinum carries the price it does, but it is not the only reason it is the metal of choice for the world's most significant pieces. Platinum is denser than gold, which means a platinum ring sits more substantially on the hand. It is also more ductile under the kind of micro-stress your engagement ring takes every day for fifty years — claws and prongs in platinum hold a stone more securely over a lifetime than any other metal in fine jewellery.

30×
Rarer than gold. All the platinum ever mined would fit in a swimming pool.
~40%
Heavier than 18ct gold at the same volume — instantly recognisable on the hand.
1768°C
Melting point. Higher than steel — the reason platinum-only ateliers are extraordinarily rare.
95%
Pure platinum in our 950 alloy — the international fine-jewellery standard.
GOLD ~190,000 t mined PLATINUM ~7,000 t mined

Total quantity ever mined throughout human history

The Stamp Inside The Band

Australian hallmarks, independently assayed.

Look inside any Monroe Yorke ring and you will find a sequence of small stamps — usually three. They are not decorative; they are an unbroken chain of trust running back through Australian jewellery history.

The purity stamp states the precious-metal content as a number out of 1000 (e.g. 750 for 18ct gold; 950 for our platinum). The Kangaroo Head Hallmark is the official guild mark of the Jewellers Association of Australia — it certifies that the ring has been independently assayed and that the purity claim is accurate. The maker's mark identifies us, the workshop that made the piece. Every Monroe Yorke ring carries all three.

375
9ct Gold
585
14ct Gold
750
18ct Gold
950
Platinum
Caring For Your Piece

A few small habits, a lifetime of brilliance.

Every metal we use will outlast its first wearer if cared for. Three small habits make almost all the difference.

Clean Weekly

Soak in warm water with a tiny drop of mild dish soap for ten minutes. Brush gently around the setting with a soft toothbrush, rinse, and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. The film that dulls a diamond is not the diamond — it's hand cream and skin oil on the metal underneath.

Take It Off For

The gym, the garden, the swimming pool, the kitchen sink, harsh cleaning products, and the beach. Chlorine attacks alloys, sand abrades polished gold, and a dropped weight can split a thin band. The rest of the time, wear it with abandon.

Annual Service

Bring the ring to us once a year for a complimentary professional ultrasonic clean, claw and prong check, and re-polish. It takes twenty minutes and adds decades to the life of the setting. Free for life under our Lifetime Warranty.

View Our Lifetime Warranty
Explore

Engagement rings, by metal.

Begin with the metal you've fallen for. Each collection is shoppable by shape, style, and budget.

18ct · 750
Yellow Gold
Browse
18ct · Palladium
White Gold
Browse
18ct · 750
Rose Gold
Browse
95% Pure · 950
Platinum
Browse
Common Questions

Metals, answered honestly.

The questions our specialists are asked most often, with the answers we'd give in person.

There is no single best metal — only the right one for the wearer. Platinum 950 is the most precious and durable, holds claws securely for decades, and is naturally hypoallergenic. 18ct white, yellow or rose gold balances precious-metal purity (75% pure gold) with everyday workability and is the most popular choice for fine jewellery in Australia. 9ct gold is harder and more affordable.

The honest answer is that any of these will last a lifetime if cared for; the choice is about colour, budget and feel.

The number refers to how much pure gold is in the alloy out of 24 parts. 9ct gold is 37.5% pure gold (stamped 375); 14ct is 58.5% (stamped 585); 18ct is 75% pure gold (stamped 750); 24ct is 99.9% pure (stamped 999).

Higher caratage means a richer warm colour and higher precious-metal content but is softer; lower caratage is harder and more affordable but less yellow in tone. 18ct is the sweet spot most fine jewellers — including Monroe Yorke — recommend for engagement rings.

Both are excellent, but they're not the same metal. Platinum 950 is denser, rarer, naturally white forever, and never needs re-plating. 18ct white gold is gold mixed with palladium (in our signature alloy) to give it a cool white tone — it is roughly 40% lighter than platinum and around half the cost.

Monroe Yorke's white gold is a high-grade palladium-based alloy that resists yellowing, but all white gold benefits from periodic rhodium plating to keep its brightest finish. Choose platinum for ultimate longevity and rarity; white gold for a lighter ring at a lower price point.

Rose gold is gold alloyed with copper, which gives it a warm pink-to-red hue. The higher the copper content, the deeper the rose tone.

Because copper is harder than pure gold, rose gold is actually one of the most durable gold alloys — slightly harder than yellow gold of the same caratage. It is also the most colour-stable: rose gold does not need plating and its colour remains true for life.

All white gold has a slightly warm undertone because the underlying metal is pure gold (which is yellow). To achieve the brightest snow-white finish, white gold rings are typically plated with rhodium — a brilliant white precious metal.

Over years of wear the rhodium gradually wears off and the warmer base alloy shows through. A simple re-plating service every two to four years restores the bright white. Monroe Yorke offers complimentary re-rhodium plating under our Lifetime Care Programme.

The Kangaroo Head Hallmark is the official guild mark of the Jewellers Association of Australia. It guarantees that a piece of jewellery has been independently assayed and meets the precious-metal purity claimed on its stamp — for example, that an 18ct ring really does contain 75% pure gold.

Combined with the standard caratage stamp (375, 585, 750, 950 etc.), it is an Australian buyer's strongest assurance of authenticity.

Yes. Platinum 950 contains 95% pure platinum and is one of the most biocompatible metals used in jewellery. It contains no nickel and is widely recommended for people with sensitive skin or metal allergies.

Monroe Yorke's white gold is also nickel-free — we use a palladium-based alloy specifically because palladium is hypoallergenic, unlike older nickel-based white golds still common in the industry.

Remove rings before the gym, gardening, swimming or harsh cleaning. Clean weekly at home in warm water with a tiny drop of mild dish soap, gently brush the setting with a soft toothbrush, and pat dry. Store separately so harder stones don't scratch softer metals.

Bring your ring in to Monroe Yorke once a year for a free professional ultrasonic clean and claw check — this is the single best thing you can do to keep your diamond secure and your metal looking new.

◊ · ◊

Still deciding? Speak to a specialist.

Every Monroe Yorke client begins with a one-on-one consultation. Tell us how the ring will be worn, the diamond it will hold, and the hand it will sit on, and we will guide you to the metal that is right for both.

Book a Call Design A Custom RingBack To Education Hub
Continue Reading The 4Cs & Diamond Quality → Cut, colour, clarity and carat — explained.
Continue Reading How To Choose A Ring → Style, shape, setting and budget.
Continue Reading Meet Our Master Jeweller → Decades at the bench in Sydney.
Continue Reading Quality & Craft Standards → Why Monroe Yorke is built differently.