The metal guide

Choose the Metal That's Right for You

Signora pieces are made to order in the solid precious metal stated on the product page or approved specification. Use this guide to compare gold, platinum and sterling silver where offered.

Signora rings in their many metals
Metal families and finishes

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Gold

The classic, in three colors and three purities — so you can dial in exactly the warmth, durability, and budget you want.

Platinum

Dense and naturally white, with a substantial feel and no rhodium plating to maintain.

Silver

The most accessible way to wear the look — cool, bright sterling, loved with a little care.

Gold may be offered in yellow, white or rose tones and in 10K, 14K or 18K purity. The exact options shown on the product or approved custom specification control availability.

Metal explorer

The Same Choice You'll Make on the Ring

Metal Type — color & purity. Pick a family, and for gold, a color and karat.

Metal
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Color & purity

14K Yellow Gold

Hallmark 585
Gold, in depth

Purity Sets the Karat; the Alloy Sets the Color

Karat (K) measures how much pure gold is in the metal — different from carat, a diamond's weight. Pure 24K is too soft for jewelry, so it's blended for strength and color. All three colors come in all three purities.

Purity
Pure gold
Character
Best for
10K
41.7%
417
Subtle, paler gold; usually the lowest-priced gold option
Everyday durability on a friendly budget
14K
58.3%
585
Warm, balanced color; the popular all-rounder
Daily-wear rings you rarely take off
18K
75%
750
Rich, saturated color; higher gold content
Heirlooms, symbolic pieces, the richest color

Higher karat contains more gold and has a richer tone, while lower karat generally offers a harder alloy and different price point. Availability and price depend on the exact piece. See the focused 14K versus 18K guide before choosing.

Yellow gold

How it's made

A gold alloy commonly blended with copper and silver; exact composition is confirmed per piece

Finish & care

The listed yellow-gold finish is unplated; follow the care confirmed for your piece

Notes

The timeless classic; warmer and richer at higher karat

White gold

How it's made

A gold alloy with a bright rhodium finish; exact composition is confirmed per piece

Finish & care

The rhodium finish wears with use and can be renewed by a local jeweler when needed

Notes

Loved with diamonds for its bright, cool look

Rose gold

How it's made

A gold alloy commonly blended with copper; exact composition is confirmed per piece

Finish & care

The pink tone comes from its alloy; follow the care confirmed for your piece

Notes

Romantic and warm; deeper pink at 14K, softer blush at 18K

Color comes from the alloy rather than changing the stated gold purity. Listed white-gold finishes use rhodium, so their bright surface can be renewed as wear becomes visible.

The enduring one

Platinum: Naturally White

Signora's listed platinum is Pt950 — about 95% pure — and naturally white, so it does not rely on rhodium plating. Compare its wear, weight and care with white gold in the white gold versus platinum guide.

Naturally white

Its white tone comes from the metal rather than a rhodium finish; polishing changes the surface luster, not the underlying metal color.

Dense setting metal

Platinum is dense and tough, which makes it a considered option for prongs and daily-wear settings; the approved design determines the exact construction.

Substantial feel

Its higher density gives comparable designs a noticeably heavier feel than gold; exact finished weight depends on the piece.

Develops a patina

Over years it takes on a soft, matte sheen many people love; a jeweler can polish it back to a mirror finish anytime.

High-purity option

Pt950 is about 95% platinum. Sensitivities are personal, so confirm the exact alloy and seek clinical advice for a diagnosed allergy.

The accessible one

Silver

Sterling silver is 92.5% silver (925), with a cool, bright tone and often a lower price than gold or platinum in comparable listed designs. It is softer and naturally tarnishes over time, so it rewards regular care; the exact product page confirms material and availability.

Side by side

How They Compare

Pick up to three to weigh side by side. Relative differences, never prices.

The question we get most

14K vs 18K Gold: Which Should You Choose?

18K gold is 75% pure gold and has a deeper, warmer color. 14K gold is 58.5% pure and is the harder of the two, so it resists scratches and daily knocks better. For a ring worn every day, 14K is the more practical choice; for a piece worn occasionally, or where color richness matters most, 18K is worth the difference.

14K gold18K gold
Pure gold content58.5% (hallmarked 585)75% (hallmarked 750)
ColorLighter, coolerDeeper, warmer
HardnessHarder — better with daily wearSofter — marks more easily
PriceLowerHigher
Best forEveryday rings, bracelets, chains worn dailyEngagement rings, earrings, occasion pieces

Both are solid gold and both are hallmarked. Neither is “better” in the abstract — the honest answer depends on how often the piece is worn and what it has to survive. Every Signora design is made to order in 10K, 14K or 18K gold, sterling silver or platinum, so the choice is yours on any piece.

For engagement rings and wedding bands

14K is the safer choice for a ring worn every day, because it resists scratching better than 18K. 18K is the choice when you want the richer gold color and accept that it will show fine surface marks over time — marks that can be polished out. An 18K wedding band is worth it if color depth matters more to you than surface hardness; if the ring never comes off, 14K will hold its finish longer.

For necklaces and chains

For a chain worn daily, 14K is the more practical choice — it holds up better at the links, where a chain takes the most stress. 18K suits a chain worn less often, or one where the warmer gold color is the point. For very fine chains, the extra hardness of 14K matters more than it does on a heavier piece.

For bracelets

14K is generally better for bracelets. A bracelet knocks against desks, door handles and sleeves far more than a necklace does, and the harder alloy shows that wear less. Choose 18K for a bracelet worn on occasions rather than daily.

For hoop earrings

18K is a good choice for hoop earrings, and this is the one category where the usual advice flips. Earrings are barely touched once they are on, so hardness matters less than color, and the richer tone of 18K shows clearly against the skin. 14K remains sensible for hoops worn and removed every day.

For signet rings

18K is the traditional choice for a signet ring, because the softer metal takes and holds an engraving more cleanly. If the signet is worn daily and will not be re-cut, 14K will keep its edges sharper for longer.

Make it personal

Find Your Metal

Four quick questions — lifestyle, skin tone, your diamond, and sensitivity.

Question 1 of 41 / 4

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Your metal

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Keep it beautiful

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

All gold +

Mild soap and warm water with a soft cloth; avoid harsh chemicals, bleach, and perfume; store pieces separately, since harder karats can scratch softer ones.

White gold +

Have a trusted local jeweler re-plate the rhodium about every 12–24 months to keep it at its brightest. Between times, clean it just like yellow gold.

Rose & yellow gold +

Easy-going — an occasional polish keeps them bright. Rose may deepen slightly over the years, with no plating to maintain.

Platinum +

Clean it like gold; polish to restore the shine, or enjoy the soft patina. It never needs plating.

Silver +

Polish to lift tarnish, and store it dry and airtight when you are not wearing it.

In every metal

Crafted the Signora Way

Every piece is made to order in Surat. The product page or approved custom specification records the exact metal, purity, finish, hallmarking and any design-specific Signora details before crafting.

Questions, answered

Metal FAQ

Is 14K or 18K gold better for necklaces? +

For a necklace worn every day, 14K is better — it is the harder alloy and stands up to wear at the links. For a necklace worn occasionally, 18K gives a deeper gold color and is the more luxurious choice. Both are solid gold; the difference is 58.5% pure gold against 75%.

Is 14K or 18K gold better for a ring? +

14K is better for a ring worn daily, because it resists scratches and dents better than 18K. 18K is better if you want the richest gold color and are comfortable with a softer metal that will need occasional polishing. For an engagement ring that never comes off, most people are happier with 14K.

What is the best quality gold chain? +

The best quality gold chain is solid gold — not plated, filled or vermeil — with a hallmark stating its purity, and a well-made clasp. In practice that means 14K or 18K solid gold: 18K for color, 14K for durability. Check for the hallmark (585 for 14K, 750 for 18K) and check that the clasp is the same metal as the chain, since a weak clasp is where most chains fail.

What is the highest quality white gold? +

18K white gold is the highest quality white gold in common use, at 75% pure gold alloyed with white metals and usually finished with rhodium plating. Higher purity than 18K is not practical in white gold, because more pure gold means more yellow to mask. If you want a naturally white metal that needs no plating at all, platinum rather than white gold is the answer.

Is 18K white gold worth it? +

18K white gold is worth it if you want the highest practical gold content in a white metal and accept that the rhodium finish needs replating from time to time. If you would rather not maintain a plated finish, platinum is naturally white and never needs it. If budget matters more than gold content, 14K white gold looks near-identical once plated and costs less.

Is 18K HGE better than 14K gold? +

No. 18K HGE is not solid gold. HGE stands for “heavy gold electroplate” — a thin layer of gold bonded to a base metal, usually brass. 14K gold is solid gold throughout, at 58.5% purity, and is hallmarked as such. An HGE piece will wear through to the base metal over time; a 14K piece will not. Any solid gold is worth more than any plating, whatever number appears before the letters.

What's the difference between karat and carat? +

Karat (K) measures gold purity; carat (ct) measures a gem's weight. Different words, different things.

Is 10K real gold? +

Yes — 10K is genuine gold (41.7% pure, hallmarked 417), not plated or vermeil. The karat fineness is stated on every piece.

Does white gold change color? +

Its rhodium finish gradually wears and may need periodic replating. Alloy composition and care requirements vary, so use the exact product or approved specification and ask about sensitivities before ordering.

Will rose gold fade? +

No — its color is built into the alloy. It may deepen slightly over years and never needs plating.

Is platinum worth the premium? +

It can be a strong choice if you want a naturally white, substantial metal with no rhodium plating to maintain. Whether the premium is right for you depends on the design, wear pattern and budget.

Which metal is best for sensitive skin? +

Sensitivities vary by person and exact alloy. Check the product or approved specification, avoid a known trigger such as nickel, and ask a clinician if you have a diagnosed metal allergy.

Which metal suits my diamond? +

White metals show off a diamond's whiteness; yellow and rose gold can flatter a warmer, more affordable diamond.

Can I have any design in any metal? +

Many designs are offered in several metals and finishes, but availability depends on the exact piece. The product page or approved custom specification confirms your options.

Are your pieces hallmarked? +

The product page or approved custom specification confirms the purity mark and any hallmarking that applies to the exact piece.