Your wedding band is the piece of jewellery you are likely to wear every single day, so choosing the right metal matters. Many of our lab-grown diamond bands are offered in a choice of 9ct gold, 18ct gold and platinum, and one of the questions we're asked most often is: which is best? The honest answer is that it depends on your style, your lifestyle and your budget. Here's how they compare.
Understanding carats in gold
Pure gold is 24 carat, but it is far too soft for everyday jewellery, so it is mixed with other metals to make it stronger. The carat number tells you how much pure gold is in the alloy:
- 9ct gold contains 37.5% pure gold (hallmarked 375).
- 18ct gold contains 75% pure gold (hallmarked 750).
The other metals in the alloy determine whether the gold is yellow, white or rose.
9ct gold: durable and great value
9ct gold is a popular choice for everyday jewellery, and most of our rings are crafted in it. Because it contains a higher proportion of strengthening metals, 9ct gold is hard-wearing and resistant to everyday knocks, which makes it ideal for a ring you will wear constantly. It is also the most affordable of the three metals.
The colour of 9ct yellow gold is a little paler than 18ct. For many people this is a positive: it's soft, warm and easy to wear with other jewellery.
18ct gold: rich colour and luxury feel
With 75% pure gold, 18ct gold has a richer, deeper colour, particularly in yellow gold, and a satisfying weight on the finger. It is the traditional luxury choice for engagement and wedding rings. Because it contains more pure gold, it is softer than 9ct and may show surface marks more readily over time, though a polish can restore its finish.
18ct gold costs more than 9ct because of its higher gold content. As an example, our Aries Band is £295 in 9ct gold and £595 in 18ct gold.
Platinum: naturally white and very dense
Platinum is a naturally white precious metal, so it keeps its bright white colour without relying on plating. It is very dense, so a platinum ring feels noticeably heavier than the same ring in gold. When platinum is scratched, the metal tends to move rather than wear away, developing a soft "patina" that some people love, and that can be polished back to a high shine.
Platinum is generally the premium option. Our Aries, Astra, Leo, Spica and Seren bands are all available in platinum as well as 9ct and 18ct gold.
A note on white gold
White gold is made by alloying gold with white metals, and it is usually finished with a bright rhodium plating. Over time this plating can wear, revealing a slightly warmer tone underneath, and it can be re-plated to restore the bright white finish. If you love the white look but want to avoid re-plating, platinum is worth considering.
Matching your engagement ring
As a general rule, it's a good idea to match the metal of your wedding band to your engagement ring. Metals of different hardness worn side by side can wear against each other over time, and matching metals also keep the colour consistent. If your engagement ring is 9ct white gold, a 9ct white gold band will sit beautifully alongside it.
Our in-store designers can even 3D scan your engagement ring to craft a perfectly matching wedding band through our CAD design service.
Quick comparison
- Best for everyday durability and value: 9ct gold.
- Best for rich colour and a luxury feel: 18ct gold.
- Best for a naturally white, weighty ring: platinum.
Explore our wedding bands
Browse our lab diamond wedding bands and lab diamond bands, including our Celeste, Vega and Nova stone bands, available in 9ct or 18ct white, yellow or rose gold, or platinum. Many bands are made to order, with production times of up to six weeks, so we recommend ordering well before your wedding day.
Still undecided? Visit us in Clydebank, Ayr or Irvine to try the metals on side by side, or book an appointment with our team.
