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We know that some of you are buying a ring for the first time. When this is the case, especially if it is a wedding band, typically a few basic questions about gold arise. What are the differences between yellow and white gold? What are the differences between 14K and 18K gold? Does gender or use determine what is appropriate? We hope that the following discussion will help.

So you are the traditional type, when it comes to rings. You prefer time tested classic looks that don't ebb and flow with the trends of the day. You don't want people guessing what kind of metal your ring is made out of. You are a yellow gold person. Yellow gold leaves no doubt about what it is. It is the most unmistakable metal in history and a yellow gold ring is the most time honored piece of jewelry in history.

You will be happy with your choice. A yellow gold ring has many advantages over a white gold ring. First of all, a yellow gold ring will never lose its color and will never need to be re-plated. Yellow gold rings are not alloyed with nickel and almost never cause any skin allergies or mermatitis. Rather, yellow gold is made by mixing pure gold with alloy metals like zinc or copper. It is also one of the most malleable metals in the world, which makes it perfect for crafting into crosses, crowns and other Orthodox Christians symbols without putting too much stress on the ring. Quite simply, a yellow gold ring is about as worry-free a piece of jewelry as you can find.

So, you love the look of platinum rings. Everywhere you look you see platinum, platinum, and more platinum. The problem? Your budget doesn't allow for platinum's steep price tag. How can you get a similar look for a lot less money? Purchase a beautiful white gold ring or wedding band. White gold rings look very similar to platinum rings. White gold is elegant and classy and is a wonderful choice for people who love gold but prefer the silver-white color over the more traditional yellow.

Unlike a yellow gold ring, a white gold ring compliments every skin tone. White gold doesn't occur naturally; it must be alloyed with"white" metals in order to get its white color. Some people are allergic to nickel which is one of the metals alloyed with gold to "whiten" it. White gold rings are coated with rhodium plating which will wear off over time, requiring a trip to the jeweler for re-plating. Re-plating is typically done every 3-6 years and currently costs between $35 and $55. The nice part about this is that a new coat of rhodium makes the ring look brand new again, without ever paying the extra grand for a platinum ring.

White gold wedding bands are often more suitable for those who are not normally big jewelry wearers or for people who like a more subtle look. White gold is also somewhat more contemporary, although trends suggest that yellow gold wedding bands are still popular in their own right. Ultimately, whether you choose yellow or white gold should depend on your personal preference, rather than following any trend, since trends come and go and you plan to wear your ring forever. OrthodoxRings.com suggests that if you are undecided on the metal then focus on the design. Find the design that you are set on and then look at it in both yellow and white gold. Every design we offer comes in every metal we offer! Which metal looks best to you in your favorite design? That's the one for you!

Gold jewelry has historically remained in style not only because of its status as a precious metal, and not only because of its beautiful and aesthetic qualities, but because of its valuable properties as an element (Au on the Periodic Table). Since pure gold does not tarnish in reaction to other elements it comes into contact with, the residue that accumulates on some metals does not occur with pure gold. Occasionally, people may have an allergic reaction to alloys that are combined with gold, but gold itself is rarely a problem.

Pure gold contains 24 Karats of Gold. This is the unit by which gold purity and content is measured. Since 24K Gold is too soft for producing jewelry such as rings, manufacturers use alloys to strengthen jewelry and match it to the desired color. The manufacturer of OrthodoxRings.com uses the industry standards for producing alloys. The industry standard for 14K Gold is 58.3% gold, which is 14 divided by 24 (.583). For 18K Gold, the standard is 75% gold, which is 18 divided by 24 (.75). 18K Gold is therefore slightly softer than 14K Gold, but it has higher gold purity and will also be slightly richer or more yellow in color than 14K Gold (although this can be difficult to distinguish visually).

Sometimes people wonder if 18K will be too soft to wear. We believe that 18k gold is not too soft to wear and people often do purchase 18K, especially in Europe where 18K gold tends to be more popular than 14K gold. In the U.S., more consumers purchase 14K Gold. The only exception is that if you work frequently with your hands or have a job that is demanding physically, you may want to consider 14K gold instead of 18K gold so that the detail in your ring will hold up better over time.

* All of our rings are guaranteed to be pure 14k or 18k gold.