Which type of metal should I use to set this type of ring?

Marissa1986

Hi everyone! I think I have decided on the ring (round stone with halo and pave setting) I want and will attach a photo- but it comes in 14ct white gold or 950 palladium and I cant decide which would be a better choice for me. I am a medical student, and will be a doctor next year so I think I would rather have the stronger metal palladium because my ring will take a lot of abuse with frequent handwashing. Also, palladium wouldnt have to be redipped every year to prevent yellowing like white gold does. However, I have read that palladium develops a greyish patina after a while, and Im worried it wouldnt be very easy to buff or polish because is is an intricate ring. I want my ring to stay shiny and white, but would like it to be as low maintenance and as durable as possible. Which one do you think I should choose? Any advice about this? Thanks!

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/drcinderella/Ring-1.jpg

alehayes

I'd go with platinum if your setting comes in it.  Otherwise, I'd go with palladium over white gold.

kellya01

Go with what you like visually the best.  White gold has a little more shine to it, I think. 

I have a bunch of friends in the medical field and they actually don't wear their rings to work in... I find it curious that you think your ring will go through so much handwashing every day? 

Hays2be

I'm in the medical field, in the operating room, and I wear my ring every day.  I have co-workers who do and do not wear their rings.  I think it's a matter of personal preferance.

I did get a ring taking my career into account--it's a low profile bezel mount so it won't catch on the gloves that I'm in and out of a gazillion times a day.

srkropf

To my FI knowledge, he's been in jewelry for 10+ years, he says to go with the gold, and here are his reasons. The palladium has to be cast around the stones, which is VERY hard with pave and palladium can break and shatter easily, because it is brittle. However, depending on the gold purity will depend on gold's softness. I have a ring that is very similar to yours, round center with halo and pave diamonds, and mine's in white gold. My FI teases me that I'm rough with my ring, and we did have to have it re-tipped, the things that hold the round stone in, because some were missing. Hope this helps!