Solitaire rings · By metal
18k gold solitaire rings
Seventy-five per cent pure gold, alloyed for strength, in three colours. Yellow is the gold most people picture. White is yellow gold alloyed pale and plated bright. Rose is gold alloyed with copper, the warmest in colour and the hardest of the three. 18k is the gold we recommend and every 18k ring carries the BIS hallmark. 14k gold is available on request, and its own page sets out the trade honestly.
Quoted on the stone · No list price · Last updated 2026-10-05
Yellow, white or rose
This is a taste decision, with one practical note attached. Yellow and rose gold are the colour all the way through: they never need re-plating and age into a soft glow. White gold is rhodium-plated to get its bright white, and the plating wears, so expect to have it re-plated every few years, sooner on a hand that is used hard. That is normal maintenance, not a defect, but nobody enjoys finding it out afterwards.
On the stone: white gold and platinum let a colourless stone stand alone. Yellow gold warms the stone slightly and flatters a lower colour grade, which can be a saving. Rose gold does the same and reads softest on the hand.
- 18k yellow gold
- Warm, traditional, never needs re-plating. Has come back strongly for solitaires in the last few years, especially with ovals and cushions.
- 18k white gold
- Bright and modern on delivery. Needs rhodium re-plating over the years. Lighter and less costly than platinum; the sensible place to save if the stone matters more.
- 18k rose gold
- Copper alloy, warmest colour, hardest of the three golds. Flatters a slightly lower colour stone and suits a pear or oval especially.
18k or 14k
Fourteen carat is 58.3 per cent gold against 18k's 75. It is harder, which sounds like an advantage, and it is cheaper. But the colour is visibly paler and less saturated, and the higher proportion of alloy means more people react to it against the skin. For a piece meant to last, we would rather put the difference into the metal than the margin. 14k is available on request, and makes sense for a very active hand or a budget where the stone matters more; the 14k page covers it.
Every 18k ring carries the BIS hallmark inside the band, the Indian purity mark that is independently assayed. It is yours to check, like the stone's certificate.
How a ring is made here
The process is the same for every ring. We talk, by video or in person in Bengaluru. We source the stone for you and send its certificate. A designer draws the ring and you approve the renders before any metal is poured. The makers we work with cut and set it in 18k gold or 950 platinum. You see photographs of the finished ring before it ships, insured and tracked, with an insurance valuation in the box.
Every stone comes with its certificate: GIA for lab-grown diamonds, IGI for natural diamonds and GRA for moissanite. The report number is yours to look up on the lab's own site before the ring is made.
Questions people ask
Which gold colour suits a solitaire best?
White for a stone that stands alone and reads modern. Yellow for warmth and the look that has come back most recently. Rose for softness and for flattering a lower colour stone. We draw the ring in whichever you choose and can render two to compare.
Does white gold turn yellow?
The rhodium plating wears over a few years and the warmer alloy underneath begins to show. Re-plating restores it in an afternoon. If you would rather never think about it, choose platinum or yellow gold.
Is 18k gold strong enough for daily wear?
Yes. 18k has been the standard for fine engagement rings for a century. The claws are cut to the stone and the metal, and re-polishing is free for life.
Do you make 14k gold rings?
Yes, on request. We recommend 18k because the colour is richer and fewer people react to it, but 14k is harder and costs less, and for an active hand or a tight budget it is a fair choice. The 14k page sets out the trade.
Is the gold hallmarked?
Yes. Every 18k ring carries the BIS hallmark for purity inside the band. Platinum is stamped 950.
Start with the metal
Tell us the stone, the shape and the gold colour and we will draw the ring and send renders before anything is made. If you cannot decide between two colours, we render both.