Platinum Engagement Rings

No doubt we've all heard a story or two about a girlfriend gleefully receiving an engagement or promise ring from her beau, only to have her finger turn green from wearing it. We probably snickered at our gal pal's plight and possibly even deemed the love of her life as a cheapskate. However, in reality, this might be a totally unfair assessment of the gent.

Traditionally, gold has been the standard for making fine jewelry like engagement rings. Pure gold is very flexible, making it rather easy to mold into various different shapes, but it is not very strong. Thus, gold in its pure form is not very practical for jewelry that will be worn on a daily basis.

To counteract this dilemma, gold is often mixed with other materials to boost its strength. Most people don't really have allergic reactions to gold. However, the different elements that are mixed in with the gold have been shown to sometimes cause adverse reactions.

Platinum: No Irritating Impurities

The element that is most often responsible for causing an allergic reaction is nickel, which is a key ingredient in white gold. To avoid the potential heath risks associated with white gold, many people are opting instead for a platinum engagement ring. Platinum engagement rings are very similar in appearance to those made out of white gold, but platinum is totally free of any irritating impurities. Also, platinum is the ultimate in fine jewelry, and its strength is perfectly symbolic of the strength of the engaged couple's commitment to each other.