Gold vs. Sterling Silver vs. Base Metal

Finding the perfect piece of jewellery can always be tough. With so many variables to take into consideration, it can prove a tricky task. Where do you start? What gemstones should you choose? What metal is the best choice?

At Deakin & Francis, we believe starting with the basics is best. Knowing what metal type you are wanting to go for is always a great place to start. In this blog post we have outlined the pros and cons to our main three metal types to help you decide what is best for you or any bespoke piece you may want to have created.

Gold

Gold has a long history linked to wonderful jewellery creations. Often synonymous with luxurious and lavish lifestyles, this precious metal is our favourite, and here is why.

Although gold is the most valuable of the three, we have always found it to be the best to make jewellery and gold cufflinks from. This is due to gold being very malleable helping us to create some awe-inspiring designs. The reason why it is so valuable is due to not only the demand over the centuries but also the rarity of the metal.

You may have heard people describing gold as either “18ct” or “9ct”. These terms are used to describe the level of pure gold used within the piece. All gold jewellery is made up of a percentage of pure gold and an alloy of some other base metals. Due to pure gold being rather soft, it is mixed with other metals such as silver and copper to create a harder wearing metal in order for you to be able to cherish your jewellery for much longer. The higher the carat the higher the percentage of pure gold within the final piece.

Our top 3 gold choices:

Silver

Sterling silver is a huge part of our Deakin & Francis offering. From silver cufflinks to ladies jewellery and designer accessories, Sterling Silver is a versatile metal which also looks stunning, which is why it is the most popular amongst our customers.

Sterling silver, like gold, is a precious metal. Just as desirable and known for being a more affordable metal, Silver allows you to have the jewellery you want at a lower price point. If you are looking to buy or create a gift while on a budget, that won’t allow the lavish price point of gold, sterling silver is the best option.

A durable metal, sterling silver is great for everyday jewellery use, like gold, it will not react with your skin. Bear in mind, if you are wearing your sterling silver jewellery everyday, certain lights and water can cause it to tarnish over time. However no need to panic, this tarnish can be easily rubbed off with specific silver polishing cloths. We also advise not to get important or special rings such as an engagement ring made in silver, due to it being a malleable metal it can bend out of shape over time, we suggest gold or platinum which is much more durable.

Our top 3 Silver pieces:

Base Metal

Base metal, although not a precious metal, is still a great choice for jewellery. Known for being the most affordable of the 3 metals we offer, it is a great metal to start up your cufflink or jewellery collection.

We love using base metal for our cufflinks as it allows us to be even more outgoing with our designs, especially with our range of moveable cufflinks. Base metal is basically a mixture of a few metals to form one base metal that is durable and desirable for jewellery. The most common base metals are copper, lead, nickel, tin, aluminium, and zinc. Base metal, like sterling silver can also be gold plated if you want to add that luxurious golden glow. However, please note that this plating can wear and could need re-plating. If you are looking for a super affordable piece that still looks amazing, base metal is for you.

Best-selling base metal pieces:

If you have any questions about choosing the right metal or creating a bespoke piece, then email us at: cufflinks@deakinandfrancis.co.u or call our office on 0121 236 7751.