The Everlight Guide

The Metal Guide

Everything you need to know about 9kt & 14kt gold, rose, white & yellow gold, and Sterling Silver — so you choose with confidence.

37.5% Pure Gold

9 Karat Gold

The smart entry point into fine gold jewellery. 9kt gold offers durability and everyday wearability at a more accessible price — ideal for pieces worn daily.

Gold purity37.5%
Hallmark375
DurabilityVery High
Best forDaily wear
Price tierBudget friendly

What makes it unique

  • Alloyed with copper, silver, zinc or palladium for hardness
  • More scratch-resistant than higher-karat gold
  • Holds settings securely — great for diamond pieces
  • Lower gold content means a lighter, warmer hue in yellow variants
  • BIS Hallmarked 375 — certified purity

Ideal for & care

  • Rings, bracelets — pieces subject to daily friction
  • Budget-conscious buyers who want real gold
  • May cause sensitivity in extremely rare skin types (alloy metals)
Wipe with soft clothMild soap & warm waterAvoid chlorineStore separately
Available in
Yellow Gold
Rose Gold
White Gold
58.3% Pure Gold

14 Karat Gold

The sweet spot of fine jewellery worldwide. 14kt gold balances a rich gold presence with excellent durability — our most popular choice for diamond jewellery at Everlight.

Gold purity58.3%
Hallmark585
DurabilityHigh
Best forFine jewellery
Price tierPremium

What makes it unique

  • Most popular gold for fine diamond jewellery globally
  • Richer, deeper gold colour than 9kt
  • Strong enough for prong and pavé diamond settings
  • Highly resistant to tarnish compared to lower-karat alloys
  • BIS Hallmarked 585 — certified purity

Ideal for & care

  • Engagement rings, pendants, earrings — statement pieces
  • Buyers wanting the finest gold-to-price ratio
  • Hypoallergenic for most skin types
Soft-bristle brushMild soap & warm waterNo harsh chemicalsAnnual polishing
Available in
Yellow Gold
Rose Gold
White Gold
Gold + Copper Alloy

Rose Gold

Warm, romantic, and universally flattering. Rose gold’s blush tone comes from a higher copper content in the alloy — giving it a distinctive warmth no other metal can replicate.

Colour sourceCopper alloy
Available karat9kt / 14kt
Skin toneAll tones
TrendTimeless
Replating neededNo

What makes it unique

  • Higher copper content = warm blush-pink hue
  • Copper makes it naturally harder — very durable
  • Colour is inherent to the alloy — no plating to wear off
  • Pairs beautifully with champagne, cognac and white diamonds
  • Flattering against warm, cool and neutral skin tones alike

Ideal for & care

  • Romantic, feminine, and contemporary aesthetic
  • Stacking rings and layered necklaces
  • Those who want a warm alternative to yellow gold
Soft cloth polishAvoid sweat & perfumeNo ultrasonic cleaning
Gold + Palladium / Rhodium Plated

White Gold

The refined, contemporary alternative to platinum. White gold achieves its silvery-white finish through alloying with palladium or nickel, then rhodium plating for a brilliant, mirror-like surface.

Colour sourcePalladium alloy
Available karat9kt / 14kt
PlatingRhodium
ReplatingEvery 1–2 yrs
Diamond lookEnhanced

What makes it unique

  • Rhodium plating gives a brilliant, platinum-like finish
  • White/silver base maximises the visual impact of white diamonds
  • More affordable than platinum with a similar look
  • Plating gradually wears — re-plating restores appearance fully
  • Does not tarnish — maintains colour with re-plating

Ideal for & care

  • Engagement rings — diamond appears larger & brighter
  • Minimalist, modern aesthetic
  • Plan for rhodium re-plating every 12–24 months depending on wear
Gentle cleaning onlyRe-plate as neededAvoid abrasivesRemove before swimming
The Classic

Yellow Gold

The original and enduring. Yellow gold’s warm, rich hue has been the foundation of fine jewellery for millennia. Timeless, culturally significant, and universally cherished.

ColourWarm yellow
Available karat9kt / 14kt
Plating neededNo
MaintenanceVery low
Skin toneWarm & dark tones

What makes it unique

  • Most hypoallergenic of all gold colours
  • Colour is inherent — no plating required, ever
  • Gets better with a little wear — develops a natural patina
  • Exceptionally low maintenance compared to white gold
  • Pairs beautifully with champagne and fancy coloured diamonds

Ideal for & care

  • Traditional Indian aesthetics and heirloom pieces
  • Warm and olive skin tones — naturally complimentary
  • Those who prefer zero re-plating maintenance
Warm soapy waterSoft cloth dryAnnual polish
92.5% Pure Silver · S-925

Sterling Silver

Brilliant, cool-toned, and beautifully versatile. Sterling Silver (S-925) is the benchmark for silver jewellery — 92.5% pure silver alloyed with copper for strength, hallmarked under BIS standards.

Silver purity92.5%
HallmarkS-925
DurabilityModerate
TarnishPossible over time
Price tierMost accessible

What makes it unique

  • 92.5% fine silver + 7.5% copper for strength
  • Brilliant, cool white lustre — showcases diamonds beautifully
  • Most accessible price point for fine jewellery
  • BIS Hallmarked S-925 — certified in India
  • Rhodium-plated options add tarnish resistance

Ideal for & care

  • Fashion-forward, everyday jewellery
  • First-time fine jewellery buyers
  • Silver tarnishes — polish regularly with a silver cloth
  • Store in an airtight pouch to reduce oxidation
Silver polishing clothAirtight storageAvoid moistureNo ultrasonic

Quick Comparison

All metals side by side across the factors that matter.

MetalPurityHallmarkPlatingTarnishBest for
9kt Yellow Gold37.5% gold375✗ None✗ NoDaily rings, bracelets
9kt Rose Gold37.5% gold375✗ None✗ NoEveryday romantic pieces
9kt White Gold37.5% gold375⚡ Rhodium✗ NoModern budget pieces
14kt Yellow Gold58.3% gold585✗ None✗ NoFine diamond jewellery
14kt Rose Gold58.3% gold585✗ None✗ NoStatement & engagement
14kt White Gold58.3% gold585⚡ Rhodium✗ NoEngagement rings, luxury
Sterling Silver S-92592.5% silverS-925⚡ Optional⚡ PossibleEveryday accessible pieces

Universal Jewellery Care

A few simple habits keep every piece looking new for years.

🧼

Clean gently

Use a soft-bristle brush, mild soap and warm water. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. Never scrub — especially prong settings around diamonds.

📦

Store smartly

Keep pieces in individual soft pouches or compartments. Metals scratch each other. Silver benefits from airtight storage to minimise tarnish from air exposure.

⚗️

Avoid chemicals

Remove jewellery before swimming (chlorine strips plating), applying perfume or hairspray, exercising, and household cleaning. Chemicals accelerate wear on all metals.

🔁

Service white gold

White gold’s rhodium plating wears gradually. Every 1–2 years, have a jeweller re-plate it — this is a quick, affordable service that fully restores the brilliant finish.

🥊

Take it off sometimes

Remove fine jewellery during heavy-impact activities — gym, sports, manual work. Even the hardest metals develop micro-abrasions over time from repeated hard contact.

🔍

Annual check-up

Visit a jeweller once a year to check prong integrity and stone security. A loose prong caught early prevents a lost diamond — this takes minutes and costs very little.

Find Your Perfect Metal

Now that you know the metals, explore Everlight’s collection — certified lab-grown diamonds set in the metal of your choice.

Shop All Jewellery Lab-Grown vs Natural Guide →