Precious Metals
We make jewellery in all the different types of precious metals available. We can also work in a few other metals - for example copper and brass - if needed.
Platinum
Platinum is a naturally bright white metal that does not require any coating, making it highly desirable for jewellery pieces. The name is derived from the Spanish 'platina', meaning little silver. It is the most valuable precious metal and is recognised for its exceptional hardness and durability among all precious metals. Platinum is hallmarked with a 950 purity standard, ensuring its authenticity and quality. Additionally, it is a chemical element represented by the symbol 'Pt', and an atomic number of 78.
Palladium
Palladium is the newest precious metal, having been used in the jewellery industry for some time but only gaining its own hallmark in mid-2009. It is a naturally bright white metal that does not require any coating, offering a sleek and durable finish. Palladium exhibits a distinctive hint of blue in its colouring and is 40% lighter than Platinum, making it a lightweight yet strong alternative. It shares similar wear and durability characteristics with Platinum. Palladium is hallmarked with a 950 purity standard, ensuring the highest quality, though other grades are available. Palladium is a chemical element represented by the symbol 'Pd' and has an atomic number of 46.
Yellow Gold
In the UK, the standard gold purities used in jewellery are 9ct and 18ct, although 10ct and 14ct can also be found, particularly abroad. 9ct gold has a pale yellow colour and is harder wearing than 18ct gold, but it contains less pure gold, with a composition of 9 parts gold out of 24 (or 37.5%), and is hallmarked with 375. In contrast, 18ct gold has a richer yellow hue, is softer than 9ct gold, and contains a higher proportion of pure gold - 18 parts out of 24 (or 75%) - with a hallmark of 750. Gold is a chemical element represented by the symbol 'Au' and has an atomic number of 79.
White Gold
On the high-street, white gold is rhodium plated to become bright white in colour just like platinum, but this is not its true colour. At Dythams, you could have white gold left natural or plated as you wish. 9ct gold is naturally a pale creamy white colour and is harder wearing than 18ct gold, but it contains less pure gold, with a composition of 9 parts gold out of 24 (or 37.5%), and is hallmarked with 375. In contrast, 18ct gold is naturally a gunmetal white colour, and is softer than 9ct gold, and contains a higher proportion of pure gold - 18 parts out of 24 (or 75%) - with a hallmark of 750. Gold is a chemical element represented by the symbol 'Au' and has an atomic number of 79.
Rose Gold
'Rose Gold' is a metal created by adding a copper alloy to yellow gold. 9ct rose gold is a rich and pink colour and is harder wearing than 18ct gold, but it contains less pure gold, with a composition of 9 parts gold out of 24 (or 37.5%), and is hallmarked with 375. In contrast, 18ct rose gold is rich in colour with pink and yellow tones, and is softer than 9ct gold, and contains a higher proportion of pure gold - 18 parts out of 24 (or 75%) - with a hallmark of 750. Gold is a chemical element represented by the symbol 'Au' and has an atomic number of 79.
Sterling Silver
The word silver goes back to at least the 12th century, A.D. The name may have originated from the Greek word 'Argos', meaning "shiny" or "white." It is naturally white in colour, and is the softest out of the precious metals. Sterling silver has a high proportion of pure silver - 925 parts out of 1000 (or 92.5%) - with a hallmark of 925. However, this metal is not ideal for setting valuable stones due to it's softness. Silver is a chemical element represented by the symbol 'Ag' and has the atomic number of 47.