Precious Metals

The metals most often used in jewelry—gold, platinum, and silver—are called the precious metals, and they’re appealing whether they’re used alone or to complement the gems in a piece. (Palladium—a metal with properties similar to platinum—is also considered by many to be a precious metal.)

The physical properties of precious metals make them ideal for use in jewelry and often distinguish them from non-precious metals, called base metals, such as copper, zinc, tin, nickel, lead, and iron.