Are Most Engagement Rings White Gold or Yellow Gold?
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio · Updated October 22, 2026
Short answer: At our studio, yellow gold, by a wide margin. Of 641 ring orders paid between December 2025 and October 2026, 76% were yellow gold, 10% platinum and 9% white gold, with two tone at 4% and rose gold under 1%. 14K yellow gold alone was 54% of every order. That is our own order book, not the whole market, but the split is clear.
The numbers come from our order tracker, the file that follows every ring from the first payment to delivery.
What metal do our couples choose?
| Metal | Share of ring orders |
|---|---|
| 14K yellow gold | 54.1% |
| 18K yellow gold | 22.3% |
| Platinum | 10.1% |
| 14K white gold | 7.0% |
| Two tone | 3.6% |
| 18K white gold | 1.9% |
| Rose gold, 14K or 18K | 0.9% |
641 ring orders with the metal recorded, paid December 2025 to October 2026. Full method in the SMIRO Ring Report.
Every other number from those orders, from carat to colour to engraving, is in the SMIRO Ring Report 2026.
What does yellow gold do to a white diamond?
Yellow prongs warm the edge of a white diamond, and each one reads as a small dot of colour. If you love yellow gold and want the stone to look as white as it can, there are two fixes: rhodium tipped prongs, where only the tips turn white, or a two tone ring with a white head on a yellow band. With a champagne diamond, yellow prongs suit the stone.
If you want white: white gold or platinum?
Platinum is naturally whiter and the most durable, and it stays white as it wears. It is also heavier, costs more, and scuffs a little more easily on the surface.
White gold starts rhodium plated. As the plating wears, it can look warmer, and re-plating brings it back. Between 14K and 18K white gold we suggest 14K: it has a whiter base under the plating and is more durable.
14K or 18K yellow gold?
We usually recommend 14K. It is 58% gold against 75% for 18K, which gives it a softer, more muted colour, and it is more durable and scratches less. 18K is a richer, brighter yellow and a little softer. The full comparison is in 14K vs 18K gold vs platinum.
Does the metal change the price?
| Metal | Oval classic solitaire, setting only |
|---|---|
| 14K yellow or 14K white gold | $1,299 |
| 18K yellow or 18K white gold | $1,699 |
| 14K two tone | $1,799 |
| Platinum | $1,899 |
CAD, listed October 2026, centre diamond not included.
White and yellow gold cost the same at the same karat. Yellow gold rings we have built are on yellow gold engagement rings.
Not sure which metal suits your stone?
A free 20 minute video call with our team. Bring a photo, a budget, or nothing at all.
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Moval 6 Tulip Hidden Halo Split Shank
Questions we get about this
Are most engagement rings white gold or yellow gold?
At our studio, yellow gold: 76% of 641 ring orders from December 2025 to October 2026, against 9% white gold and 10% platinum.
Is white gold cheaper than yellow gold?
Not with us. 14K white and 14K yellow gold are the same price, $1,299 CAD for our oval classic solitaire setting.
Does white gold turn yellow?
It can look warmer as the rhodium plating wears. Re-plating restores it.
What is the most durable metal for an engagement ring?
Platinum is the most durable and stays white. Among golds, 14K is more durable than 18K.
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