Gold or silver: which grillz to choose

The question every client asks

Before any mould is taken, almost everyone who contacts Grillz São Paulo asks the same question: gold or silver? There is no universal answer, because the right choice depends on budget, how often you plan to wear the piece, personal style and even skin tone. This guide lays out the real decision factors — price, colour, durability, upkeep and comfort — so you can choose with information rather than guesswork.

Whichever metal you pick, the making process is identical: a dental silicone impression or digital scan, taking about 15 minutes, with no filing of the tooth and no permanent fixing. What changes is the material of the final piece, the price per tooth, and how it behaves over time.

Solid 925 silver

Solid 925 silver is the most affordable metal on our list, at R$350 per tooth, with a cool, sharp shine that pairs well with black outfits, silver chains and a more understated everyday look. It's also the most common entry point for people who have never worn grillz before and want to feel the experience before investing in gold.

The thing to know about silver is that it tarnishes over time: contact with saliva and regular wear can darken the piece. This isn't a defect or a sign of poor quality — it's simply how the metal behaves. The fix is quick and easy: a silver polishing cloth restores the shine in a few minutes, and a professional polish handles more stubborn tarnishing.

For anyone planning to wear grillz only at parties, shows or specific occasions, silver is nearly always the more rational choice: the upfront cost is lower, and occasional upkeep is no burden since the piece isn't in prolonged daily contact with the mouth.

9K, 14K and 18K gold: what karat changes

Karat tells you the proportion of pure gold inside the alloy. The higher the number, the more pure gold and, generally, the more expensive and softer the metal. On our price list, 9K gold is R$1,200 per tooth, 14K is R$1,750 and 18K is R$2,100.

9K gold has less pure gold in the alloy, which makes it harder and more resistant to wear marks — a solid choice for anyone planning frequent use who wants the lowest entry point within gold. 14K is considered the classic grillz standard: a balance of vivid colour, resistance and cost, and it's the most commonly chosen karat for everyday wear. 18K has the warmest, deepest yellow and the most premium finish, and tends to be the choice of clients who already have grillz experience and want the best material available.

Unlike silver, gold doesn't tarnish inside the mouth. That means long-term comfort without needing frequent polishing, plus it retains metal value over the years — something that matters to clients who see grillz as a piece of jewellery rather than a passing accessory.

Yellow, white or rose?

Within the same karat, all three gold colours cost exactly the same — the choice is purely aesthetic. Yellow gold is the classic tone associated with hip hop and funk culture, with the most traditional and recognisable look. White gold looks similar to silver but without the tarnishing risk, and it particularly flatters stone-set pieces with white stones, since it doesn't visually compete with the stone's sparkle.

Rose gold is the softest of the three, with a slightly reddish tone that suits warm skin tones and is popular for open-face style pieces, where part of the natural tooth remains visible around the metal. There's no right or wrong answer: colour choice is about personal identity, and it's worth considering what jewellery and accessories you already wear to keep a coherent look.

Plating / dental chrome: the middle ground

For anyone who wants the colour of gold without the cost of solid gold, plated or dental chrome is a middle-ground option at R$450 per tooth. The piece is built on a tough metal base and receives a coloured finish on top, creating a look very close to gold for a fraction of the price.

It's important to understand the trade-off: the plated finish has a shorter lifespan than solid gold and, with heavy wear, can wear down over time, requiring maintenance or a refinish. For occasional wear, or for anyone testing the look before moving to solid gold, it's an honest option with a strong value proposition.

Durability and day-to-day upkeep

In terms of maintenance, the order from least to most demanding is: solid gold (virtually free of tarnish-related upkeep), plated/dental chrome (finish with limited lifespan) and silver (needs occasional polishing). In every case, the basic routine is the same: remove the grillz to eat and sleep, store it in a case, and clean it with a soft brush and mild soap after wear.

Stone-set pieces, whether silver or gold, need extra care: check periodically whether any stone has loosened and avoid ultrasonic cleaners, which can compromise the setting. This applies to both moissanite on silver and stone-set gold.

What about budgeting for a full piece?

Thinking only about price per tooth can be confusing when planning a larger piece of four, six or eight teeth. A six-tooth piece in solid silver runs around R$2,100, while the same piece in 18K gold goes beyond R$12,000. Between those two extremes, 9K and 14K offer middle points that fit different budgets without giving up gold entirely.

A common strategy among clients is to start with a smaller piece — one or two centre teeth — and expand later, which also lets you test the metal and the style before committing to a bigger piece.

Our recommendation, metal by metal

If this is your first grillz piece, or you'll only wear it at parties and specific events, solid 925 silver is the most sensible choice: lower investment, striking look and simple upkeep. If you plan to wear it often and think of your grillz as a piece for the long haul, 14K gold is our preferred sweet spot between cost, colour and durability.

For anyone wanting stones, the recommendation also shifts with budget: moissanite on silver is a great entry point into the iced-out look, while stone-set gold is the choice for a definitive piece, with metal that doesn't tarnish and a setting that lasts longer. Either way, the process starts the same — with a quick, painless mould, here in São Paulo or via a kit posted anywhere in Brazil.

• First piece or occasional wear: 925 silver, R$350 per tooth
• Frequent wear and durability: 14K gold, R$1,750 per tooth
• Gold look on a budget: plated/dental chrome, R$450 per tooth
• Want stones to start: moissanite on silver, from R$700 per tooth
• Definitive stone-set piece: stone-set gold, from R$1,750 per tooth

How to book your mould

Appointments are by booking only, with service in Portuguese and English. We offer home visits across São Paulo city, Greater São Paulo and Campinas, with travel agreed at booking, and we post an impression kit anywhere in Brazil. Plain pieces are ready in 5 to 10 days; gold and stone-set pieces take 10 to 15 days.

Payment works with a deposit before the piece is cast and the balance due at pickup. To talk through which metal fits your case, reach out via WhatsApp or email — we're ready to help you decide between gold and silver calmly, without pressure and without stretching your budget.