White Gold vs. Platinum for Rings | Wedding KnowHow | CHURINGA WEDDING RINGS

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Contents

• What is platinum?
• What is white gold?
• White Gold vs.
  Platinum
  • Durability
  • Appearance and Color
  • Value
  • Weight
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Jewelry applications and design
• What Real Brides Say

Gold and platinum are two of the most
famous, oldest, and most used metals in jewelry – especially for engagement
rings and wedding bands. But it can be difficult when deciding between the two
because each has its pros and cons.

Here’s a look at the similarities and
differences of these two white metals, covering durability, price, appearance,
maintenance and value. We’ll cover all this below but first, let’s start with a
quick summary of these two precious metals.

What is platinum?

Platinum wedding band. See more here.

Platinum is one of the rarest metals in
jewelry which is also one of the main reasons why it’s so expensive. This
hasn’t stopped jewelers and other craftsmen from using platinum for over thousands
of years, however. All throughout human history, platinum has been one of the
most sought-after metals on the planet.

The physical properties of this metal are
also very impressive. Platinum doesn’t fade or tarnish, it’s
corrosive-resistant, and very hard and durable but still soft enough to be
workable. It’s also hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for people with
metal sensitivities. The combination of all these qualities makes platinum an
excellent choice for wedding rings and bands.

It’s noteworthy that the platinum used in
jewelry is an alloy and not 100% pure. The typical platinum alloy in jewelry
has between 85% and 95% platinum purity (always above at least 80%) and the
rest of the alloy is made up of copper, iridium, palladium, cobalt, and other
similar metals.

What is white gold?

White gold wedding band. See it here.

White gold is a fairly recent innovation
that’s been created precisely as a less-expensive alternative to platinum.

Like platinum, white gold is actually an
alloy. That much should be obvious considering that natural gold is always
yellow in color – white gold isn’t a material that’s mined straight from the
Earth. It’s made by mixing natural yellow gold with some combination of the
following metals – silver, palladium, nickel and manganese.

Some white gold alloys don’t contain any
silver, others have quite a bit of it. Some have around 80% gold purity and
others can fall below 50%. Still, the two most common and standard types of
white gold alloy are 75% gold purity and 58% gold purity. In other words – 18
karats white gold and 14 karats white gold, with 24 karats being 100% pure
yellow gold. The reason why white gold is mixed with so many other metals is
because natural gold is extremely soft and is not suitable for jewelry work on
its own.

In other words, while platinum is mixed
with metals such as palladium in order to become softer, white gold is a
mixture of metals like palladium so that it becomes harder. It should also be
noted that the different karats of white gold also mean different colors and
different value – the less gold there is in the alloy the less yellowish it
will be as well as less valuable.

The yellow hues gold gives its white gold
alloy means that it’s not exactly white or even silver in color. That’s why
white gold rings will also have a layer of rhodium plating on top which makes
it perfectly white, reflective and shiny.

White Gold vs.
Platinum

Now that we’re roughly familiar with both
metals, let’s see how they stack up against each other. Which is better for
engagement and wedding rings, which is more valuable and expensive, and which
will fit your personal preferences?

Durability

Platinum ring with high polish. See it here.

Platinum is much harder than white gold and
more durable. Despite this major difference between the two metals, they are
both suitable for engagement and wedding rings.

Platinum is much more scratch-resistant and
corrosion-resistant than gold so if you’re looking for a metal that will
survive some hands-on labor, platinum is the better choice. However, because platinum
is much more expensive that it’s better to take off the ring before you do any
manual labor or other physical activities. Platinum may be harder than gold and
more scratch-resistant, but it can be damaged – hit it hard enough and it will
get scratched or deformed as well and will need to be fixed.

White gold, it should be noted, is harder
than yellow gold, thanks to the metals that go in its alloy. Additionally, the
rhodium plating also adds a layer of protection and keeps it from easily
getting scratched. Still, it is unpleasant when the rhodium plating gets
scratched because the yellow hues of the gold below become easily visible.
Additionally, the rhodium plating needs to be rebuffed every year or so to
maintain the alloy’s color and shine.

Appearance and Color

Because of the rhodium plating, white gold
looks very similar to platinum to the untrained eye. This stark similarity in
the appearance of white gold is one of the things that make it such a good
alternative to platinum.

White gold is very similar to platinum. See this ring here.

After a while, when the rhodium plating
starts getting scratches, the difference between a white gold ring and a
platinum ring can become easily apparent, especially if the gold underneath it
is of high karatage and has a strong yellow hue. However, a quick rebuffing of
the rhodium layer can quickly solve that problem.

On the other side of things, platinum can
acquire scratches over time as well, albeit less so. Fortunately, a slightly
damaged platinum ring or one that’s developed a bit of patina, can be easily
polished and restored to its original beauty and luster. And if you keep your
platinum ring from getting damaged in the first place, it can maintain its
luster for a very long time.

Value

Platinum is more valuable and more
expensive than gold, it’s that simple. Not only is platinum a rarer metal, but platinum
alloys also contain more pure platinum than white gold contains pure gold.

Platinum is also considered more
prestigious due to its higher price point and properties, making it perfect for
heirloom pieces to be passed down to the next generations in your family.

Weight

Gold is not a lightweight metal but neither
is platinum – to the contrary. Comparing the weight of these two metals can be
tricky, however, since it depends on the exact characteristics of their alloys.
Still, here’s a quick approximation:

• Platinum is 10-11% heavier than
  pure 24-karat yellow gold.
• Platinum is 33-34% heavier than
  18-karat white gold.
• Platinum is 59-60% heavier than
  14-karat white gold.

In short, the weight difference between the
two becomes quite substantial the more you dilute gold but it’s not that
significant when you compare near-pure platinum with near-pure gold. In terms
of how platinum and white gold rings feel on your hand – both materials have a
noticeable heaviness to them which a lot of people like as it makes the ring
feel substantial. If you don’t like heavy rings you can go for a 14-karat white
gold ring or for another metal like titanium.

Hypoallergenic

This is another major difference between
white gold and platinum as the latter is highly hypoallergenic while the former
can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions with the various metals in
its alloy such as copper. If you want a ring that’s guaranteed not to irritate
your skin, platinum is the way to go. If the price tag is a problem, the much
cheaper titanium is also hypoallergenic.

Jewelry applications and design

Both white gold and platinum are widely
used in jewelry – not only for engagement and wedding rings but also for
various other types of jewelry. Design-wise, both platinum and white gold can
be used for any type of ring design and setting although platinum design can
afford to be bolder and more extravagant since the metal offers extra
sturdiness and durability compared to gold.

What Real Brides Say

If you’re still unsure between these two
metals, here’s what a few of our readers have said about white gold and
platinum rings.

Moira: I have a white gold engagement ring and a platinum wedding band. No one can tell the difference and neither can I.

Amalia: Platinum is super stylish and more durable, but you have to bear with the patina. I for one hate the look of patinas on my rings. I prefer the shiny look of white gold so both my rings are white gold.

Aryan: Platinum is the way to go. It scratches, just like white gold, but it only displaces and doesn’t lose any metal. I like it because it’s more durable and easier to wear.

Most people are split down the middle when it comes
to choosing between these two. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal
preferences and to budget.

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