Sheiban Jewelers Blog White Gold vs. Platinum Rings

When it comes to buying an engagement ring or a wedding band, there are a lot of decisions that need to be made. One of the most common being "White gold or Platinum?" Since there are many pros and cons to each metal, they have been simplified to aide in your decision making process.PlatinumAppearancePlatinum is one of the purest metals used in jewelry - most commonly 95% pure.Since it is naturally a white metal, it does not need to be mixed with with any other metals to achieve its white color. As Platinum wears, it naturally has a grey overtone to it, but a quick polish will return its mirror-like luster. Because of the pure nature of the metal, it is hypo-allergenic, which makes it the ideal metal choice for individuals with allergies to metals such as nickel.CostNot only is platinum significantly more rare than gold, it is also about 50% more dense (depending on karat) which means more material is required to make the same ring. It is so rare that if you put all of the platinum that has ever been mined into an Olympic-size swimming pool, it would only come up to your ankles!Because of this, the price of a platinum ring is relatively higher than a white gold ring.DurabilityPlatinum provides a more secure setting for your diamond or gemstone and wears approximatelyfour times better than gold. Platinum jewelry is more durable than gold and because of the natural white appearance, it does not need to be rhodium plated.White GoldAppearanceUnfortunately, there is no such thing as natural white gold.Gold isnaturally yellow in color, and must me mixed with other alloys in order to give it its white color. Not only does this reduce the purity of the metal, but also strengthens the gold since pure gold is too soft for everyday wear.CostIt is estimated that 33 tons of rock have to be processed in order to get 1oz of gold. The amount of gold mined every year can significantly influence the current price.The most common purities of white gold are 10K(41.6% pure), 14K (58.3% pure), and 18K (75% pure).The greater the purity, the more expensive the gold.DurabilityTo produce the bright and shiny white appearance of the metal, white gold pieces are rhodium plated - also known as 'dipped.' At first glance they look almost identical, however as it starts to wear, the white gold will develop a yellow overtone. Because rhodium plating is just a thin coating, the finish will wear off in 1-2 years and will need to be rhodium plated again.