Gold and platinum are the two most commonly used metals for engagement and wedding rings. A while ago I published a post that talked about the Difference Between Yellow White & Rose Gold. Today I would like to clarify the differences between Platinum and Gold.
The main distinguishing physical characteristic between gold and platinum. Platinum is naturally white, and gold naturally has a yellowish color.
What turns yellow gold into white is Rhodium plating– Rhodium is a very precious metal that can cost ten times as much as gold or more! Rhodium is not a great metal to work with while making jewelry because it is stressed and brittle. Another deterrent factor is the price, which is terribly volatile. However, Rhodium is fabulous as a plating for jewelry because it is glittering and mirror-like. It’s like chrome, but much whiter, and the most reflective of all metals.
A rhodium plated white gold ring looks very similar to a Platinum ring when first purchased, but over time the rhodium plating in white gold will wear off and fade to a yellowish tinge. Once the ring is re-polished and re-plated, it will look white again. The naturally white Platinum will never fade to yellow.
White gold turning yellow is a huge problem, and that’s why Bez Ambar gives all white gold rings a lifetime warranty that covers re-polishing and re-plating.
If you choose to go with platinum, make sure there is a stamp on your platinum ring. The stamp should say PT950. The stamp is your guarantee that the ring is truly 95% pure. You do not want a 100% Platinum ring because it will bend and scratch far more readily than PT950 Platinum. You do not want it to be stamped PT900 because it contains less platinum and is not stronger.
Let us compare between platinum and 14k and 18k gold:
Weight / Composition– Platinum is much heavier than 14k and 18k gold
Strength/ Resistance to Stretching– Platinum scratches easier than 14k and 18k gold, but it is stronger and more durable than gold.
Color– Platinum Maintains it’s white color forever. Platinum’s color is gray; it is a little darker than rhodium plated white gold.
Allergenic-Platinum is Hypoallergenic; Gold can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Maintenance-Both Platinum and White Gold long-term maintenance include repolishing. Polishing platinum is more labor intensive than gold. Gold, on the other hand, needs periodic repolishing and re-plating.
Cost-Platinum jewelry is more expensive than gold jewelry for the following reasons: Although their cost per gram is the same, platinum is denser, so more of it is required to make a single piece of jewelry. It is also higher in purity which makes it more costly.
Comfort– Platinum is denser than gold so platinum rings are heavier. The comfort of a ring depends on people’s personal preference. Some prefer the heavier weight, others find the lightness of gold rings to be more comfortable.
All of Bez Ambar’s men and women wedding bands and engagement rings are available in gold and platinum and are custom-made to the client’s specifications.
If you have questions, please contact a Bez Ambar specialist. We would love to answer any questions you have.
gold-and-platinum
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Comments 2
Does white gold have nickel in it?
Author
Hi Kate, yes most white gold contains nickel, though palladium is starting to be used as an alternative for people with a nickel allergy. However, the palladium white gold is about 35% more expensive and is a little grayer.