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Platinum versus White Gold
(05-08-2007)
A question I am often asked by friends who are buying wedding and engagement rings is whether to buy platinum or white gold. Now obviously part of the decision will depend on budget with platinum being the most expensive of metals but people often aren’t sure why and if there are any benefits to spending the extra money.
White gold is not a naturally white metal it is made up of an alloy of gold and one other metal to give it its white colour usually silver, palladium or platinum. Palladium alloys are soft and pliable and are used more generally in the higher quality white gold (18 karats) there are also sometimes trace levels of platinum in the higher quality white gold. This makes it excellent for stone setting which is why it is normally used in engagement rings. White gold is not shiny naturally and needs to be specially electroplated with a metal known as rhodium in order to give it its sheen. Rhodium does however wear off and needs to be re-plated about once very year depending on wear and tear, this can be done quite simply and your jeweller can advise on costs.
This re-plating does put a few people off white gold whereas platinum on the other hand does not need any plating as it is a naturally white metal. Platinum is heavier than gold and it slightly greyer in colour than white gold, it is also far more durable and is abrasive resistant – so it is harder to scratch and it doesn’t tarnish. The problem with platinum is that at any time it is nearly twice the price of gold.
If money was no object I would go for platinum every time however it is not the price of platinum that deters some people from buying it – I have known people who simply prefer the shinier finish of white gold as they think it looks more expensive even if it is a fraction of the price. Ultimately it is down to personal preference.
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