Difference between platinum and gold.

White Gold vs. Platinum

You are out doing some jewelry shopping and a thought crosses your mind; should I get platinum for my piece instead of white gold? What is the difference, other than obviously price? Is it really the “best” metal? Many people wonder these same things. All will be revealed in today’s blog.

Many people choose white gold over platinum because they believe that platinum is more expensive than white gold. Platinum is more expensive than white gold, however white gold does have a catch. A white gold piece is not pure gold. Pure gold is far too soft. When white gold is made, yellow gold is mixed together with white metals such as silver, palladium, or nickel. Once the metals are mixed together, a white gold piece will then be "rhodium plated" to give it a whiter, shinier finish. This is what makes a white gold piece look the same as a platinum piece when they are both in new condition. Over time this can and will wear off. The oils on our skin and lotions etcetera can speed up this process as well. It will eventually need to be “re-dipped” to bring back its white brilliance. That is the catch. There is a long term commitment to maintenance when you agree to purchase white gold.

To be considered platinum, a piece must contain 95% or more of the metal, making it one of the purest precious metals you can buy. Over time the brilliance of the metal will fade but unlike gold will just need a simple polish to bring back the original brilliance. However some people like this look as it makes the piece look antique and can improve the appearance of the stones set in it!

Platinum is also very durable. When a white gold ring is scratched you actually lose the piece of gold as gold in its natural state is VERY soft. When platinum is scratched the metal is actually moved over on the piece and not lost. This is called a “patina” finish. Again something some people like as it gives character to the piece.

When comparing metals, you'll also want to think about the possibility that the metal could cause an allergic reaction. Hypoallergenic metals will help to reduce the possibility that you will have an allergic reaction by minimizing potentially irritating substances. Platinum is actually the only true hypoallergenic precious jewelry metal that you can buy, because it is 95% pure. Because white gold is made from a mix of metals, some of these metals could easily irritate someone's skin if they have a particular sensitivity. If you are aware of any of these allergies or suspect you may have any, then stick to platinum.

Lastly I will cover cost. Platinum will always be more expensive than gold as it is mined much less and is much rarer than gold. To be more specific, 2,700 tons of gold are mined per year compared to 80 tons of platinum. Also it is much denser than gold so it takes much more to make up the same amount of metal.

So if you want something that can be passed down for generations, has very little maintenance, and is durable I suggest platinum! Jewelry should tell a story, let your story be told with the best, rarest metal that is available!