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kelleyanne · Jul 22nd, 2009, 05:25 PM

Helloooo ladies...
I think my man might start shopping for engagement rings soon and I want to start dropping hints about what I want! I have an idea what style (round solitaire) and setting (prong) I'd like, and I know I want a white metal, but I'm not sure which one! What would you recommend? I've heard that platinum is the best but I'm wondering why...?

ame · Jul 22nd, 2009, 08:39 PM

Personally I prefer Platinum. My reasoning is:
1) I am allergic to gold. Pretty simple decision

2) When you polish it, you lose no metal. When you polish gold, you lose metal.
3) Platinum never needs plating. White gold requires rhodium plating to be white, without it it's a really pale yellow. Some women love the non-plated white gold shade though.
4) I love the heft, the weight. I like that it's a rich heavy metal.
5) It's insanely durable. When it scratches, it merely "displaces" (dents, if you will). When polished it's smoothed right back out. It DOES scratch easier, but a polish can make it good as new.

lvchicago · Jul 22nd, 2009, 09:27 PM

I went with yellow gold and have never regretted it - as long as the stone is a D or E
My mom's original set is platinum and she is having a disasterous time finding someone that will resize it for a reasonable cost!
Her new set is white gold and it is stunning

So, sorry but I guess that means that basically I am no help

butterfly36029 · Jul 22nd, 2009, 10:32 PM

I agree with ame in everything she said...my e ring is palladium and my wedding band is platinum and I am looking forward to change the palladium ring to a platinum one...for the exact same reasons ame mentioned....platinum will last me a life time!

missD · Jul 22nd, 2009, 10:42 PM

my friend who's a jeweler said it's better in WG because in case you gain weight etc, you can always resize UP easier (my setting had a lot of pave stones). WIth platinum it's problematic, she didn't say it was impossible, but just a damn pain. Probably costs more too....sizing up on WG costs very little.

And honestly, it's all up to how you care for it. I have a WG e-ring and a Plat wedding ring and theyre fine. My lifestyle doesn't put me in situations to HEAVILY bang my hands around so WG is just fiiiiiiiiiiiiine for me. Replating does not cost a lot too, probably $20 and you'll do it every 2 years or so if you're REALLY REALLLY color sensitive.

Swanky Mama Of Three · Jul 22nd, 2009, 11:06 PM

I prefer white gold.
Mine almost never needs to be dipped, had my original e-ring/wedding ring for 12 yrs and it's still completely white.
I also like that it pretty much is always shiny. Platinum dulls over time, which I don't prefer personally.

mothbeast · Jul 22nd, 2009, 11:28 PM

I'd definitely go with something that you can resize easily and take the jewelers advice on fit.

dearmissie · Jul 23rd, 2009, 04:57 AM

My ering and wedding band are both WG. Love em!!

ame · Jul 23rd, 2009, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by missD

my friend who's a jeweler said it's better in WG because in case you gain weight etc, you can always resize UP easier (my setting had a lot of pave stones). WIth platinum it's problematic, she didn't say it was impossible, but just a damn pain. Probably costs more too....sizing up on WG costs very little.

I paid about $45 to resize my e-ring and get platinum sizing beads put in. I went up a quarter size I think to get the beads in there without major protrusion getting it on. Because platinum can just be stretched to make the ring bigger, it often DOES take more time to do, which is why it costs more than gold. It doesn't usually require cutting and soldering like gold would.

Resizing something with channel set stones, pave, or otherwise encrusted with stones is going to be difficult no matter what the metal.

It all depends on the jeweler and how good their benchman is. Make absolutely sure the bench is good with platinum, the only time it would be "problematic" is if the bench guy has no idea what the hell he is doing. None of my rings that have ever been sized look like they've been touched, which is a testament to my bench jeweler.

ahertz · Jul 23rd, 2009, 11:33 AM

I have platinum and scratches like crazy, but I don't do well with white gold. Something about my ph balance strips the rhodium plating very quickly so the white gold pieces I own need to be re-dipped very frequently. Same with my husband, who does have a white gold ring. It needs to be dipped about every two years.

Jenna51580 · Jul 23rd, 2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

I prefer white gold.
Mine almost never needs to be dipped, had my original e-ring/wedding ring for 12 yrs and it's still completely white.
I also like that it pretty much is always shiny. Platinum dulls over time, which I don't prefer personally.

ITA! Actually I have ring that is dated back to 1921 set in white gold and it has never been redipped and is completely white. Platinum is heavier and dulls I just don't like it.

NurseAnn · Jul 23rd, 2009, 01:51 PM

I have platinum rings and love them. I have had them for 2 years. They do get a light patina/dullness but I have had them polished twice by my jeweler and they have come back looking as shiny as if they were brand new. I do have to warn you though that platinum does dent pretty easily. On my honeymoon I ran my e ring into a door frame and put a huge dent into one of the channels and was devastated......I don't know how he did it buy my jeweler was also able to fix that so that I had no clue it had ever happened and I wasn't charged a cent (which may be due to the fact that I am a very loyal customer :). So I guess it really just comes down to what's more important to you.

pollyp79 · Jul 23rd, 2009, 02:15 PM

Hi, how exciting. My platinum 1 carat solitaire ring needed sizing x5 sizes up cos we brought it second hand & it was a one off ring that I fell in love with .
It had to go from a J-P & only cost £70 I thought it would have cost hundreds - this was only in feb this year.
The jewellers said its because the price of gold has gone up but not platinum

ahertz · Jul 23rd, 2009, 02:17 PM

I wanted to add that the decision on which metal to pick should also include thought on what type of ring you're going to get.

For setting with lots of metal that will be exposed to scratching or denting you should get white gold. Platinum works well with pave, channel etc. because you can't see as much metal.

NurseAnn · Jul 23rd, 2009, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by ahertz

I wanted to add that the decision on which metal to pick should also include thought on what type of ring you're going to get.

For setting with lots of metal that will be exposed to scratching or denting you should get white gold. Platinum works well with pave, channel etc. because you can't see as much metal.

I totally agree with this

Jul 22nd, 2009, 05:25 PM	#1
kelleyanne OP Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 5	Engagement Ring Metal Advice Helloooo ladies... I think my man might start shopping for engagement rings soon and I want to start dropping hints about what I want! I have an idea what style (round solitaire) and setting (prong) I'd like, and I know I want a white metal, but I'm not sure which one! What would you recommend? I've heard that platinum is the best but I'm wondering why...?
kelleyanne OP Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 5

Jul 22nd, 2009, 08:39 PM	#2
ame Member Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,055	Personally I prefer Platinum. My reasoning is: 1) I am allergic to gold. Pretty simple decision 2) When you polish it, you lose no metal. When you polish gold, you lose metal. 3) Platinum never needs plating. White gold requires rhodium plating to be white, without it it's a really pale yellow. Some women love the non-plated white gold shade though. 4) I love the heft, the weight. I like that it's a rich heavy metal. 5) It's insanely durable. When it scratches, it merely "displaces" (dents, if you will). When polished it's smoothed right back out. It DOES scratch easier, but a polish can make it good as new.
ame Member Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,055	__________________ Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular. I LOVE SEWNSATIONAL! Things I want.... -Balenciaga Twiggy -Anna Corinna Jetsetter/Jetsetter Jr. -More Anna Corinna Mini Citys -Mulberry Mabel -Rebecca Minkoff MA/MAM ...it's good to want things.

Jul 22nd, 2009, 09:27 PM	#3
lvchicago Member Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 534	I went with yellow gold and have never regretted it - as long as the stone is a D or E My mom's original set is platinum and she is having a disasterous time finding someone that will resize it for a reasonable cost! Her new set is white gold and it is stunning So, sorry but I guess that means that basically I am no help
lvchicago Member Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 534

Jul 22nd, 2009, 10:32 PM	#4
butterfly36029 Miu Miu addict Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Miu Miu heaven Posts: 4,189	I agree with ame in everything she said...my e ring is palladium and my wedding band is platinum and I am looking forward to change the palladium ring to a platinum one...for the exact same reasons ame mentioned....platinum will last me a life time!
	__________________ Yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me! www.joyasycarteras.com - my blog!

Jul 22nd, 2009, 10:42 PM	#5
missD Member Joined: May 2006 Posts: 811	my friend who's a jeweler said it's better in WG because in case you gain weight etc, you can always resize UP easier (my setting had a lot of pave stones). WIth platinum it's problematic, she didn't say it was impossible, but just a damn pain. Probably costs more too....sizing up on WG costs very little. And honestly, it's all up to how you care for it. I have a WG e-ring and a Plat wedding ring and theyre fine. My lifestyle doesn't put me in situations to HEAVILY bang my hands around so WG is just fiiiiiiiiiiiiine for me. Replating does not cost a lot too, probably $20 and you'll do it every 2 years or so if you're REALLY REALLLY color sensitive.
missD Member Joined: May 2006 Posts: 811	__________________

Jul 22nd, 2009, 11:06 PM	#6
Swanky Mama Of Three Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas Area Posts: 46,510	I prefer white gold. Mine almost never needs to be dipped, had my original e-ring/wedding ring for 12 yrs and it's still completely white. I also like that it pretty much is always shiny. Platinum dulls over time, which I don't prefer personally.
	__________________ Tweet http://twitter.com/PBSwanky

Jul 22nd, 2009, 11:28 PM	#7
mothbeast Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,651	I'd definitely go with something that you can resize easily and take the jewelers advice on fit.
mothbeast Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,651

Jul 23rd, 2009, 04:57 AM	#8
dearmissie Bride to Be Joined: Aug 2007 Location: The Bay, CA Posts: 8,195	My ering and wedding band are both WG. Love em!!
	__________________ We're engaged!!

Jul 23rd, 2009, 11:33 AM	#10
ahertz Member Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Rodeo Adjacent Posts: 4,642	I have platinum and scratches like crazy, but I don't do well with white gold. Something about my ph balance strips the rhodium plating very quickly so the white gold pieces I own need to be re-dipped very frequently. Same with my husband, who does have a white gold ring. It needs to be dipped about every two years.

Jul 23rd, 2009, 01:51 PM	#12
NurseAnn Member Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 172	I have platinum rings and love them. I have had them for 2 years. They do get a light patina/dullness but I have had them polished twice by my jeweler and they have come back looking as shiny as if they were brand new. I do have to warn you though that platinum does dent pretty easily. On my honeymoon I ran my e ring into a door frame and put a huge dent into one of the channels and was devastated......I don't know how he did it buy my jeweler was also able to fix that so that I had no clue it had ever happened and I wasn't charged a cent (which may be due to the fact that I am a very loyal customer :). So I guess it really just comes down to what's more important to you.

Jul 23rd, 2009, 02:15 PM	#13
pollyp79 Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 598	Hi, how exciting. My platinum 1 carat solitaire ring needed sizing x5 sizes up cos we brought it second hand & it was a one off ring that I fell in love with . It had to go from a J-P & only cost £70 I thought it would have cost hundreds - this was only in feb this year. The jewellers said its because the price of gold has gone up but not platinum
pollyp79 Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 598

Jul 23rd, 2009, 02:17 PM	#14
ahertz Member Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Rodeo Adjacent Posts: 4,642	I wanted to add that the decision on which metal to pick should also include thought on what type of ring you're going to get. For setting with lots of metal that will be exposed to scratching or denting you should get white gold. Platinum works well with pave, channel etc. because you can't see as much metal.

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