Platinum versus white gold

[Leelee]

I'd appreciate your thoughts on the difference between a platinum setting and an 18K white gold one for a diamond solitaire.

Is one more durable than the other? Does one look prettier? Anything else I should consider?

I'm leaning toward a Tiffany Solitaire and their diamonds are all set in platinum which is great by me, but it struck me that I don't know anything about the alternatives.

TIA!

[Fenix]

Platinum is a harder metal, so more durable thank gold. That's also why it's more expensive- its very hard, so it's not easy to cut.

[Leelee]

Originally Posted by Fenix

Platinum is a harder metal, so more durable thank gold. That's also why it's more expensive- its very hard, so it's not easy to cut.

Thanks so much! That is a very important factor.

[Lola24]

I have mostly platinum, but a couple of 18 K white gold items, I think I prefer platinum but if you go with a very good quality, thick 18K white gold setting it's still a very good option....

[Fenix]

I forgot to add- 18k white gold isn't exactly soft either, even though platinum is a harder metal. The only problem with gold being soft is when it is very pure, like 24k or 22k.

For most designs to be durable, they actually need the metal to be harder than 24k gold- that is why best looking designs usually come in 18k gold, platinum or as costume jewellery.

[babyclouds]

You should keep in mind that with 18K white gold, depending on your skin's chemistry, you'll need to have the rings re-dipped every couple of months or once a year to keep it white.

Gold is naturally yellow and is plated/dipped with rhodium to make it look whiter but this does not last long. For diamond rings, I like platinum metal because of the re-plating issue.

[Fenix]

Originally Posted by babyclouds

You should keep in mind that with 18K white gold, depending on your skin's chemistry, you'll need to have the rings re-dipped every couple of months or once a year to keep it white. Gold is naturally yellow and is plated/dipped with rhodium to make it look whiter but this does not last long. For diamond rings, I like platinum metal because of the re-plating issue.

The metal which is used to make white gold white is usually palladium. White gold is an alloy, a mixture of metals and not a plaiting. If it's plaited in rhodium, it's a sign that the quality of the gold is poor, that's why the rhodium coating is needed to give shine.

[Leelee]

Originally Posted by babyclouds

You should keep in mind that with 18K white gold, depending on your skin's chemistry, you'll need to have the rings re-dipped every couple of months or once a year to keep it white. Gold is naturally yellow and is plated/dipped with rhodium to make it look whiter but this does not last long. For diamond rings, I like platinum metal because of the re-plating issue.

I had no idea. That explains a comment a jeweler made to me when I went to have my 18K white gold ring cleaned. He said it was against company policy to clean a ring purchased from another store b/c the ring might turn yellow. I was sort of insulted b/c I thought he meant my ring wasn't authentic 18K. But now I see he meant that his cleaning solution (or whatever) might erode the plating.

Thanks for this information!

[maria28]

most of my jewellery pieces are white gold and i don't have any yellowing issues. i wear mine to shower, swimming, etc for years now. the only platinum pieces i have are my engagement ring and wedding band. i like both equally

[willyg4444]

Doesn't white gold have more of a shine factor than platinum as well? This is what I heard from a jeweler, maybe he was wrong.

[shops2much]

I have a lot of white gold and have no issues. I have numerous rings and earrings that have been cleaned in many different types of solutions with no problems yellowing. My mom's Rolex is 18k white gold and there are no problems yellowing either. Her watch is almost 10 years old and she wears it all of the time.

On the side, some settings will be done in 18k white gold and have the prongs in platinum, such as at Blue Nile. As well, some rings with a two-tone look where the band is yellow then the center stone is held by a white metal are usually done with platinum claws. As well to enhance the brightness of white gold and platinum settings, they may be electroplated (not at all dipped) in rhodium, part of the platinum family. This is probably what the jeweler was concerned with.

[JoeyJo21]

I have a ring in both, and to me the white gold seems brighter and attracts your attention more than the platinum does weirdly. Or maybe my platinum ring just needs a clean (jk). I think both are great choices, and you can't really go wrong with either for a ring setting.

What I like about platinum is that I remember reading somewhere that if you gathered up the worlds platinum and poured it into an olympic sized swimming pool, it would only come up to your ankle. I'm a sucker for anything like that...thats rare or 'limited edition' haha.

[ame]

Platinum without question. Why you ask?
1) stronger that wg.
2) It STAYS WHITE and requires no plating to maintain it. if your YG is not alloyed with something like Palladium, it WILL yellow.
3) when it scratches there is no metal loss, its simply "moved" and when you get it polished not only does it go right back to perfect and shiny, all the metal is put back where it was. When you polish gold you literally shave off a layer.
4) its hypoallergenic. I personally am allergic to most white gold alloys. Nickel is the biggest one used and not only does it not help maintain the whiteness of wg, it makes a lot of folks have a rash. And rhodium doesn't always prevent it.
5) white gold costs more in the end to maintain. not all jewelers will replate it free. And if you have a skin type that is more acidic your rhodium will wear off faster making you need replating as early as 2 weeks!
6) the patina some people hate can be taken care of it a quick polishing.

[ame]

Actually it's usually alloyed with Nickel. Palladium would keep it white without requiring rhodium, unless the amount of palladium was not high.

Originally Posted by Fenix

The metal which is used to make white gold white is usually palladium. White gold is an alloy, a mixture of metals and not a plaiting. If it's plaited in rhodium, it's a sign that the quality of the gold is poor, that's why the rhodium coating is needed to give shine.

[Fenix]

Originally Posted by ame

Actually it's usually alloyed with Nickel. Palladium would keep it white without requiring rhodium, unless the amount of palladium was not high.

Hm, I'm pretty sure palladium is the one it is alloyed with most of the time. Stuff like nickle is quite rare and it being alloyed with platinum to become white is even rarer. And like I said, if it has a rhodium coating (which also isn't a common thing), it means the white gold is very poor quality- a reason to not buy it.