Platinum versus white gold
- Thread starter Leelee
- Start date
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To your point about platinum dulling quickly: One thing that many people incorrectly assume is that because platinum is 95% pure (PT950) that all platinum is made equal. This is not true, that 5% alloy is very important to the characteristics of the metal and with certain alloys (i believe irridium?) the platinum is equally as hard as gold hence equally as scratch resistant. If you have a ring custom made, there is no reason you cant request a particular alloy.
With regards to redipping, in the case of white gold your not redipping in gold but rather in rhodium, so any gold lost is gone for good. Platinum maintains its platinum content throughout a lifetime of wear.
Totally agree with your choice to go with platinum prongs, even if you dont fancy a white metal, platinum prongs ensure that your diamond isnt going to come lose.
One other thing to note is that if your ring has any custom engraving and you are going with a white metal, go with platinum. The engraving will last longer due to platinums durability and I would imagine that when a white gold ring is replated the engraving is lost.
I prefer platinum than white gold. Majority of my rings and jewelry are in white gold and I have to the jewelry to dip in the rhodium every 3 or 4 months because it's tarnished. My original e-ring was in 18K white gold setting w/ 2 small diamond on each side. After 6 months wearing, the small diamond got loose and I to go tighten the prawns. After a year, I had my e-ring reset to platium pave setting which I was very happy. No tarnishing and no loosing little diamond. I also the heaviness of the platinum.
I also the market shopping e-ring and I would definitely will get the platinum setting. It cost more than gold, but in the long run, it does not cost much for the up keep.
I also the market shopping e-ring and I would definitely will get the platinum setting. It cost more than gold, but in the long run, it does not cost much for the up keep.
Of course I prefer platinum, but due to its expense, I have more white gold pieces. The only platinum I own is my wedding set.
Platinum is better, if you like your jewelry white.
the only question is, can you afford the platinum? There is a considerable price difference, though its not as bad as it was last year.
A good quality white gold is fine for earrings and pendants, but rings get a lot of wear. And as people have mentioned, they buy white gold because they want it to be WHITE. But gold is so yellow naturally, that even with all the alloy in it that makes it white, it's going to have a yellow tinge. So jeweller's solve this with rhodium dipping, which doesn't last (in a ring)and needs re-dipping and is a real pain. And you have to avoid swimming pools and take more care in cleaning (can't use ammonia based anything) and its not as convenient at all.
Platinum does get the patina, but many people like that. I don't know if I would or not, but I use a jeweler's rouge cloth on my platinum rings every once in a while and so far they haven't gotten any patina.
Older white gold is a different story. My grandmother had a vintage 20's ring in white gold and it was not rhodium dipped and did not ever get yellow. But I think since after the 1950's or so, the rhodium thing has been going on and while there are always 2 or 3 people in a discussion who have great body chemisty (their perspiration isn't as acidic or something) who will have had a rhodium dipped white gold ring that has never changed, it's jsut not common to be like that. So I'd wear gold for a ring only if it were yellow gold, and buy platinum if I wanted something white (unless, as stated before, it's earrings or a pendant).
It would be in jeweler's interests to have better disclosure about this subject, IMO.
the only question is, can you afford the platinum? There is a considerable price difference, though its not as bad as it was last year.
A good quality white gold is fine for earrings and pendants, but rings get a lot of wear. And as people have mentioned, they buy white gold because they want it to be WHITE. But gold is so yellow naturally, that even with all the alloy in it that makes it white, it's going to have a yellow tinge. So jeweller's solve this with rhodium dipping, which doesn't last (in a ring)and needs re-dipping and is a real pain. And you have to avoid swimming pools and take more care in cleaning (can't use ammonia based anything) and its not as convenient at all.
Platinum does get the patina, but many people like that. I don't know if I would or not, but I use a jeweler's rouge cloth on my platinum rings every once in a while and so far they haven't gotten any patina.
Older white gold is a different story. My grandmother had a vintage 20's ring in white gold and it was not rhodium dipped and did not ever get yellow. But I think since after the 1950's or so, the rhodium thing has been going on and while there are always 2 or 3 people in a discussion who have great body chemisty (their perspiration isn't as acidic or something) who will have had a rhodium dipped white gold ring that has never changed, it's jsut not common to be like that. So I'd wear gold for a ring only if it were yellow gold, and buy platinum if I wanted something white (unless, as stated before, it's earrings or a pendant).
It would be in jeweler's interests to have better disclosure about this subject, IMO.
I have been wearing my ring for 5 years and I have had it dipped ONCE not really b/c it needed it (it wasn't yellowing) but because I just thought it would make it look shinier, which it did.
I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there about wg, that you need to redip it every few months or every year.....not true!!!
I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there about wg, that you need to redip it every few months or every year.....not true!!!