Platinum versus white gold

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#31
lovehermes said:
I've heard from Tiffanys that they use platinum in their rings because it is stronger and will keep, especially smaller, diamonds in so there is no chance for one to fall out.
Click to expand...

I've heard platinum is stronger too. My DH had my wedding ring custom made to be "industuctible" since he knew I am hard on rings so the jewler used platinum. I have a lot of scratches and dents in the platinum but the diamonds are still very secure.

One downside of platinum that I didn't see mentioned here is that platinum feels heavier than gold.
 
#32
I don't find that to be a downside ;)

The difference between "dents and scratches" in gold and "dents and scratches" in platinum are that in gold you actually lose metal, they have to shave off a layer to smooth the surface again where as platinum merely "moves" and is displaced and a quick polish just pushes it back where it was.
 
#33
ame said:
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.
Click to expand...

WORD!

I'm a huge platinum fan, mostly for its rarity, hardness, and hypoallergenicity (I'm allergic to nickel). The patina is easily polished back to brand-new perfection without metal loss. Even at Tiffany, their yellow gold e-rings have platinum prongs.

Some folks say WG is shinier -- but anything is shinier if it is polished, and in WG's case, replated. So that statement is moot.

The loss of white in WG from skin chemistry reminds me of dark roots showing from a blond dye job. A bit tacky...
 
#35
clanalois said:
WORD!

I'm a huge platinum fan, mostly for its rarity, hardness, and hypoallergenicity (I'm allergic to nickel). The patina is easily polished back to brand-new perfection without metal loss. Even at Tiffany, their yellow gold e-rings have platinum prongs.

Some folks say WG is shinier -- but anything is shinier if it is polished, and in WG's case, replated. So that statement is moot.

The loss of white in WG from skin chemistry reminds me of dark roots showing from a blond dye job. A bit tacky...
Click to expand...

I too am a big fan of platinum over white gold. Re-dipping expenses aside, a surprising number of people are allergic to nickel in varying degrees, myself included. Since nickel is a very common alloy in wg, sterling, and even costume jewelry I would steer clear if you have any sensitivity to jewelry you have worn in the past - it was probably the nickel in the alloy. Especially important to consider for a ring you will be wearing all the time!
 
#36
As a jeweler and someone who wears jewelery every day without regard to caring for it (shame..) I prefer white gold over platinum only because of the warmth that it has. I've never had to have it plated and yes I know it's not really white but there is something about platinum that bothers me. I think it is because it's sticky lol. Hard to describe but it has a stickiness to it and it like stays dirty. White gold on the other hand just takes wiping your finger over it to make it glow. Tough decision, maybe buy something in both that isn't so expensive and you can make your decisions that way
 
#37
"Sticky," is an interesting description. I've never heard that one before.

I prefer platinum although it does cost quite a bit more than gold. I actually like the extra weight -- feel more substantial on my hand. I like the fact that it will never need to be re-rhodium plated like WG will in time, and polishing platinum brings it back to it's original shine with no metal loss. The jeweler who made my rings will repolish for free for the life of my rings, so about once very 6 months I have my rings checked and repolished. They literally look like new.
 
#38
Sticky is a terrible way to describe it I guess, what I mean is that for me all it does is pick up all the dirt and ick on my hands kinda like a dirt magnet LoL!! Just one of those things, it's all about preference.
 
#39
ame said:
Yup it's become all the rage apparently. I dont care for it bec it's really light weight and I like the heft of platinum.

Id say costwise Palladium is in the middle of WG and Plat, sometimes a bit higher.

The plated sterling stuff--those are usually plated in Rhodium (QVC for example--the Epiphany collection is all rhodium plated silver).
Click to expand...

Yes i have a few pieces of Epiphany i wear if i'm afraid to lose something etc. and that is i think plated in actual plat. But i could be wrong. If so they def. misrepresent it though b/c they say 2 layers of plat?
But the NYC ii Line on Shop NBC from Chuck Clemency (i don;t have any of it but i have a couple pieces from his reg. gold/gem line my mom passed to me) has Palladium. I realize though now i said it wrong...it is not plated but MIXED in with the silver for better durability and lastingness LOL for lack of the right word. Has anyone gotten a ring or anything in palladium yet on here? I'd love to hear what it's like. I do like the weight of Plat. though. My e-ring is just shy of 10 g and it does not feel too heavy to wear but when you put it in your hand it is hefty. The same ring in WG would not be the same for me.
 
#40
ame said:
haha I love that correlation to roots.
Click to expand...

LOL Me too...but as much as it would annoy me if that were the case i have a large amount of white gold (more than half my collection i believe...i just started adding some Rose and more yellow back in...used to almost exclusively wear wg) and i have NEVER had a piece go yellow.
I did see a "wg" setting in a store that they said was "natural, not rhoduim plated" but after reading this thread i guess it also was crappily alloyed? LOL It just looked like a paler yello gold ring to me.
 
#41
So far according to what I know about precious metals....

White gold
Pro: hard
Con: color rubs off

Platinum
Pro: soft, better for prongs
Con: scratches easily, more expensive

Am eyeing a Cartier Love ring and deciding between the two metals. Which do you think would be better for the ring? The Love line has a lot of blank surface metal area, and I'm wondering if platinum would show scratches easily. For rings, does the rhodium that plates the white gold wear off more quickly because you are always banging it against things?

Does the white gold one come with little inset diamonds too?

Thank you so much for any advice or input! :heart:
 
#43
forever21 said:
Platinum
Pro: soft, better for prongs
Con: scratches easily, more expensive
Click to expand...

I thought Platinum was more hard wearing than white gold & didn't scratch as much due to its heavier weight and greater density.

Am i wrong?

I would still go for white gold for the love ring, platinum from Cartier will be sooooo expensive.

If money is no object treat yourself to the Platinum ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top