The appearance of platinum vs silver and white gold

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#16
arnott said:
^I see! Each piece has its advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantage for the platinum would be it's price, for the silver would be it's tarnishing, and for the wg would be that it needs to be re-dipped. Such a tough choice. :thinkin:
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platonum isnt that much more expensive than gold right now, so if you want to buy a platinum one I would say right now is the time. the gold dtby's went up in price more than the platinum ones!!
 
#17
arnott said:
Why would white gold need replating when it's solid gold? :confused1: TIA!
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Because white gold isn't really white, it's more of a pale yellow that gets plated to make it bright white. Gold is yellow. The alloys added to white gold (usually nickel among others) only lighten the golden tone.
arnott said:
^I see! Each piece has its advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantage for the platinum would be it's price, for the silver would be it's tarnishing, and for the wg would be that it needs to be re-dipped. Such a tough choice. :thinkin:
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I would pay more up front for Platinum as it will not require plating later nor will it tarnish.
 
#18
I've found with white gold that it really depends on each person as to how often something will need to be replated. I have several pieces that are over 30yrs old that have NEVER needed to be replated. Maybe the alloy was different back then or the original plating was much thicker or perhaps my skin chemistry doesn't react with the plating. My mom's jewelry is the same way.

I love platinum, but it is very expensive. My platinum from Japan is a much brighter metal than the platinum I've purchased in the USA.

I'd probably go with the white gold. I think Tiffany makes a good product and I haven't heard of their white gold needing to be replated.
 
#21
Kitsunegrl said:
I've found with white gold that it really depends on each person as to how often something will need to be replated. I have several pieces that are over 30yrs old that have NEVER needed to be replated. Maybe the alloy was different back then or the original plating was much thicker or perhaps my skin chemistry doesn't react with the plating. My mom's jewelry is the same way.

I love platinum, but it is very expensive. My platinum from Japan is a much brighter metal than the platinum I've purchased in the USA.

I'd probably go with the white gold. I think Tiffany makes a good product and I haven't heard of their white gold needing to be replated.
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My DH's wedding band is white gold from Cartier and doesn't look like it'll need to be replated any time soon.
 
#22
AntiqueShopper said:
Personally, I prefer platinum. However, all three would look great in that style. There is a drastic difference in price between the three metals. (In the size small sterling sells for $175.00, white gold sells for $700.00, and platinum sells for $1,875.00.)
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I'm leaning towards platinum, however grey and dull sounds sooo unattractive! I think I'll have to take a look in person.
 
#23
AntiqueShopper said:
Personally, I prefer platinum. However, all three would look great in that style. There is a drastic difference in price between the three metals. (In the size small sterling sells for $175.00, white gold sells for $700.00, and platinum sells for $1,875.00.)
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I prefer platinum too. I have had my EP open heart pendant in platinum for 5+ years now and I've only taken it in to Tiffany to be polished once. Not that it needed polishing, but I wanted to find out if polishing was indeed complimentary.

I have no experience with Tiffanty wg. I am sure is just as high quality as Cartier's. Like your husband's band, my Cartier wg pieces are fine. No need for redipping, yet.
 
#24
wendy_bruin said:
I prefer platinum too. I have had my EP open heart pendant in platinum for 5+ years now and I've only taken it in to Tiffany to be polished once. Not that it needed polishing, but I wanted to find out if polishing was indeed complimentary.

I have no experience with Tiffanty wg. I am sure is just as high quality as Cartier's. Like your husband's band, my Cartier wg pieces are fine. No need for redipping, yet.
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I read in the other thread that when Tiffany polishes silver it comes back looking new. Is it the same with platinum?
 
#26
ive had my wg wedding set for 6 yrs now (well e-ring for 6 wedding ring for 5 almost!) and i had them redipped once. im wearing as well a platinum band that belonged to my granny. line them all up on the table and cant really c a diff in metal.
 
#27
AntiqueShopper said:
Yes, it is the same. Polishing takes off the top layer of the piece.
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Not with Platinum. Polishing platinum does not involve shaving layers, it simply moves it back to fill in the "dents" made with wear. Platinum doesn't really scratch, it displaces. When gold is scratched you're actually removing metal, as is when it's polished. Platinum doesn't really scratch (unless you really get it on the right surface).
 
#28
I agree the platinum stuff I have just looks gray after it has been worn a bit, the silver stuff is pretty shiny, and the white gold stuff is fairly shiny.

whoops said:
Wow! Quite the difference. Personally it depends on how often you plan on wearing it. If not a lot, then sterling silver seems fine. I have a few sterling silver pieces i wear seldomly and they look fine. If a lot, white gold. Some people never require plating. I had the Paloma double eart with diamonds in white gold before and it never changed on me. For the price difference I wouldn't get platinum. At that price I'd get something else for $1875, like a non brand dbty or something.
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I agree... I would probably go with the silver one in this instance. This necklace just seems plain enough that there's no need to get it in white gold or platinum. I prefer platinum for my nicer everyday jewelry, but for something like the open heart necklace it just seems like the silver is the way to go. (Or white gold if you prefer that to silver.)
 
#29
ame said:
Not with Platinum. Polishing platinum does not involve shaving layers, it simply moves it back to fill in the "dents" made with wear. Platinum doesn't really scratch, it displaces. When gold is scratched you're actually removing metal, as is when it's polished. Platinum doesn't really scratch (unless you really get it on the right surface).
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Agreed!
 
#30
arnott said:
Oops I read it wrong! You said the one closest to your hand is white gold, while I read it as the opposite!
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my white gold one is still brand new, I doubt it will need replating for a long time. I've owned many white gold pieces some of them I have had for 10+ years and they have never been replated or turned yellowish.:smile1:
have you decided on which metal you're leaning towards yet?
 
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