White gold vs platinum - high-end jewelry brands

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#19
gracie05 said:
I have noticed that Tiffany has changed their prices for pieces that have platinum and gold options to be equal now, when previously the platinum pieces cost more.
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I just checked the US site but it only has the small platinum version. I can't find the small rose gold one anywhere.
But if I google it, the RG one comes up. I wonder if it's really available though...
 
#20
BPC said:
I just checked the US site but it only has the small platinum version. I can't find the small rose gold one anywhere.
But if I google it, the RG one comes up. I wonder if it's really available though...
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You have to go into one of the larger RG Victoria listings and change the size to small. It does let me add to bag, so I assume it’s available? Clearly their website has some navigation issues though…
 
#21
gracie05 said:
You have to go into one of the larger RG Victoria listings and change the size to small. It does let me add to bag, so I assume it’s available? Clearly their website has some navigation issues though…
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I've purchased quite a few things from their site and had no idea they did this. I could of sworn they listed everything, including sizes separately. Live and learn :lol: :lol:
 
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#22
BPC said:
I've purchased quite a few things from their site and had no idea they did this. I could of sworn they listed everything, including sizes separately. Live and learn :lol: :lol:
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Since they have redesigned their website, it has been a total nightmare for me trying to find anything. I swear they do this on purpose to drive traffic to stores or something
 
#24
joseybird said:
Ahh thank you for your insight! I wonder if some companies prefer WG over platinum because it feels more “substantial” and thus (to many) more “luxurious”?
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Mcandy said:
Platinum used to be more expensive than gold but not anymore. Some pawnshop in my country doesnt even accept platinum anymore. To think that platinum is rarer even. The value really went down. Platinum holds diamonds better though. Its more sturdy.
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Platinum is heavier than 18k gold by around 33% if I remember correctly. Right now, raw platinum’s price is a little lower than gold’s. However, since platinum is so much denser than gold, making one piece in platinum requires a lot more ounces of platinum than making that same piece in white gold. Also, the labor costs of forging platinum are higher than the costs to forge gold, because platinum is a much more difficult material to work with. So selling the same piece in platinum would cost more.

I find it very rare to find European jewelry companies that use platinum. As an example, Cartier creates its panther collection using both white gold and platinum, but white gold is much, much, much more prevalent. I don’t understand why it can’t make everything panther in platinum, if it’s something that it’s already doing. Especially when the price point is already in the six figures. Whatever, I guess.

I think the reason why so many companies prefer using white gold comes down to economics — like most other business decisions. Not many jewelers know how to cast platinum, so it’s harder to find employees who can work with it. White gold is easier to manipulate, it uses less material, and it’s cheaper on the whole. I also think it’s a more familiar metal for the end consumer, although I also think most high-end customers would know about platinum.

Even though platinum is pretty much always a better choice for jewelry (it holds diamonds more securely, it doesn’t tarnish, it’s denser, it doesn’t need plating, it wears better) companies like Richemont probably don’t feel pressure to offer more creations in platinum, since the customers don’t seem to mind the difference. In fact, it may even be the case that their customers would prefer to save a couple thousand dollars in choosing white gold, rather than buy platinum.

The one thing I like about white gold is that it’s whiter than platinum. At least at first. But this is only because of the rhodium plating. And I’ve heard that you can also rhodium-plate platinum, if you want that super white finish. For earrings, there may also be a slight advantage for white gold since they’d be lighter. But that would have to be a pretty ornate pair of earrings for you to feel the difference.
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#25
sosauce said:
Platinum is heavier than 18k gold by around 33% if I remember correctly. Right now, raw platinum’s price is a little lower than gold’s. However, since platinum is so much denser than gold, making one piece in platinum requires a lot more ounces of platinum than making that same piece in white gold. Also, the labor costs of forging platinum are higher than the costs to forge gold, because platinum is a much more difficult material to work with. So selling the same piece in platinum would cost more.

I find it very rare to find European jewelry companies that use platinum. As an example, Cartier creates its panther collection using both white gold and platinum, but white gold is much, much, much more prevalent. I don’t understand why it can’t make everything panther in platinum, if it’s something that it’s already doing. Especially when the price point is already in the six figures. Whatever, I guess.

I think the reason why so many companies prefer using white gold comes down to economics — like most other business decisions. Not many jewelers know how to cast platinum, so it’s harder to find employees who can work with it. White gold is easier to manipulate, it uses less material, and it’s cheaper on the whole. I also think it’s a more familiar metal for the end consumer, although I also think most high-end customers would know about platinum.

Even though platinum is pretty much always a better choice for jewelry (it holds diamonds more securely, it doesn’t tarnish, it’s denser, it doesn’t need plating, it wears better) companies like Richemont probably don’t feel pressure to offer more creations in platinum, since the customers don’t seem to mind the difference. In fact, it may even be the case that their customers would prefer to save a couple thousand dollars in choosing white gold, rather than buy platinum.

The one thing I like about white gold is that it’s whiter than platinum. At least at first. But this is only because of the rhodium plating. And I’ve heard that you can also rhodium-plate platinum, if you want that super white finish. For earrings, there may also be a slight advantage for white gold since they’d be lighter. But that would have to be a pretty ornate pair of earrings for you to feel the difference.
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For one with the panthère cuff is quite chunky so it is already quite heavy in gold, in platinum it would only be worse. So I’m not entirely surprised if someone would choose it for that reason alone. Not sure if I would trust white gold with the micropavé though.
 
#26
Christofle said:
For one with the panthère cuff is quite chunky so it is already quite heavy in gold, in platinum it would only be worse. So I’m not entirely surprised if someone would choose it for that reason alone. Not sure if I would trust white gold with the micropavé though.
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The most fabulous set of wrist weights. I’d wear that every day if it meant more toned arms and dazzling wrists~

I’ve lost pave diamonds that were set in platinum, so I expect it would be a lot worse in white gold… My friends tell me how white gold bead prongs eventually just rub away.
 
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#27
sosauce said:
Platinum is heavier than 18k gold by around 33% if I remember correctly. Right now, raw platinum’s price is a little lower than gold’s. However, since platinum is so much denser than gold, making one piece in platinum requires a lot more ounces of platinum than making that same piece in white gold. Also, the labor costs of forging platinum are higher than the costs to forge gold, because platinum is a much more difficult material to work with. So selling the same piece in platinum would cost more.

I find it very rare to find European jewelry companies that use platinum. As an example, Cartier creates its panther collection using both white gold and platinum, but white gold is much, much, much more prevalent. I don’t understand why it can’t make everything panther in platinum, if it’s something that it’s already doing. Especially when the price point is already in the six figures. Whatever, I guess.

I think the reason why so many companies prefer using white gold comes down to economics — like most other business decisions. Not many jewelers know how to cast platinum, so it’s harder to find employees who can work with it. White gold is easier to manipulate, it uses less material, and it’s cheaper on the whole. I also think it’s a more familiar metal for the end consumer, although I also think most high-end customers would know about platinum.

Even though platinum is pretty much always a better choice for jewelry (it holds diamonds more securely, it doesn’t tarnish, it’s denser, it doesn’t need plating, it wears better) companies like Richemont probably don’t feel pressure to offer more creations in platinum, since the customers don’t seem to mind the difference. In fact, it may even be the case that their customers would prefer to save a couple thousand dollars in choosing white gold, rather than buy platinum.

The one thing I like about white gold is that it’s whiter than platinum. At least at first. But this is only because of the rhodium plating. And I’ve heard that you can also rhodium-plate platinum, if you want that super white finish. For earrings, there may also be a slight advantage for white gold since they’d be lighter. But that would have to be a pretty ornate pair of earrings for you to feel the difference.
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There are some pawnshops too who doesnt even accept platinum anymore
 
#28
BPC said:
Well that's weird.
Even though currently the price of gold is higher than platinum, platinum is denser. So if you have two identical rings; one in gold and one in platinum, the platinum would still cost more as precious metals are sold by weight.
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Value of platinum dropped drastically due to the pandemic. Ive watched jewelry live selling located in japan and their pricing for platinum is lower compared to white gold. And white gold is even more expensive than yellow gold even with the same design. I guess if people wants platinum now is the perfect time to buy while they are cheap. Who knows it may increase again after a few years! With the war going on in syria and russia gold went up more and platinum sunk lower! But in my opinion if the stones are really huge and pricey much better to use platinum still.
 
#29
Mcandy said:
Value of platinum dropped drastically due to the pandemic. Ive watched jewelry live selling located in japan and their pricing for platinum is lower compared to white gold. And white gold is even more expensive than yellow gold even with the same design. I guess if people wants platinum now is the perfect time to buy while they are cheap. Who knows it may increase again after a few years! With the war going on in syria and russia gold went up more and platinum sunk lower! But in my opinion if the stones are really huge and pricey much better to use platinum still.
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Wow. I will be veryyy happy if brands reduce the price of their platinum jewelry. I will gladly leave all the white gold for the other customers lol
 
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#30
Mcandy said:
Value of platinum dropped drastically due to the pandemic. Ive watched jewelry live selling located in japan and their pricing for platinum is lower compared to white gold. And white gold is even more expensive than yellow gold even with the same design. I guess if people wants platinum now is the perfect time to buy while they are cheap. Who knows it may increase again after a few years! With the war going on in syria and russia gold went up more and platinum sunk lower! But in my opinion if the stones are really huge and pricey much better to use platinum still.
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You are right! I talked to a jeweler who said that it is because of a dramatic increase in palladium (used in white gold) which makes white gold more expensive than platinum (but based upon the below charts gold is much more expensive than platinum even without palladium...). I found these charts here: https://www.apmex.com/palladium-pricepalladium.jpg
 
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