White Gold vs Platinum: Comparison

by Francis Alukkas | 11 May 2022 | GOLD JEWELLERY

Most people, when shopping for jewelry, already have a metal color preference in mind. Be it engagement rings, wedding rings, or any other custom-made jewelry, it can be yellow, rose, white, etc. If it is a white metal that you are looking for, then you have one more choice to make. It is to decide between white gold and platinum.

Although similar in color, white gold and platinum are two very different metals with different properties. Having different properties means that they require different approaches while making jewelry. As a result, some designs are better made with one metal than the other.

Both white gold and platinum have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Different factors play a role in determining which metal is best for your jewelry design. We often get questions like ‘white gold or platinum, which is more expensive?’ and ‘is platinum jewelry worth buying?’ Read ahead to find out the best choice for you.

What is White Gold?

As we all know, pure gold is yellow, and because of its malleability, it is used as an alloy to make jewelry. White gold is an alloy of 75% gold and 25% zinc or nickel. It is given a coating of rhodium to give it more shine.

What is Platinum?

Platinum is a rare metal that is naturally white, resistant to tarnish, and has a higher density than gold. It is used as an alloy of silver and rhodium to increase durability. 

Also, Read: Is Platinum a Good Investment?

Platinum vs White Gold Price

Platinum, being rarer than gold, is no doubt costlier. It is at least 50% more expensive than gold in the current market. But, when you look at it in the long run, white gold requires constant maintenance that may cost you more compared to platinum, which only requires polish in a few years.

Platinum vs White Gold Durability

Gold and platinum are both durable metals. But they respond in different ways to pressure and scratches. Platinum has more density than white gold. As a result, it has excellent resistance to wearing away. But platinum tends to lose its shining polish and sharp edges pretty quickly. This creates dents on the surface and is not suitable for all designs.

White gold has more rigidity even if they are not as dense as platinum. Engravings, edges, and fine details are done better on white gold as they retain these designs for much longer. But white gold is more susceptible to wearing away and becomes thin over time.

It is best to choose your metal depending upon your occupation, lifestyle, and when and how often you are planning to wear them.

Platinum vs White Gold Color

Even though both platinum and white gold are white in color, their composition and properties give them slightly different hues. Since platinum is a naturally white metal, its color remains the same. But since white gold is an alloy of pure gold, it has a gray/off-white tint. White gold is given its white lustrous look through a surface treatment called rhodium plating. In this process, a very thin layer of metal called rhodium is electrically plated onto it. This plating wears off over time and you need to reapply if you want your jewelry to always have that bright white color.

Now that you know the basic differences between white gold and platinum, are you ready to buy your jewelry? Before you go ahead and buy gold jewelry online or at any random shop, keep these tips in mind.

Decide on a budget and do your research to ensure that you are going to an experienced jeweler who can give you the best suggestions on what to choose. They can help you decide on the perfect metal and design according to your requirements. Also, if you have sensitive skin, make sure that you are not allergic to nickel before you choose to buy white gold. In case you are allergic to it, go for platinum instead.

When you buy jewelry, be mindful of your previous purchases. If you are planning to pair up different jewelry, make sure they are made of the same metal so that they do not rub against each other and cause damage.

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