Reasons why to buy platinum instead of white gold

Finding the perfect engagement or wedding ring is perhaps not the most difficult in the world. But, choosing the right material can be very difficult. Gold is probably the first thought when talking about wedding and engagement rings, and white gold is becoming increasingly popular. If you are also thinking about choosing white gold, you should first read this post about the reasons for choosing platinum instead.

 Why is platinum a better choice than white gold?

White gold consists of an alloy of yellow gold and other metals; that means that white gold is not really white it self, but slightly yellow or grayish and it is usually rhodium plated to obtain a whiter colour, similar to platinum. However, the rhodium coating will wear out over time and the ring must be maintained with a re-finish, i.e. it must get a new rhodium coating after a few years. A white gold ring is made of gold, silver, copper and some other white metal, such as Palladium.

Platinum, on the other hand, is a very rare and exclusive metal, which in itself is very white, and it does not change over time. A platinum ring is more or less maintenance-free and very durable. If you are considering buying a diamond ring, platinum is definitely the best choice as it is one of the hardest metals used to make jewellery, gold is softer and the risk of the diamond’s setting deforming over time is higher.

Platinum is a very heavy material, which also contributes to the luxurious feel of platinum rings. Platinum is not easy to work with as its density is very high. It has an extremely high melting point and these properties make platinum absolutely superior to all other fine metals used to make jewellery. Platinum rings last a lifetime without tearing or losing their shine. The pure white colour of platinum is perfect to enhance the beauty of diamonds. Platinum is the most exclusive and luxurious of all precious metals, Platinum is 30 times rarer than gold.

White gold alloys sometimes contains nickel, which can cause allergy, which often happens when the rhodium plating becomes worn, however platinum is even more inert & non-reactive than gold and therefore recommended for customers who are allergic to white gold.

Although it may not be the first thing to consider when choosing rings, it is a good idea to choose materials depending on how your everyday life looks. If you have a physically demanding job, it is important to choose a hard and durable metal such as platinum. If you carry several rings on the same finger, they can tear against each other and rhodium-plated white gold can quickly show signs of wear. A scratch in white gold that has been rhodium plated is very easy to see because the gold under the rhodium coating has a different colour. A scratch in a platinum ring is almost invisible and can be polished because the white colour of the metal is not only superficial.

And yes, platinum is more expensive than white gold, but it’s the most exclusive of all precious metals, it’s completely maintenance-free, and it lasts forever.

The wedding dress, the cake, the wedding party and honeymoon are definitely things that you always will remember, but you will wear your ring every day, hopefully the rest of your life. Therefore, it may be worth paying more for a platinum ring that will always remain as beautiful as first, on the wedding day. “Once in a lifetime”

Do you prefer platinum or white gold?

Did you know that white gold has to be rhodium plated regularly?

What is most important when buying a ring, price or quality?