When you buy jewellery, the first thing you think about is what colour and choice of metal you should get. A lot of factors come into play here - is it something you'll wear every day or more of a fun piece? Does the colour suit your skin colour and tone? It's not as simple as simply picking a colour and rolling with it - especially when it comes to engagement rings and wedding rings.
Despite the rise of rose gold and the resurgence of yellow gold, white metals like platinum and white gold still tend to win out when it comes to the pieces of jewellery you’ll be wearing for the rest of your life. But how do you decide between a platinum ring vs white gold? What’s the difference, we hear you ask? Well, that’s what we’re here to explain to you, and what the pros and cons are of each.
Overview:
Platinum Ring vs White Gold: A Comparison
Hardness and Malleability
Our first stop when considering a platinum ring vs white gold is hardness.
Hardness is essentially the metal’s resistance to scratching and denting. A pro for platinum is that it's the naturally harder metal, therefore it will be less likely to scratch than its softer counterpart, gold.
That being said, 18ct pure gold is often mixed with other metals such as palladium and silver to achieve its ‘white’ colour - more on that later - which then makes it harder than gold in its purest form anyway.
For a lot of people, the hardness and malleability of the metal can be a really big contributor to the final decision. For example, people who are looking to buy a piece of jewellery that will survive daily wear and tear will want something harder, and so will people who want a simple, yet higher diamond setting on their engagement rings. So maybe a platinum engagement ring is the way to go. But if you want an intricate and unique setting, you might favour the malleability of a white gold engagement ring instead.
Price
Arguably the biggest decision maker when it comes to jewellery is cost. Diamond rings are expensive as it is, but you have to factor in the metal as well.
While people often place a lot of value in gold content, it may come as a surprise that platinum is actually more expensive than gold. This is because it is mined much less than gold, making it rarer. Platinum alloys also make it denser than gold, and because precious metals are measured by weight, platinum jewellery often comes out as more expensive than white gold jewellery.
Another thing to consider when it comes to cost is that white gold rings are often finished with a rhodium plating - to help with hardness and durability - which does wear off. They have to be ‘dipped’ in rhodium every 1-3 years to keep that 'whiter' colour.
When it comes to deciding which metal to wear and the price of engagement rings, you should also take into account future purchases. You’ll probably want to match your wedding band and eternity rings to your engagement ring, so keep that in mind when it comes to costs.
Colour
Okay so we know when you look at white gold and platinum, they both appear pretty similar… isn’t it just silver in colour? Well, platinum is actually a little brighter because it is naturally a white metal. Gold on the other hand is naturally yellow so it is mixed in with metals such as palladium, silver and nickel to give it the white gold colour we’re familiar with. Not really a pro or con unless you can see the most minuscule of details.
Platinum is hypoallergenic
A major consideration for some people when deciding on a platinum ring vs white gold is whether or not it’s hypoallergenic. While many of us are fortunate enough to be able to wear any metal, gold can cause allergic reactions for some people. It can be triggered while wearing white gold because of the nickel that is added into to get that white/silver colour. Although these days, it's more unlikely to happen because of the prevalence of rhodium finishing. But keep it in mind if you’ve had allergic reactions to jewellery in the past or if you have really sensitive skin.
So for those of you who are feeling a little itchy, platinum is the way to go! A massive pro is that it is hypoallergenic meaning that anyone can wear it without having to worry about an adverse reaction. This makes platinum a really popular choice for everyday wear pieces like engagement rings and especially when it comes to earrings.
Platinum Ring vs White Gold... Which is Better?
Now we’ve covered some of the differences between a platinum ring vs white gold, we hope you feel better equipped to decide. In the end, it’s not really about ticking a list of pros or cons about each metal but rather it comes down to personal style and preference. The answer isn’t as simple as one being better than the other. Some designs, like a simple brilliant cut diamond, will suit platinum better because it requires a high and sturdy setting. Others will prefer white gold for its malleability and ability to adapt to more vintage style rings.
Shop Shiels’ extensive range of platinum and white gold engagement rings online. Or head to one of our stores and let our knowledgeable staff help pick something out for you.
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