Platinum VS White Gold: The Attention Seeker Metal 2021

Precious metals are one of the most important components of the jewelry industry. They are the backbone of many forms of jewelry such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. since these precious metals are generally responsible for making up the bands and chains onto which other precious gems are set. 

Two such essential metals are platinum and white gold which apart from expressing uncanny similarities in appearances, durability, and beauty, do not show coincidences from other aspects such as composition, structure, price, etc. Customers often undergo lots of confusion while shopping for jewelry made of white gold as to which one to choose since apart from being similar they are also contemporary and sleek designs.

To be able to make an informed decision between the two types, customers must be aware of all the similarities and dissimilarities that exist between jewelry made of white gold or platinum. But before diving into a comparative study of the two metals, here is some basic information regarding white gold rings and platinum as individual metals. 

About Platinum

Platinum is one of the most used metals around the world, with one of its primary uses being in the field of jewelry where pure forms of platinum, varying from 95% to 98%, can be found in countless different forms of jewelry ranging from earrings and pendants to rings and bracelets and many more. The naturally white metal closely resembles white gold in color and appearance and will continue doing so for ongoing years for as long as the metal is maintained and taken care of in the proper manner. 

Platinum jewelry can be purchased at a wide range of prices with many pieces of jewelry edging on the lower values while others being heavily expensive. A price range of $300 to $3,000 can be noticed in the case of platinum engagement rings with the simple solitaire ones falling on the lower value whereas an intricate and vintage design will be the expensive option. The cost, hence, is a value dependent on multiple factors such as the style of the ring, the amount of metal utilized in the making, and the jeweler or vendor a customer purchases the jewelry from. 

Platinum like any other metal has its sets of pros and cons that any customer must keep in mind before purchasing jewelry that used this metal in their design. 

Pros 

There are many pros of platinum that attract customers towards the metal. Some of them include: 

• All platinum is hypoallergenic, hence its jewelry is a good option for people who suffer from metal allergies. 
• It is rarer and more precious than gold hence the value of platinum is higher. 
• It is considered as a representation of prestige by many people as the label of “platinum” is deemed to be of more value than “gold” as seen in everyday items like credit cards. 
• It is not just heavier but also a lot more durable than gold. 
• Platinum jewelry best compliments people with fair and rosy skin complexions.

Cons 

Few disadvantages of the metal that may be a deal-breaker for certain customers are the following: 

• Even though it closely resembles white gold in color and appearance, yet its cost is higher than that of white gold. 
• Time is not a favorable element on jewelry made of platinum since the metal tends to get scratched and dull with time. 
• It is harder to maintain items made of platinum since the metal demands cleaning and polishing periodically even though the process might strip away parts of the metal.

Also Read: Vintage Elegance: Emerald-Cut Diamond Engagement Rings 

About White Gold

Since the purest form of gold is not capable of being moulded into any form of jewelry due to its extreme softness and malleability, it is essential for gold to be made into an alloy wherein it is combined with other durable and strong metals to give result to an alloy of gold that is highly resilient to any kind of damage in the form of scratches or breakage. 

White gold is also formed through this process which includes mixing different materials with gold and giving rise to a type of precious metal that closely resembles it. The composition includes pure gold combined with other metals like palladium, silver, manganese, zinc, or nickel. It is also commonly known that the most durable form of white gold is the one that is mixed with nickel and then coated with rhodium.

In the case of white gold, customers with allergies to nickel must be careful while making the purchase and should ensure that the item of jewelry made with white gold that they are purchasing does not contain any part of nickel. 

The different karats present in the jewelry made of white gold determine the amount of pure gold and other materials present in the piece. With white gold exhibiting a white shade similar to that found in platinum, it is evident that the difference that is found in this shade of gold is due to the presence of white metals like nickel. The lustrous and shiny look exhibited by white gold because of the presence of other white metals is the reason behind the fame surrounding white gold jewelry.

Various pros and cons of the white gold can be noted that every customer must be aware of. 

Pros 

Some of the pros are: 

• White gold at the moment has high popularity than yellow gold. 
• It is much more affordable and less costly than platinum. 
• White gold is also more durable and resistant to scratch since it is alloyed with stronger metals.
• The metal also looks better on people with fair or rosy skin tones. 
• Some even believe that white gold complements white diamonds better than yellow gold does. 

Cons 

Few cons of white metal are: 

• For people who are allergic to nickel, white gold could be harmful to them since it is not hypoallergenic and will cause allergic reactions unless it is mixed with alloy metals other than nickel.
• Jewelry made of white gold needs to be periodically dipped and replace the rhodium plating for the metal to retain its color and luster. However, this process is inexpensive and often offered by jewelers for free. 

Comparing Platinum with White Gold

Although platinum resembles white gold in appearance, there are still some major points of differences between the two metals. 

Composition 

The two metals have very different materials comprising them since the structural composition of platinum and white gold is entirely dissimilar even if they look similar. 

Gold is the primary component of 18 karats and 14 karats gold jewelry with a mixture of durable metals such as nickel, zinc, copper, and also rhodium plating since gold is a soft metal when compared with others. The percentage of gold in the two abovementioned karats is 75% and 58.3% respectively. 

However, when we talk about platinum it is essential to note that 95% to 98% of the metal is used in its pure form in the jewelry with the remaining fraction being represented by the slight mixture of rhodium and silver. 

Gold, as can be observed, depends on alloys and metals like rhodium to transform into a durable and strong metal that can handle the pressure of being moulded into various forms of jewelry, however, platinum being sturdier and more enduring than gold is used in pure forms since it is the heaviest and densest precious metal of all. 

Price 

When comparing both metals based on the price at which they are available, it is evident that platinum will be sold at a higher price.

With a difference of 40 % to 50% in the prices of both the metals, this is mainly due to its being a denser metal so even though the price per gram is similar for both metals, a platinum ring will cost more. 

To explain this better an example of a halo setting in white gold can be taken.

This ring is available at a price of approximately $1,290 whereas the platinum version of the same jewelry will definitely be sold at an additional cost of $500.This increase could be a weight on many customers and they would have to compromise with the part of their budget that was meant to be spent on the center diamond. Another example of a 0.90 ct round cut diamond with a platinum setting would cost around 40% more than the same ring that has a white gold setting. 

Although some customers choose to invest more by making a selection in platinum, it is always advisable to instead direct that investment towards an ideal diamond’s cut or higher carat weight of the stone.

Colour 

The color of platinum and white gold are very close in similarity since the difference in color goes unnoticeable by the naked eye between jewelry made of the two metals. However, a clear contrast is visible when yellow or rose gold is compared with platinum and white gold. 

Care 

As mentioned before in the cons of platinum, the metal is better prone to scratches than 18 karats or 14 karats gold jewelry. Although both metals need to be cleaned and polished, the frequency for the need of the processes is greater for platinum while it time gap for when cleaning is required is lesser. 

Which is Better?

Since platinum is a costlier metal and regarded as something to be owned in the name of prestige, many people assume that it is also better in quality.

This is not true since even though they bear a very close resemblance, platinum costs a lot more and can prove to be a weight on many people’s pockets. 

Some may argue that platinum is more durable but both 14K and 18K white gold is also durable enough for people to make use of white gold in jewelry for daily wear. White gold is also better in comparison since it is not as prone to scratches as platinum is and also requires a lot less maintenance than its counterpart. 

White gold has since forever been used as a popular choice for engagement rings and other fine jewelry as it is the classic choice that looks stunning at less costly prices than platinum.

Also Read: 9 Luxe Halo Engagement Rings To Dream About Your Precious Moment

Conclusion Thoughts

So when it comes to answering the question of which metal is right for the customers, the answer eventually boils down to the fact that personal preference and style are the main factors that decide on which precious metal to settle with for their pieces of jewelry. All the above aspects that have been mentioned in the article affect each customer differently wherein there might be some who have the luxury of having an open budget and can consider platinum jewelry without worrying about the cost while others who even though can afford platinum still prefer white gold because it has a better appeal in their perspective. Jewelry made of white gold definitely tends to weigh lighter on one’s finances but if a shopper’s passion lies in owning platinum jewelry then there is no harm in making the purchase. Therefore, customers need to be aware of their personal likes and dislike, along with the aspects of jewelry shopping that matter the most to them. Once this knowledge resides in the hands of the customers, they can without further ado gather the abovementioned information regarding white gold and platinum and then make an educated decision regarding the metal that wins the battle of choices!