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If you think that platinum and white gold are both naturally occurring white metals then you have been deceived. Jewelry made from either one of these metals does give one the feeling that they are in fact white metals. Which one is best and which one makes the best wedding band?
White gold – one of the most popular metals around these days when it comes to jewelry. However, white gold is not a natural substance. Pure gold is yellow and is far to soft to use as jewelry.
Pure gold is mixed with other metals to form a harder alloy that is then suitable for jewelry making. Pure gold is described as being 24 carat. The more common alloys used in jewelry are 9 carat, 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat. When white gold is described as being 18 carat, it has 75% pure gold content.
A white gold alloy could contain quantities of silver, palladium, zinc, copper or nickel. It is the alloy created with nickel, zinc or palladium that produces white gold. When these metals are combined with gold they effectively bleach the yellow gold, white. Some metals have a stronger bleaching effect than others, however they also have stronger hardening effects.
Wedding bands that are 18 carat should contain 75% gold, with the remaining 25% often 15% palladium, 5% silver and 5% copper. This would result in an 18 carat white gold that is hard wearing and yet looks very much like platinum. You can buy very cheap versions of white gold, however, they are generally made with inferior metals and don’t last as long as quality white gold.
Platinum – platinum is rarer than gold so it is substantially more expensive. Platinum is a fairly hard metal and while it can be worked into rings in its pure state, can also be alloyed for easier use. As with most metals, platinum can be graded based on its purity. Platinum itself is actually a light grey, not white.
To get the brilliant white finish that white gold and platinum are famous for, they need to be plated with rhodium. Over time, this rhodium plating will wear away leaving the base metal behind. As the rhodium plating wears away the brilliant white finish that platinum and white gold are famous for will be replaced by a dull light grey appearance. Platinum wedding bands also turn a light grey or off white color.
Platinum is more expensive than white gold, however they may both look quite cheap over time because of that rhodium plating. You can restore the white lustre to your jewelry by having the rhodium plating reapplied. Which is best? It is in the eye of the beholder. Many don’t realize that white gold was created to imitate platinum. White gold is no longer considered a platinum substitute, it is popular in its own right. If you are looking for a platinum finish on a budget, be wary – you will get what you pay for. If you really want the platinum look – get platinum.
For those wanting white gold, be sure to buy white gold that is good quality, not created from a cheap alloy blend. I like white gold, not because it looks like platinum, but because it looks like white gold.
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March 9th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Platinum is more expensive, but not what I would define as substantially. I guess it depends on one’s perspective.
“Platinum is more expensive than white gold, however they may both look quite cheap over time because of that rhodium plating.” – And platinum is naturally white, so therefore needs no rhodium plating.