What Is More Expensive Gold Or Platinum

Some Houses Can Clearly Identify The Metal Composition Of A Ring

For businesses that purchase and recycle precious metals, like jewelry stores, jewelry refining houses, and pawn shops, not being able to tell the difference between white gold, platinum, and palladium, or to spot even slight variations in gold versus platinum composition, could prove an expensive mistake.

Buying white gold may generally cost less, but you will need to replate it at least 10 years later in order to maintain the color Platinum, by contrast, is more expensive and requires less maintenance. Because Platinum is very precious, having a portion of it polished away can affect the total cost of your ring in a way. Both these warmer shades of white may suit many skin tones better than platinums glaring, cool-white, and therefore, it is always worth trying all these out before making a final decision about metal.

Palladium And Nickel Are Also Present In White Gold

If the other metal is palladium in Britain, or in the United States, a mix of palladium and nickel, the resulting alloy is bleached white. Nickel-based alloys are most likely to be coloured yellow, while Palladium-based alloys are most likely to be dark gray when compared with platinum, as shown below. Yes, you can see the difference when comparing white natural, unplated gold to gold that is palladium, platinum, or has been plated with rhodium.

Platinum is also used for making jewelry, and it looks just like white gold, but comparing it side by side to white gold, you will see platinum has more of a greyish tone. To give Platinum its white color and to make it harder, it was made by mixing yellow gold with other metals. Platinum does not get yellow, as yellow gold does but, it does start losing its glossy surface finish and building up a natural patina .

When platinum is scratched, platinum is moved from place to place in your ring, and this develops what is called a patina finish. Unlike gold, no metal is lost when platinum is scratched, just sideways jostled a beaten-up platinum ring can be easily polished by jewelers to restore it to its former splendor. As platinum is a soft metal, it really does mean that it is very scratchable, however, that is not necessarily bad.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of White Gold And Platinum

Affordability

Usually, the main advantage of white gold is that it is more affordable than platinum. However, during recent times, the prices of gold and palladiumthe most important metals in the white gold alloyhave significantly increased, leading the metal alloy to become more expensive than platinum.

In the last five years, the price of palladium has increased by over 500%, and pure gold over 70%. As palladium makes up almost 25% of the composition of 18ct white gold, this has led to a large increase in the cost of white gold.Platinum is now more affordable than white gold, so if you are looking to make a saving, platinum is a great choice.

Long term care

When it comes to maintenance, white gold generally requires more upkeep. The main limitation of white gold is that it is susceptible to tarnishing and discolouration over long periods of time. Care needs to be taken when exposing the metal to toiletries or household chemicals. This is because white gold is plated in rhodium, to maintain its silver finish. Without the rhodium plating, white gold would have a yellow tonal finish to it, due to the high concentration of yellow gold in the alloy.

Durability

When it comes to the durability of white gold and platinum, both can be advantageous in different ways. The metals have unique properties, resulting in different levels of hardness and malleability.

Hypoallergenic properties

Weight

Finish

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How Do I Clean 18k Gold Plated Chain

Gently rubbing the surface of your gold plated jewelry using a soft jewelry cloth, helps restore shine. Do *not* use a polishing cloth as this will strip away the plating. If your jewelry needs more cleaning you may clean it with warm, soapy water. Soak it for a few minutes and you may clean it with a soft cloth.

Gold And Platinum Durability

Platinum alloys are generally denser than gold alloys and thus tend to be more durable. However once gold gets to 14K, it tends to be harder than platinum and less easy to scratch. This means that platinum is preferred for intricate rings, like engagement rings that hold a stone, as its strength keeps the stone safe. However, gold is a better choice if you are worried about scratching your ring.

But its not quite that simple. When gold is scratched it tends to be lost, whereas platinum tends to move to another place on the ring. This means a platinum ring will develop a weathered patina, which many people find desirable, whereas gold might need refinishing after a scratch.

Both metals are excellent choices for engraving so that should not impact your wedding band choice. Heres an example of an engraved platinum band and a durable 14K gold ring, both from James Allen.

• Platinum
• Gold

Winner: Tie. Platinum is usually more durable than gold, but 14k gold has alloys that may make the gold more scratch-resistant.

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Rose Gold: The Modern And Romantic Choice

How is rose gold made?

Copper is used to transform naturally yellow gold into beautiful shades of rose. Darker shades of rose gold are made by mixing 75% gold with 25% copper, while the lighter shades are made by decreasing the copper and adding in a small percentage of a white metal, such as silver.

What are rose golds advantages?

One of rose golds best advantages is that it has a contemporary beauty and modern style. It is also great because it never loses its colour and is strong to resist scratches and deformation.

Does rose gold have any disadvantages?

Similar to yellow gold, there are some people who may have an allergic reaction to one of the components in rose gold, but this is rare.

What type of care does rose gold require?

It doesnt require any special care and only needs to be cleaned and polished occasionally.

Rose gold is particularly feminine and when combined with pavé set diamonds, it creates especially romantic engagement rings.

A Hedge Against Inflation

Gold is a popular investment during times of economic turmoil, especially when index funds like the S& P 500, FTSE 100, and the NASDAQ Composite are crashing. Unlike gemstones that offer very little use apart from being bodily ornaments and embellishments on furniture and houses, you can find gold in computers, smartphones, and televisions. Gold is famous for having many industrial applications, and people even use it as a food additive as it can be eating in small quantities.

Even though a large portion of golds value is heavily reliant on its use in consumer electronics, appliances, and architecture, it doesnt seem to move with most macro and microeconomic trends. For example, in the stock market crash of 2008, golds value came to a paltry $775 from a lofty $1000 per troy ounce. However, as the country went through the worst recession it has seen in 100 years, gold prices began to recover, eventually hitting a record high of nearly $1900 per troy ounce in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Traditionally, gold prices go on an upward trend in the aftermath of an economic crisis, and many times, even in the middle of one. More than half of the global demand for gold comes from jewelry, so its only natural for golds market value to depreciate when the prices of commodities crash. However, when investors stop panicking and begin making rational decisions again, its value begins to restrengthen, often surpassing what it was before the crisis.

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Platinum Quality & Purity

Platinum is a naturally white metal, which means that you don’t need to combine it with other substances to get that cool tone. Almost all platinum is about 95% platinum and 5% other pure alloys, which explains the higher cost.

Its soft white hue is visually pleasing, but platinum is also renowned for its strength and durability so much so, that platinum was taken off the market during wartime for military use. It’s safe to say that platinum is a great option for individuals who want a sturdy engagement ring option.

Why Is Platinum More Expensive Than Gold Jewelry

There are several factors involved in pricing platinum jewelry vs. gold jewelry, from the obvious to the less obvious.

The Metals Price of Platinum vs. Gold

Platinum, as a precious metal, is normally valued much higher in the precious metals commodity market than gold. Whereas historically gold has been valued at considerably less than platinum, for one of the first times in history, platinum is priced lower than gold on the market. As of the date of this post, gold is priced at $1,634.10 per ounce and platinum is priced at $1,602.00 per ounce. This is not usual for the market. Many years ago, the disparity was much more pronounced. Gold was often in the $1,000 range per ounce and platinum was in the $2,000 range. What we are seeing the market today is out-of-the-ordaniry.

Whit this in mind, you would think that gold and platinum jewelry would cost the same. Try to purchase platinum wedding bands vs. white gold wedding bands at any jeweleronline or offline, and you will quickly find that a Platinum ring still cost 2-3 times more than a gold one.

Why the Price Disparity?

But the question must be asked: if the price of gold and the price of platinum are about the same, then why is there still such a difference in cost?

There are several reasons:

Platinum Braided Wedding Band Ring

So the next time you are in the market for that platinum or gold wedding band, which will it be?

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Palladium Vs Gold: Which Is Better

While gold may be the best known and most popular precious metal for investors, some investors may be looking for something more. Golds performance is almost boringly stable over the long term, which is great for investors looking to maintain the value of their investments over a period of time. But sometimes precious metals investors want to make significant short-term gains too. Thats where other precious metals can play an important role in diversifying investors portfolios and helping them grow their wealth.

Most precious metals investors are aware of silver as an alternative to gold, and the fact that silver often makes greater gains percentage-wise than gold does. But few investors branch away from silver and gold and look to other precious metals such as palladium. By failing to think outside the box, they could be costing themselves significant amounts of potential gains. Investors who havent looked at the palladium price vs. gold price may be shocked to find out that palladium is now more expensive than gold.

Platinum Vs White Gold Composition

18 Karat and 14 Karat gold jewelry is made primarily of gold along with a mix of durable metals like nickel, zinc, copper and a rhodium platingas gold by itself is relatively soft. 18 Karat is 75% gold, while 14 Karat is 58.3% gold.

Platinum used in jewelry, on the other hand, is more puretypically between 95-98% platinumwith the remaining percentage rhodium and silver. Stronger and more durable than gold, platinum is the heaviest and densest precious metal. As you can see, gold used in jewelry depends on a higher percentage of alloys and rhodium for its strength and durability. If youre still unsure about the differences in composition between gold vs platinum, our experts can help.

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White Gold Vs Platinum

Which is better? The answer might not be as simple as you think. This guide will walk you through the pros and cons of each and help you decide which is the better choice for you.

Which is better? The answer might not be as simple as you think. This guide will walk you through the pros and cons of each and help you decide which is the better choice for you.

Platinum Vs Gold: Value

Platinum is almost always more valuable than gold. Its a rarer metal, and platinum rings have higher densities and purities than gold rings. You also need more platinum to make a ring, so they often cost 40-50% more than gold.

Platinum also has a sense of prestige. For instance, American Express Platinum credit cards have higher membership rewards than Gold ones.

Metaphors about credits aside, a white gold ring costs much less than platinum for a similar appearance. And while its value depends on the karat, you will almost always pay less for gold than platinum.

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Investment Characteristics Of Platinum And Gold

But for the most part, gold and platinum tend to move in a similar direction long-term. Their price differences come down to issues that affect the two metals independently.

Platinums price comes down to two contributing factors. They are industrial demand, particularly for anti-pollution equipment in vehicle engines, jewelry and medical supplies and mine production. Mines in South Africa are a key determinant in the price of platinum as well as production in Russia.

Platinums dependency on industrial demand and mine production leads to volatility. In fact, the price of platinum fluctuates the most among precious metals. For instance, platinum price hit its peak in 2008 at $2,250. It then dropped to $777 per ounce within six months.

In contrast, gold is more stable and reliable. You are less likely to see erratic price drops in gold due to its intrinsic value. Plus, multiple countries produce gold, including China, Australia, India, the U.S. and Canada. So, a supply issue in one nation is unlikely to severely impact pricing worldwide.

Because of this, people often invest in gold in times of catastrophe, such as the 2008 financial crisis. As investors sought financial protection in gold, its prices doubled. Between 2008 and 2011, gold rose from $869.75 per ounce to $1,895.

Investors also use it as a hedge against inflation in currency due to this security.

The History Of Platinum And White Gold

A naturally white metal, platinum was made available for commercial use around 1900. With the advent of the oxy-acetylene torch, it was finally possible to melt platinum down so it could be used in crafting jewelry. During the 1910s to 1930s, platinum had its heyday in the use of Art Deco style jewelry and was highly prized for its durability, elegance, and cool luster. With World War II, platinum was used heavily in the war effort, allowing for white gold to carve out a significant niche.

Similar to platinum, white gold also has a more recent emergence in jewelry. In the 1800s, white gold increased in popularity to rival that of the ever popular yellow gold. It became widely popular in the 1920s when it became a favorite platinum substitute that could achieve a similar look for a less expensive cost. Today, white gold is still one of the most popular metals for engagement rings and jewelry of all kinds.

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The Ultimate Quality Check: Hallmarks

Hallmarks are crucial to identifying the quality and make of the metallic parts of your jewelry. Under the 1973 Hallmarking Act, all jewelry items for-sale in the UK, made from precious metals i.e. gold, silver, platinum and palladium need to be engraved with hallmarks. At 64Facets we follow these hallmarking guidelines for all our jewelry which is shipped worldwide. The most essential part of these hallmarks are the standard marks, which determine the type and purity of the metal. Gold and platinum jewelry weighing less than 1.0 and 0.5 gram respectively, are exempt from hallmarking. They are usually engraved onto the inner lining of rings and near necklace clasps.

Since both gold and platinum are seldom used in their pure forms, different numbers are allotted to the alloy mixes for each precious metal. These alloy mixes vary based on the percentage of pure metal present in the jewelry. Anything less than 24K Gold consists of different combinations of silver, copper, nickel, zinc and palladium. Platinum too is mostly mixed with palladium, rhodium and other platinum group metals. Each metal blend is allocated an unique number, as can be seen from the image below, eliminating any scope for confusion. For example, if your jewelry is labelled with a 750 mark, it is a 18K gold metal which comprises of 75% pure gold mixed with 25% alloys to harden the metal. Similarly, if your jewelry is labelled 950, it comprises of 95% platinum with a 5% mix of other alloys.

Platinum Vs White Gold: Which Metal Is Best For Your Ring

It may seem impossible to choose between Platinum and white gold. You may have heard that the best metal is Platinum, but is that adequate to make it sell for a higher price? Read on to discover more about the Platinum vs. White Gold debate.

Wed like you to make a choice yourself! Various things make these two white metals different from each other. On the surface, they may seem identical, but theyre worlds apart.

Before you pick any piece of jewelry, here are the differences between Platinum and White Gold that youll want to know.

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What’s The Difference Between Gold And Platinum

About 190 metric tons of platinum are mined each year globally. The majority of platinum production comes from two countries: South Africa and Russia.

Platinum is more difficult to produce than gold, as it’s located deeper in the earth and requires a more difficult purification process. It is a highly dense but incredibly malleable metal with importance for industrial applications, including in catalytic converters for cars and turbine engines for planes. It’s also used in medical devices such as pacemakers as well as in jewelry.

In 2019, 3,463 tons of gold were mined globally. Gold is mainly produced in three countries: China, Australia, and Russia. It is used in several industries, including dentistry, computers and other electronic devices, in the aerospace industry, and, most commonly, in jewelry and other artistic applications. Many governments and individuals store quantities of gold because of its perceived value as an alternative currency.

Here are factors to consider when it comes to investing in gold vs. platinum.