White Gold Vs Yellow Gold: Which Should You Buy
Both yellow and white gold have their downsides, and while white gold has a slight edge when it comes to durability, neither is a perfect choice in this respect. Thats why you should make your choice primarily based on color.
If you have a diamond of a lower color grade , for example, have it set in yellow gold so that the diamonds yellowish tint doesnt stand out as it would in white. If you want to see what such diamonds look like, take a look at this selection of K/L-color loose diamonds.
In contrast, if your diamond is graded Colorless or Nearly Colorless , it would be a better idea to have it mounted in white gold, which will add to the stones white brilliance. You can see examples of Colorless diamonds here, and this here is a selection of Nearly Colorless diamonds.
If you need guidance on how to pick a diamond, read our diamond buying guide.
If you want something more durable than white gold, consider platinum, for which white gold was actually created as a substitute.
Platinum is a lot more expensive, but it doesnt scratch as easily, and even after you polish it many times, you dont need to have it replated, unlike white gold.
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.
Platinum Vs White Gold: Which Is A Better Choice
It can be difficult to tell the difference between precious metals, especially when youre choosing what to go with for a piece of jewelry. Platinum and white gold can be a challenge to tell apart at first glance, but each has its unique advantages and disadvantages.
Weve outlined what you need to know about the differences in the platinum vs. white gold debate. Keep reading so that you can feel confident when choosing something like an engagement ringone that fits your budget and will commemorate your love for your partner.
Platinum has a higher price and is rarer than gold, whereas gold is technically a purer substance. Due to the hefty price difference and similar uses, it can be hard to pick. To help you decide, weve made a thorough examination of the two different metals!
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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.
Platinum Or White Gold Which To Choose
Being able to differentiate now, you might ask, is platinum better than white gold? Which one should I choose? We wouldnt exactly say one is better than the other. This is because each has its clear advantage from the other.
When dealing with budget, white gold might be the better choice. The good thing about white gold is that you can maximize the design of your engagement ring opting for a more intricate and detailed style. However, if you feel strongly about platinum and appreciate all of its properties. Then there is no reason why you should not choose it. As we know, metal is a commodity. Its value increases over time. Platinum has greater value because, as mentioned above in its properties, it remarkably consists of 95% of its purity and is therefore more valuable.
With that said, every metal property mentioned above can be a deciding factor you should consider when choosing between platinum or white gold.
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Platinum Vs White Gold Price
The main difference between white gold and platinum is only found in the higher price of platinum which is roughly 40-50%. Though similar in price per gram, more platinum is required to make a ring because it is denser. Platinum rings end up being considerably more expensive than white gold rings.
For example, here is a stunning halo setting for $1,290 from Blue Nile in white gold. The platinum version of the ring costs $500 more, which eats into your budget for the center diamond. Even this white gold setting with 0.9 Carat Round Cut Diamond from James Allen costs 44% less than the setting on this 0.9 Carat Round Cut in a platinum ring. While you can spend more by choosing platinum, your money is better spent on an ideal Diamond Cut or increased Carat weight. To learn more about the price differences between white gold and platinum, contact us.
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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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.
So Which Type Of Metal Should You Choose
Well, it really depends. The key to choosing between white gold or platinum is to start by understanding your own requirements in a piece of jewelry.
Given a choice, I would personally take the cheaper alternative of white gold as they look almost identical in real life. It just doesnt make sense for me to spend twice the amount just to upgrade the ring to platinum.
Unless the recipient is nickel-sensitive , I feel that most people are better off putting the money saved on a bigger or better grade diamond.
With that, we have come the end of this write up. What do you think of platinum vs white gold and which would you choose? Do leave a comment below to let me know about your thoughts.
If you are looking for high quality diamond jewelry that is built to last, check out White Flash and James Allen for their stunning selections of ring designs and diamonds.
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So Which Is Better For My Jewelry
Theres no hard and fast rule that says white gold is better than platinum, or vice versa. It really comes down to personal preference and budget.
When it comes to engagement rings, some people find a lighter-weight ring more comfortable. That would give white gold the thumbs up. And if you dont mind replating it every so often, white gold will continue to look beautifully shiny.
Platinum is strong, resilient, and lets face it high status. But it will need to be repolished if you want it to keep its high shine. And thats likely to mean entrusting your ring to a courier service of some kind.
When it comes to budget, platinum is more expensive. Over a lifetime of wear, the costs of replating a white gold can bring your total expenditure closer to platinum. But bear in mind that if you want to keep your platinum super-shiny, youll need to pay for regular repolishing too.
Perhaps the single most important question to consider is whether your jewelry will feature gemstones. If it will, consider whether those are hard or soft. If theyre soft, platinum will always be the better option. You wont have to choose between a shiny ring and undamaged stones.
Platinum jewel settings are also less vulnerable to bending if they receive a knock. But whatever your ring is made of, its a good idea to regularly check how securely your gems are sitting. A few seconds spent doing that is invaluable compared to the heartache of losing a stone from your precious ring.
Platinum Vs Gold: Maintenance
White gold needs the most upkeep to maintain its color. You will need to polish and replate it every few years to prevent it from turning yellow. Yellow gold and rose gold require polishing and sometimes replating to maintain their appearance, but you can stick to home cleanings most of the time.
Like all jewelry, platinum also tends to scratch and becomes dull over time. But you can typically get away with home cleanings to keep it bright. Additionally, when you polish platinum, it smooths the piece rather than thinning the metal which means you can do it as often as you like.
If low maintenance is high on your list platinum is your best option. In order from lowest to highest maintenance, it goes platinum, rose gold, yellow gold, white gold. Platinum is the lowest maintenance and white gold is the highest.
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White Gold Vs Platinum Durability
Durability and cost should be considered together. Platinum is more durable and requires less repolishing. But that doesn’t mean you only need to re-polish your white gold engagement ring every so often to keep it shining. White gold is finished with a rhodium plating to give it a pure white shine and improve durability. But it does wear off over time. That means you’ll need to replace it.
Depending on how often and how hard it’s worn, the rhodium plating could last anywhere from one to three years. Rhodium plating costs about four times as much as platinum, but “dipping” your ring, or having it replated, is relatively inexpensive. Expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $120 to have your ring dipped, depending on the complexity of the setting and style. If you need to get that done each year, the cost adds up.
Here at With Clarity, we try to save our customers that cost. That’s why we offer a lifetime warranty that covers ring replating and polishing. That ensures your With Clarity ring will be beautiful for a lifetime.
Platinum Vs White Gold Appearance
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Both platinum and white gold have a pure white color and attractive sheen. When jewelry is new, you will find it difficult to tell them apart. Some say that white gold has a slightly higher shine.
Over time, however, the appearance of both metals will change.
When worn regularly, platinum acquires a patina. Although the metal itself doesnt change color, it appears darker because of the way the light interacts with tiny scratches on the surface. That will give it more of a gray color than white.
Some people prefer this. But if you want your jewelry to stay bright, you can get it repolished. Because platinum is such a hard metal, it needs a particular buffing process to achieve this.
Most jewelry stores will need to send your jewelry away to a specialist for repolishing. If you go down this route, check the stores insurance policy will cover any loss.
Newly repolished platinum will stay looking bright for between six and twelve months. The exact length of time will depend on how much wear it receives.
You may also be able to have your platinum coated with rhodium, in just the same way as is done to create white gold.
But take care: rhodium plating can damage softer gemstones like pearls, peridots, opals, topaz, and turquoise. And if you take this approach, the coating will wear off eventually and need to be replaced.
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Platinum Vs White Gold The Basics
Both platinum and white gold are considered precious metals. But what exactly are they?
Platinum occurs in nature, just the way yellow or rose gold does. Its rare than gold, and its also much harder.
The hardness of metals is measured in mohs. Platinum has a hardness of 3.5 mohs, compared to 2.5 mohs for pure yellow gold. That means its robust enough to be used for jewelry without needing to be mixed with other metals. Platinum jewelry is usually made of about 95 percent platinum.
White gold, on the other hand, isnt found naturally. Its made from yellow gold mixed with other metals to make it harder. If it were to be used in its pure form, it would bend out of shape very easily.
These other metals are usually palladium, silver or nickel, to give the white color. The resulting alloy is then coated in rhodium, another metal. Its this rhodium coating that gives white gold its distinctive luster.
White metal, as other forms of gold, will have a karat rating. That will tell you how much pure gold is in the alloy. One karat is one-twenty-fourth, or 4.167 percent of the whole.
If your white gold ring is marked 18K, that means its made of 75 percent pure gold. Other common ratings are 14K and 10K .
Chemical Composition Of Platinum Vs White Gold
When you look at metal composition, the differences between each alloy are striking. The following pie-charts are based upon 18ct Gold and Platinum for comparison. Most striking is the purity of Platinum. 950 Platinum is 95% pure, whereas 18ct White Gold is 75% pure. Other metals add to the overall composition of both metals.
Typically Platinum alloys contain either Iridium or Cobalt. Platinum-Cobalt alloy, introduced over 20 years ago, saw production across European and Japanese markets. This alloy produces better castings, with fewer porosity issues, a smoother cast surface, better fluidity and a higher yield. This is favourable for both the manufacturer and end client. Since we cast most of our engagement rings, reduced porosity is advantageous. Porosity appears as small bubbles often invisible within the metal.
Showing 18ct White Gold alongside the natural colour of unfinished 18ct White Gold
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The Difference Between White Gold And Platinum
White gold and platinum have a similar appearance so that non-experts confuse them with each other, but there are several differences as follows:
- Because platinum is naturally white, it has a much higher luminosity than white gold.
- White gold is less resistant to rust than platinum.
- Platinum is more resistant to turbidity.
- Platinum is denser than white gold.
- Platinum is rarer than white gold, so white gold is cheaper.
- White gold has a lower degree of purity and becomes dull and oxidized over time.
- Platinum has more anti-allergic properties than white gold
The choice between white gold and platinum is entirely up to you. Just keep in mind that an engagement ring is considered as a token of love and you will probably keep it for the rest of your life. If you are living in Vancouver and looking for an engagement ring for your spouse we invite you to check our elegant collection of engagement rings.
White Gold: The Simple And Popular Choice
How is white gold made?
Yellow gold is turned almost white by mixing it with white metals, such as palladium and silver.
Since white gold is never completely white, rings and all other jewellery made from white gold are given an external coating of rhodium. This coating gives them a glossy white colour, as well as extra strength and durability.
What are white golds advantages?
White gold is currently the most popular precious metal for engagement and wedding rings. It goes well with any skin tone and most gemstones. It is strong and damage-resistant.
Does white gold have any disadvantages?
White gold rings often develop a light yellow tint over time. This happens because the rhodium coating slowly wears away revealing the slightly yellow gold underneath. Thankfully, this tint can be easily removed by applying a new coating of rhodium. A ring that is worn frequently will probably need to be re-plated with rhodium once every few years.
What type of care does white gold require?
White gold requires occasional cleaning and polishing, as well as a new coat of rhodium whenever it begins to look yellow.
White gold has earned its popularity by having a simple, but modern beauty. It can be combined with other colours of gold and a wide variety of gemstones to make elegant engagement and wedding rings.
We are happy to provide a lifetime of rhodium services to all our clients who purchase a white gold engagement or wedding ring to help them keep their jewellery looking its best.
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