When choosing wedding rings, the two most popular metal choices are white gold and platinum as they are strong, durable, and look elegant and stunning. White gold and platinum are ideal for classic and modern wedding ring designs. However, both metals have pros and cons, and your choice should be entirely based on your personal preference and style.
Differences Between White Gold and Platinum Wedding Rings
Let’s look at the significant differences between white gold and platinum wedding rings in terms of color, composition, durability, popularity, price, purity, and hypoallergenic properties to see which metal is better for you.
1. Color and Composition
Both platinum and white gold wedding rings are silver-hued types of metals. However, white gold is not a natural metal. It’s yellow gold mixed with other metals such as nickel, palladium, or silver to make a yellowish-whitish metal. Then, it’s plated with rhodium, a highly reflective metal, to form a lustrous and whiter finish.
However, the rhodium element can wear away over time, making a white gold look tarnished and discolored. Re-plating your white gold wedding ring every 6 to 18 months is recommended to maintain its luster and radiance. However, you need to pay for extra maintenance costs.
On the other hand, platinum is a naturally white metal, and it’s not mixed with any alloys. Platinum wedding rings won’t need as much maintenance as white gold due to their natural bright white appearance. In fact, platinum’s glorious shine is easy to maintain with simple polishing using a soft cloth.
2. Durability
Platinum is more durable than white gold as it wears away differently over time. When a white gold ring is scratched, its gold is scratched away and is lost. However, when a ring made in platinum is scratched, its metal only gets moved from one place to another. Then, it develops a patina finish that will make your jewelry look like an antique.
Since platinum can handle scratches differently, doesn’t lose metal over time, and requires less maintenance than white gold, you can pass a platinum ring on from generation to generation.
3. Popularity
Trends in fashion and accessories have their highs and lows. In the white metal world of jewelry, platinum is taking center stage. Sep Vergara Fine Jewelry, a top maker of platinum wedding rings in the Philippines, can attest to this takeover. Many celebrity couples like Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo have chosen platinum jewelry as their wedding rings.
4. Hypoallergenic Potential
When choosing between platinum and white gold wedding ring, you should consider the likelihood of getting an allergic reaction or experiencing skin irritation. Hypoallergenic metals have less irritating elements and minimize the chances of having skin allergies.
Platinum is 90 to 95% pure, making it an excellent option for hypoallergenic jewelry metal. If you think you have sensitive skin, then it would be best to opt for platinum rings.
5. Cost
Platinum is 30 times rarer than white gold, and crafting jewelry made from it requires more specialized tools and greater expertise, making it more expensive. It is also much denser than gold, so a piece of platinum jewelry will be heavier than gold jewelry of the same size. So if you’re on a budget, buying a white gold wedding ring is more affordable than platinum.
Should You Choose a Platinum or White Gold Wedding Ring?
When selecting between a white gold and platinum wedding ring, the final decision will be solely based on your style, preferences, and budget.
A platinum ring is more expensive than white gold but it’s worth it because of its durability, composition, timelessness, popularity, and hypoallergenic properties. At the same time, a white gold ring can be a great alternative because of its reasonable price. It’s best to collaborate with an experienced and reliable jeweler, like Sep Vergara Fine Jewelry, to guide you in the right direction.