18K Gold vs Platinum BUYING TODAY, help

[dmdfool]

Referring specifically to whiteflash rings,


18K Gold Specs:
-75% pure gold
-Nickel is normally used in this alloy

Platinum Specs:
95% pure platinum and 5% irridium



Price Difference: $300 more for Platinum

Are there any major benefits to going platinum vs. 18k Whitegold?

Your help and expertise is much appreciated

 

[crashprime]

Platinum scratches but can be polished back to a shine. Doesn't really "wear down". Heavier.

18k gold is rhodium plated. Needs to be replated depending on wear, and will "wear down". Can cause irritation depending on nickel irritation/allergy level in the wearer.

 

[AprilBaby]

Make sure there is no nickel allergy.

 

[dmdfool]

When you polish Platinum, does it loose a certain % of the metal, meaning you can only polish it x times before it wears down, kind of the same way you can only rhodium an 18k gold ring so many times before it loses it's gold

 

[motownmama]

Platinum doesn't wear off. When you polish gold - let's just say Yellow gold, b/c it isn't plated, you do actually rub a little bit of gold off each time. Rhodium goes Over the white gold to make it look shiny. It's a coating that does wear off over time - faster or slower depending on wear (24/7, for example, or swimming in pools) and a person's personal chemistry. Mine takes years b/f they need to be re-rhodium plated. All that being said, I would recommend platinum b/c it never has to be re-plated. It's so worry free. Over the next decades and decades the $300 is not all that much. Plus, it costs me @ $45 when I do have to rhodium plate, so yo have to factor that in. Some people love unplated white gold - that's an option too. You can explore around for this topic on here b/c it's been discussed many times. It's like a very very very soft yellow color.

 

[Laila619]

You will lose gold over time, but you won't lose platinum.

That said, WF's platinum alloy isn't the best. It's the softest of the plat alloys and the most likely to scratch/dent. I would ask for 950 platinum alloyed with Ruthenium.

 

[msop04]

OP, I posted this photo in another thread to show the difference in 14K vs 18K white gold over a period of 5 months wear... I know that's not your question, but I wanted to post the photo just to show you how the 18K turns so much faster than the 14K -- also, I never wear my rings to clean, shower, sleep, etc (they hardly get wet...).

If you are the type that won't or can't have them replated often -- like every 3-4 months or so -- I would advise that you get platinum... it will not be as icy white as the 18K white gold, but it won't have to be plated all the time, only polished.

 

[dmdfool]

[deleted]

 

[dmdfool]

Thank you so much, that photo is fantastic. Thank you for the advises too. I will definitely be getting platinum. Thank you guys!

 

[Niel]

can i ask why you wouldnt consider 14k? cheaper, whiter, not as soft as 18k. You'd not have to plate it as often, and she may like the color and not need it replated at all

 

[diamondseeker2006]

can i ask why you wouldnt consider 14k? cheaper, whiter, not as soft as 18k. You'd not have to plate it as often, and she may like the color and not need it replated at all

Niel, that isn't necessarily true about white gold. The appraiser Neil Beaty posted this before:

"The hardness of the final product is a more complicated question than the simple karatage of the metal. Properly worked, some alloys of 18k can be quite durable. For commercially cast type pieces, 14k yellow gold is usually more durable than 18k yellow gold. 18k white is usually more durable than 14k white."

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thank you so much, that photo is fantastic. Thank you for the advises too. I will definitely be getting platinum. Thank you guys!

I also greatly prefer platinum, but I always request one of the two harder alloys even if it costs a little extra. They will scratch less and need polishing less often.

90%platinum, 10%iridium

95%platinum, 5%ruthenium

 

[nateknu]

Just make sure you like the patina that will develop with platinum. Also correct me if I am wrong but I though you could never polish away scratches or the patina that develops in platinum?

 

[lovebug1031]

Just make sure you like the patina that will develop with platinum. Also correct me if I am wrong but I though you could never polish away scratches or the patina that develops in platinum?

not true at all, that's why people polish it - to get rid of that! some people like the patina and never polish though...all personal preference

 

[diamondseeker2006]

...and, the more durable alloys need polishing less often than the softer 95/5 iridium.

 

[Laila619]

Yeah, I really wouldn't go with 95/5 Iridium. Will WF let you request a different alloy?

 

[dmdfool]

Got a call from WF today, they will be able to swap the iridium with the ruthenium at no additional charge to the ring.

So at WF they can also do 95% Platinum, 5% ruthenium just so you all know.

Great customer service as always from WF.

 

[chrono]

I thought WF's standard is 90%platinum + 10%iridium?

 

[dmdfool]

I thought WF's standard is 90%platinum + 10%iridium?

according to their website it's 95% platinum+5% iridium...is 90% platinum + 10iridium better than 95% platinum 5% ruthenium?

Quoted directly from the FAQ section under jewelery on whiteflash's website:

"Our gold products are either 14k or 18k. 14K is 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% other metals that give gold the hardness to be durable in jewelry. 18K is 75% pure gold. White gold is an alloy of metals that give the metal hardness and whiteness. Nickel is normally used in this alloy. White gold products, because they are not pure white, are normally plated with rhodium to give the metal a bright white luster.
Our platinum products are made with 95% pure platinum and 5% irridium."

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I thought WF's standard is 90%platinum + 10%iridium?

according to their website it's 95% platinum+5% iridium...is 90% platinum + 10iridium better than 95% platinum 5% ruthenium?

Quoted directly from the FAQ section under jewelery on whiteflash's website:

"Our gold products are either 14k or 18k. 14K is 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% other metals that give gold the hardness to be durable in jewelry. 18K is 75% pure gold. White gold is an alloy of metals that give the metal hardness and whiteness. Nickel is normally used in this alloy. White gold products, because they are not pure white, are normally plated with rhodium to give the metal a bright white luster.
Our platinum products are made with 95% pure platinum and 5% irridium."

The ruthenium is a little harder than the 90/10iridium. Stick with that. Both are fine and I have both. Tiffany uses the ruthenium while others such as Victor Canera and Mark Morrell prefer the 90/10.

WF is great!