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Platinum or White Gold? Which do YOU like better?

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find45di2

Shiny_Rock
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Aug 6, 2007
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So I am shopping around for an engagement ring and have heard only 1 person of all of the places I've been suggest white gold. My Girlfriend said she wants white gold, so I am hoping to get that but want to make sure it is a good idea.

I am sure the White Gold VS. Platinum may also be a preference question so I am ready to hear from both sides.

Just about everyone says that white gold is NOT as good as platinum because it breaks easier if caught on something (Prong), and that the Rhodium finish wears off super fast and constantly has to be refinished. This is coming from the people that say that Platinum is way better because the metal will stretch a little if a prong was caught and won't snap like white gold. They've also said that platinum will hold up better in the end. These same people tell me that white gold is mixed with yellow so it will eventually shine yellow until it is refinished.

The person that told me white gold is better said that rhodium finishing is a simple process that takes only a few minutes, and that white gold is 1/3rd the cost of platinum. He strongly suggested White Gold as a great choice.

So is White Gold a good choice? Or is Platinum and the extra money spent a must, or is it just a way for sellers to profit more? Which is a better bet for wearing? I like the white gold but am open to platinum if the majority think there is a true benefit since I don't mind spending the extra for platinum if it is money well spent.
 
A lot of your info is correct. Platinum won't wear away like gold will over time. They say gold is for a lifetime and platinum is for 3! Many WG rings will have platinum prongs anyway due to the durability issue you describled. Platinum is just more malleable and thus will bend rather than snap. Also, when polished correctly, platinum doesn't lose metal over time, and gold does.

So for me, I like platinum. But many many people are very happy with WG and it is a different color. It does need to be plated, but it isn't usually a big deal unless her body chemistry is such that she has to have it done every few months. It just depends on the person.

So for me, I like platinum. But it's really all about personal preferences here...
 
Great Info, thanks!

1 Vote for Platinum

Anyone else:)?
 
Platinum for me
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i prefer platinum. white gold needs to be re-plated frequently and can appear slightly yellow over time due to the yellow gold lurking in there.... platinum has a look and weight that will never be matched by the white gold. that being said from a distance no one will tell and there is a substantial price difference such that somme might prefer to put there money into the stone instead.
 
I think it depends on financial limitations for a lot of people. Most of my friends who've gotten engaged and/or married recently have gotten while gold if they didn't have the money for platinum, but if they had the money, went with the plat. I don't (personally) know a single person who had the funds for platinum but went with white gold instead.

I know I'd prefer platinum myself, but I'm not sure the money will be there for it. Will just have to wait and see.
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Thanks for the feedback everyone!!!

4 Votes for Platinum
0 Votes for White Gold
IF Money isn''t an issue.

So the votes all seem to be for Platinum IF the money can be afforded.

I am definitely going to consider platinum if the numbers work.

If anyone else cares to share their preference post away!!!:)
 
Something else possibly worth noting: if you get a platinum engagement ring, the matching wedding band needs to be platinum too, otherwise the band will get scratched up (and there's a colour difference), if I remember what I've read here correctly...?

Again, just thought I'd mention it in case there's a budget for the bands.
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Platinum for me. I cannot stand when the WG starts to yellow and the need to be redipped. I like that platinum is white/grey in color and that it NEVER turns yellow/yellowish.

I do have a couple of rings in white gold that has yellowed. It sits in the jewelry box. I will never buy another white gold ring again.
 
well, I''m probably going to add to your confusion but I''m throwing in my .02 anyway, lol! My wedding set is platinum, but the e-ring actually has a diecast WG head, meaning the prongs are WG. It''s the stock solitaire setting our jeweler uses, and he likes using diecast WG heads for some reason. I think there was a thread about that whole issue long ago. I apologize, I don''t know the reasoning behind that preference. Anyway, I prefer platinum for a wedding set that I plan to wear every day for many years. I like that I don''t have to have it replated and I''m not losing metal when it gets scratched, and it has developed a beautiful patina (I''m in the patina is a good thing camp, btw). I also love that it is heavy and dense and just feels more substantial.

I have several pieces of jewelry in WG, though, and I love them. I wear wG earrings every day because I really can''t afford platinum, plus the WG is lighter and doesn''t make my earlobes droop, lol. I have a rolling ring in WG that I don''t wear every day since it''s already getting scratched up, and I have a diamond pendant that I wear on special occasions and again, to set a pendant in platinum and pay for the extra expense of platinum would''ve been out of DH''s budget at the time he purchased it. So basically, I like platinum for wedding rings or e-rings, and WG for other items of jewelry!
 
Definitely platinum for me, especially for a piece of jewellery like a ring that gets a lot of "wear and tear". I don''t like the fact the white gold needs to be replated to maintain it''s colour. It''s a good option to have if you can''t afford platinum, but if you look at it as a long term thing, platinum is pretty much maintenance free.
 
It sounds like the pain of having to replate the white gold is worth spending more for the platinum. I think you've all sold me on Platinum ;) Now lets just see how much more it is going to cost me.
 
Platinum for sure if you can afford it.
 
I went with white gold for my rings and am very happy with the decision. Financially it seemed a better idea because Platinum is quite rare in Australia and only the highest-end jewellers are qualified to work with it. From what I understand, platinum does get a patina with time and it has to be re-dipped to make it shiny again, but it will always be white.

I''ve only ever had problems with one white gold ring turning yellow, and that ring was from Singapore. My e-ring hasn''t had to be dipped at all and I''ve worn it every day for 2 or so years. I had a choice between platinum wedding ring with no diamonds or white gold with diamonds. Guess which one I picked
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I think if you can afford platinum and you are around jewellers who are comfortable working with it, then it''s a better choice. Your diamond will be safer and the ring will probably last long enough for you to pass on to your grandchildren
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Platinum. White gold turns color after a while. I love the weight of platinum and the color of it and the strenght of it. I love platinum and really dislike white gold.
 
for an ering, another platinum vote...
 
Date: 8/13/2007 12:44:41 AM
Author: find45di2
It sounds like the pain of having to replate the white gold is worth spending more for the platinum. I think you''ve all sold me on Platinum ;) Now lets just see how much more it is going to cost me.
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I also wanted to mention that if YOU are going to wear a wedding band (some men don''t...I don''t want to assume anything here, well heck, I just assumed you were a male, so never mind), you may also want to consider an alternative to WG. Not necessarily platinum, there is also tungsten, palladium, titanium, etc. I''m mentioning the issue because my DH is on his 3rd wedding band in the course of 4 years...they have all been WG, one 18k, two 14k, and all of them have almost immediately yellowed when he wears them daily. Let me clarify: he lost one, thought he lost another but found it later, so that''s why he''s on his third. However, he must be one of those people whose skin chemistry reacts with WG and causes it to yellow much faster. I''m 99% sure tungsten and titanium do not do this, 99.9% sure palladium doesn''t, and 100% sure platinum doesn''t. So if you''re thinking ahead, or she is, you might want to start thinking about what metal you would like to wear if you are indeed going to wear a wedding band.
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White gold prongs are harder to bend than platinum, but wg is not as white and it wears out earlier.

Platinum is generally better for most purposes though.
But you can have a platinum head and white gold band - save money and get some benefits
 
check out palladium. We are highly considering having our rings done in palladium. Cost is in line with WG. However it has benefits similar to Platinum. No redipping, never yellows. It is an up and coming metal that is getting more and more popular. Thought this article was kinda of interesting reading.

http://www.danforthdiamond.com/images/WSJ_Article_Palladium.pdf
 
Date: 8/13/2007 2:25:29 AM
Author: diamondfan
for an ering, another platinum vote...
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ditto!!
 
I have both platinum and white gold rings and each has advantages and disadvantages. Platinum doesn''t change color and has a nice heft to it, but it does get scratched up easily and is usually more expensive. You can have it polished to take out the scratches of course. White gold is cheaper and doesn''t seem as prone to scratching, but it can lose its color and have to be rhodium plated again to retain its whiteness. It seems to vary from person to person though as to how long the finish on white gold lasts. I haven''t had to have any of my white gold pieces replated and some have been worn for several years. There are even some people who like the slightly yellow look that white gold gets after time. It is all a matter of personal preference.
 
I agree that it is personal preference. The thing that has not been said here yet is that in time, the patina they are talking about with platinum means the metal turns a very dull gray, not white. So to keep either set looking new, you have to re-plate the white gold or you have to have platinum polished. There is maintenance with both.

If I get a platinum set, it will be 900 (90%plat/10%iridium) platinum. That holds up better and scratches less because it is harder. Read about 900 platinum on the Mark Morrell site. He and some other top designers use it instead of the softer 95% platinum. It is actually a little more expensive, which is apparently why many jewelers do not use it. But they way platinum scratches, I think the 900 is worth getting.

http://www.mwmjewelry.com/platinum_purity.htm
 
I really like white gold and have had no problems with it yellowing.
 
Date: 8/13/2007 9:00:58 AM
Author: lauralu
check out palladium. We are highly considering having our rings done in palladium. Cost is in line with WG. However it has benefits similar to Platinum. No redipping, never yellows. It is an up and coming metal that is getting more and more popular. Thought this article was kinda of interesting reading.

http://www.danforthdiamond.com/images/WSJ_Article_Palladium.pdf
Click to expand...
After talking to an appraiser last week, I agree that for the cost conscious, palladium is an excellent choice. It is part of the platinum family, and it is silver and will never yellow.

Apparently until a few years ago, white gold was plated with nickel which helped it keep it's silver appearance longer. But, because of the environmental concerns over nickel, rodium is used for plating in white gold. Over time, the rodium will wear off (it is only a thin electroplate) and it will have to be electroplated again.

Palladium is not new. Back in the 80s, I had a high school ring made from palladium. Josten used it to make those rings. Palladium has the benefits of platinum at a far lower cost.

By the way, I have white gold. It was a cost issue, and I did not look into other metals other than white gold and platinum. Platinum costs are outrageous right now, as it is the metal of choice.
 
My engagement ring is platinum and I love it. It I were debating about whether to get platinum or white gold earrings, I''d probably go with white gold. I think. I kow palladium is out there, which may seem sort of like the best of both worlds, but I don''t know many jewelers in my area who work with it.
 
Date: 8/13/2007 10:53:41 AM
Author: jayrenay9
I really like white gold and have had no problems with it yellowing.
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I''ve worn my WG ering and wband for 15 years DAILY and not had them replated. They don''t look yellow at all to me. Got an Anniversary ring last year and it brand new looked the same color as my ering. Guess it''s my body chemistry and maybe I''m not color sensitive. ???
 
Date: 8/12/2007 11:55:02 PM
Author:find45di2
So I am shopping around for an engagement ring and have heard only 1 person of all of the places I''ve been suggest white gold. My Girlfriend said she wants white gold, so I am hoping to get that but want to make sure it is a good idea.
Click to expand...

Alot depends on your budget. If the change to platinum increases the price of your ring by 25% and requires a smaller stone, then I don''t think it''s worth it.

Regardless, I bolded what I think is the most important part. If she wants white gold then I''d get her white gold.
 
One thing to consider is that white gold doesn''t HAVE to yellow or be rhodium-plated at all if it''s a palladium alloy as opposed to the cheaper and more common nickel alloy. There''s also that 19K alloy some people from Canada have that also doesn''t need rhodium-plating.

That said, if price isn''t an issue I''d still choose platinum. And, yeah, you can have a WG ring with a plat head too.
 
Date: 8/12/2007 11:55:02 PM
Author:find45di2

So is White Gold a good choice? Or is Platinum and the extra money spent a must, or is it just a way for sellers to profit more? Which is a better bet for wearing? I like the white gold but am open to platinum if the majority think there is a true benefit since I don''t mind spending the extra for platinum if it is money well spent.
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Hi Find45-- I like both and have both. When it comes to the WG vs. platinum debate, I''ve found looking at pieces I''ve inherited (some of which are almost 100 years old at this point), to be somewhat illuminating-- to a point that I haven''t seen addressed much. Both look great when fresh, but white gold can yellow a little bit (but not that much, really) and platinum gets little scratches that eventually darken it to that famous platinum "patina". Scratches in platinum can be polished out at the jeweler, but that can only be done on smooth surfaces to a degree-- you don''t want to polish off milgrain, after all.
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Thus, if the ring is smooth/simple (like a 3 stone on a basic band or a Tiffany solitaire), I think platinum is wise. A simple polish brings it back to new. If the ring is antique-looking (edwardian, carved, milgraining, whatever) that can''t be buffed/polished without destroying the artistry, white gold with the occasional plating is probably a better choice.

It surprises me that I rarely see this aspect mentioned in the white gold vs. platinum debate.
 
I like the look of white gold, but if I had a lot of money I would probably go with platinum. Something about it just seems safer, and better to me. (Even though I am not a big fan of the dark grey color platinum turns to.) I guess when something costs more it seems more ''special''. I went with white gold because the ring that I got me gf would have cost $3800 in platinum, instead of $2800 in white gold. Not worth $1000 bucks to me. Plus, the white gold the ring is going to be made of contains palladium alloy.
 
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