Platinum vs. White Gold

[110203]

Decided I would post a poll depicting which metal you would rather choose (or did choose).. Please explain why!

What would you think would hold up best for a setting similar this this?

 

[ImpatientOne]

I chose platinum as white gold needs to be replated too often for me. I guess it''s my body chemistry. Plus I love the weight of platinum.

 

[Avplayer]

the way the current prices are, u might as well step up to platinum....

 

[stone-cold11]

No palladium? :p

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You know, I have rings made of both, but I love my platinum rings the most. There is something about the weight and the fact that the metal does not wear away with time that appeals to me. But for a ring that is not worn daily such as a right hand ring, I don''t really think it matters as much. I do have a Memoire 7 stone band like that one in 18k wg and the rhodium is worn off on the band and it is a very, very light yellow gold. I sort of like it so haven''t had it replated.

 

[onedrop]

This issue is near and dear to my heart right now because I am doing a reset of my engagement ring. My current set is platinum, but back when we made the purchase the price of platinum was no where near where it is currently. I wanted to do platinum for my re-set, but waffled a lot because of the costs! I considered, 18K WG, palladium and mixes of the two. However, I decided to suck it up and go with platinum because I knew I wouldn''t want to have to deal with replating and because I love my current platinum set. I have a WG band that I love, but I can see yellow in it now and it drives me crazy. I think I am one of those people whose body chemistry makes WG lose its plating very fast. So with ALL that said, platinum is my choice!

As for the Memoire ring that you posted, I know they make that one in 18K gold but with shared prong eternity bands, I have always heard that platinum is better. Memoire bands are supposed to be the best made and should you lose a stone I have heard that they will replace it at no cost to you.

 

[Fly Girl]

Important jewelry worn daily should be in platinum. I reserve white gold for occasional, lightly worn pieces in order to save $$$.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 10/18/2008 10:48:16 AM
Author: onedrop
This issue is near and dear to my heart right now because I am doing a reset of my engagement ring. My current set is platinum, but back when we made the purchase the price of platinum was no where near where it is currently. I wanted to do platinum for my re-set, but waffled a lot because of the costs! I considered, 18K WG, palladium and mixes of the two. However, I decided to suck it up and go with platinum because I knew I wouldn''t want to have to deal with replating and because I love my current platinum set. I have a WG band that I love, but I can see yellow in it now and it drives me crazy. I think I am one of those people whose body chemistry makes WG lose its plating very fast. So with ALL that said, platinum is my choice!

As for the Memoire ring that you posted, I know they make that one in 18K gold but with shared prong eternity bands, I have always heard that platinum is better. Memoire bands are supposed to be the best made and should you lose a stone I have heard that they will replace it at no cost to you.

I think it is only the single prong collection in 99% platinum that they offer that guarantee.

 

[onedrop]

DS: Thanks for the clarification! I really love that Purity collection, especially the wedding band.

 

[neatfreak]

I like platinum for everyday jewelry personally.

 

[110203]

Thanks everyone for the reply..

I guess my hesitation against Plat. was the hearsay that it is more maleable and white gold holds in diamonds better.

But considering the high price of gold and the decreasing price of plat (at the moment) I figured cost wouldn''t be as drastically different.

I''m beginning to change my mind into getting platinum.

 

[stone-cold11]

Hmm, actually Pt holds down a diamond better than WG and is less likely to break off a prong thus loosing your stone.

 

[alu]

Just to complicate things...

Not sure if it is available to you, but what about 19K White Gold? Not much information about it, except I hear that jewelers that use it, love it. I think it''s a proprietary alloy and seems popular in Canada. I''m sure people who aren''t aware of it will assume it''s softer than 18K due to higher gold content, but from what I understand it''s actually a lot harder than 18K white gold.

I agree that it''s a pain to replate white gold, but do any of you have a problem with the "greyed" look that platinum seems to get after use? Do any of you notice it? I''ve seen it on some rings.. and I think a "yellowing" white gold ring which still shines looks better to me than the dullness in some platinum rings.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/18/2008 3:36:49 PM
Author: 110203
Thanks everyone for the reply..


I guess my hesitation against Plat. was the hearsay that it is more maleable and white gold holds in diamonds better.

Platinum is more malleable and that is why IT holds diamonds better than WG. WG will potentially break/lose gold if hit hard enough causing a diamond to fall out. Platinum will just bend.

There's a reason that many high quality gold settings have platinum heads.

 

[zoebartlett]

Beautiful ring!

I chose platinum for my engagement ring and wedding band because white gold would have needed replating and I didn''t want to deal with that. I also chose it because you don''t lose any of the metal over time. I''ve never really noticed a difference in weight, personally, but I know that some like the heavier feel of platinum.

 

[cayce]

When I had my ring made, the jeweler told me that he wanted to make it in platinum because I wanted a very open and airy setting, but I also am clumsy and was planning on wearing my ring every day.

He was right, I bashed it into something hard enough to push one of the prongs crooked and he said that if it had been gold, the prong would have broken instead of bent and I probably would have lost my stone.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Malleability = A metal that can be stretched in all directions without breaking.

Gold is the most malleable metal--that is why it can be rolled into thin sheets etc. Platinum is by definition not as malleable as gold--platinum is the least malleable of the 3 precious metals.

What is good about platinum is that on the molecular level, it is tougher than gold. When it is struck, it does not break off. The molecules merely move around, so weight is not lost. Platinum also has the least metal memory which = maximum staying power--tough, durable prongs.

I like platinum for its durability, but I do also like 18k un-rhodium plated white gold. I don't like rhodium plating, because it's not permanent. I actually prefer the look of white gold with a little tint.

For that eternity band, I'd choose platinum.

 

[oldmancoyote]

Date: 10/18/2008 9:44:11 PM
Author: coatimundi
Malleability = A metal that can be stretched in all directions without breaking.

Gold is the most malleable metal--that is why it can be rolled into thin sheets etc. Platinum is by definition not as malleable as gold--platinum is the least malleable of the 3 precious metals.

What is good about platinum is that on the molecular level, it is tougher than gold. When it is struck, it does not break off. The molecules merely move around, so weight is not lost. Platinum also has the least metal memory which = maximum staying power--tough, durable prongs.

I like platinum for its durability, but I do also like 18k un-rhodium plated white gold. I don''t like rhodium plating, because it''s not permanent. I actually prefer the look of white gold with a little tint.

For that eternity band, I''d choose platinum.

That''s true in pure state. Not necessarily true of alloys; e.g. gold alloys containing silicon can be rather brittle, although they cast well, while 950 Pt / 50 Ir is quite malleable.

 

[HeartingDiamonds]

I vote Plat too - because I love the patina that it takes on over time (which, if you do not care for, can be easily buffed to look like new).

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/19/2008 7:15:47 AM
Author: oldmancoyote

Date: 10/18/2008 9:44:11 PM

Author: coatimundi

Malleability = A metal that can be stretched in all directions without breaking.


Gold is the most malleable metal--that is why it can be rolled into thin sheets etc. Platinum is by definition not as malleable as gold--platinum is the least malleable of the 3 precious metals.


What is good about platinum is that on the molecular level, it is tougher than gold. When it is struck, it does not break off. The molecules merely move around, so weight is not lost. Platinum also has the least metal memory which = maximum staying power--tough, durable prongs.


I like platinum for its durability, but I do also like 18k un-rhodium plated white gold. I don''t like rhodium plating, because it''s not permanent. I actually prefer the look of white gold with a little tint.


For that eternity band, I''d choose platinum.

That''s true in pure state. Not necessarily true of alloys; e.g. gold alloys containing silicon can be rather brittle, although they cast well, while 950 Pt / 50 Ir is quite malleable.

Right. I think when comparing the mixes that are going into rings platinum is actually more malleable in that state.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 10/19/2008 7:15:47 AM
Author: oldmancoyote

Date: 10/18/2008 9:44:11 PM

Author: coatimundi

Malleability = A metal that can be stretched in all directions without breaking.


Gold is the most malleable metal--that is why it can be rolled into thin sheets etc. Platinum is by definition not as malleable as gold--platinum is the least malleable of the 3 precious metals.


What is good about platinum is that on the molecular level, it is tougher than gold. When it is struck, it does not break off. The molecules merely move around, so weight is not lost. Platinum also has the least metal memory which = maximum staying power--tough, durable prongs.


I like platinum for its durability, but I do also like 18k un-rhodium plated white gold. I don't like rhodium plating, because it's not permanent. I actually prefer the look of white gold with a little tint.


For that eternity band, I'd choose platinum.

That's true in pure state. Not necessarily true of alloys; e.g. gold alloys containing silicon can be rather brittle, although they cast well, while 950 Pt / 50 Ir is quite malleable.

Right. I was talking about pure form. Malleability is great for shaping/bending metal into jewelry--its workability. My point was that platinum is more durable because of its lack of metal memory and its superior strength. I'm a big fan of platinum, because of its durability and density.

 

[110203]

Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate it!.. I finally made my decision.. with platinum prices being lower than gold was just a few months ago I thought I''d really regret it later if I chose anything but platinum!

I also hand picked 10 (20 pointers) RBC diamonds and the ring is on its way..

Now I have to choose the Center Diamond... I thought I was over the difficult part! =(

 

[musincy]

Date: 11/2/2008 10:55:27 PM
Author: 110203
Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate it!.. I finally made my decision.. with platinum prices being lower than gold was just a few months ago I thought I''d really regret it later if I chose anything but platinum!

I also hand picked 10 (20 pointers) RBC diamonds and the ring is on its way..

Now I have to choose the Center Diamond... I thought I was over the difficult part! =(

I see you already made your decision, but I wanted to add that I love my platinum ring. I have an allergy to nickel, and platinum is hypoallergenic... something to keep in mind, even if you don''t have an allergy-- many people develop the allergy even if they didn''t have it before. Now that I have platinum though, I love the weight of it, and I''ve already bumped the ring so hard that I would have lost the stone had the prongs been gold... thank goodness for my platinum!

 

[MMT]

Date: 11/2/2008 10:55:27 PM
Author: 110203
Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate it!.. I finally made my decision.. with platinum prices being lower than gold was just a few months ago I thought I''d really regret it later if I chose anything but platinum!

I also hand picked 10 (20 pointers) RBC diamonds and the ring is on its way..

Now I have to choose the Center Diamond... I thought I was over the difficult part! =(

Good luck with your project. Please share your ring with us when it''s done

 

[110203]

Thank you much! I have to say MMT, I have looked at your style for inspiration a few times