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Platinum & White Gold question

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GEMGAL123

Rough_Rock
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May 18, 2004
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Hi All,

I did a search on this topic but I didn''t really find all the answers/opinions I was looking for. I know there are difference in Platinum & White Gold obviously but I''m curious about the people who do have 18k white gold settings/bands - do you feel that it has faded at all and started to look yellowish? If so, how long did it take to get that way? This is a major concern for me. I know that everyone is affected differently due to the chemistry of your body (correct?) but I''m curious for general feedback on this. Also, if it does need to get dipped (sorry for the stupid question I''m about to ask), do they remove all the diamonds in the setting to do it? I have quite a few in there and it seems like such a hassle for them to remove them all! Also, what does re-plated mean - is this a different process?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks in advance for the help.
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P.S. Is it true that when you get work done to your ring (sized, dipped, whatever) that they should remove the center stone and give it to you? I''ve heard that you''re supposed to do this but it seems rather untrusting. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks again.
 
I've never heard the story that the center diamond should be removed prior to service. On the one hand, it makes sense... however on the other hand, how many time do you think you could do that before ruining the integrity of the setting?

No, I'm pretty sure that they don't remove the stones unless for a resizing that's so great as to warp the band or damage channel set diamonds.

Here's a quick reference chart between white gold and plat.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/platinum_vs_white_gold.htm

My deciding factors were these:

1. I liked the extra heft that came with plat.
2. I didn't like that white gold reacts, chemically to certain things like cleaning products or chlorine.
3. I didn't like the fact that plat loses it's shine, BUT it can be polished easily enough and doesn't lose weight by doing so.

However, plat is more expensive. That's really what it comes down to I think. For me, the setting is part of the whole ring. Others don't feel that way. The more money goes into the rock and that's fine! Everyone has their priorities and what makes every ring special.

Good luck!
 
I've never heard that they remove your stones for anything like dipping or re-plating. I'm not sure what dipping involves, but for rhodium plating, I heard they use electric currents to plate the metal. I don't know the exact electrochemistry, but metals are good conductors and will attract the rhodium, while the stones will remain clean, since they are not conductors.

I noticed my friend's 18 K white gold ring was a very distinct light yellow recently. She's had it for about a year and a half now. She may be using cleaners while wearing it. My 18 K pendant, which I've had for about 3 years, and wear daily, looks comparable to my platinum ring.

Hope this helped a bit!
 
They don't need to take out your stones to do rhodium plating and I also don't know of anyone who had their stone removed to do any re-sizing, etc.
 
Along the same lines... why does it seem that 19k white gold isn't as commonly mentioned? The common concern for white gold seems to be that it'll fade to a yellow -- but isn't the point of getting 19k to avoid that yellow from happening?
 
My mother's wedding set is platinum so I always assumed that my father's band was platinum as well. So after reading the debate here about white gold vs. platinum I asked my pop if his ring was platinum. He said his ring is white gold.

They've been married for 48 years and his band is as white as ever. I was shocked, I always thought it was platinum.
Nan
ps-Love Ya Pops
 
I have an 18kt white gold set. I have worn it every day now for over 8 months, and it still looks just as good. It is hand engraved, antique style, and I think for this use, the gold may be better, can't polish scratches out of platinum without lessening the engraving. I don't see any scratched or signs of wear, or yellowing. I do have another 14kt WG ring that has turned a little yellow, but I have worn it three years straight, only taking it off for showers. My one platinum ring scratched up so fast, I've only worn it maybe 30 times in the last year, and it looks pretty bad.
 
This is alittle silly to mention but I've wondered why Shaquel (spelling?) Oneal and wife have their wedding set in white gold. I'm sure he spent in the hundred thousand dollar range if not million. So why did he go with White gold?? Inquiring minds want to know.

I forgot to mention-Dad has only taken his ring off maybe 4 times in 48 years.
 
I sure hope someone may be able to offer little more indepth info regarding white gold, platinum and Rhodium flashing...this would be a wonderful and complimentry topic to cover and help with the decision for settings.

My first white gold ring was yellow withing two days. The second took about another week longer. No house cleaning or checmicals involved either. Yet I have a white gold ring from 1973 and it has remained white. My mother and mother-In-Laws wedding rings are also white gold from the mid early-mid 50's---no change in the bright white coloring there...hmmmm ? Is Palladium used in white gold?

In tandum, I am curious as to whether "Flashing" platinum rings are also the norm. The reason for this question is that my sister's ring which is platinum periodically done. The store in which she purchased hers from, report that all Platinum rings turn a very sallow & dull color and must be periodically enhanced with plating.
 
There are actually many old posts addressing this topic.

Many vintage white gold settings were alloyed with silver or another white metal. My sister had a white gold ring from the 20s that looks as silvery-white as the day it was made. I suspect a lot more white gold rings are made with cheaper nickle than they used to be, so you really have to be diligent about seeking out the palladium alloyed rings.

19K white gold doesn't seem to be easily available in the U.S. which is why we don't often talk about it here. I contacted a Canadian jeweler a bit ago and he said that, surprisingly, 19K gold has quite a bit of nickel in it but also some other secret metal that the manufacturer refuses to divulge!
 
Oh, sorry, forgot to answer the other part.

Yes, a lot of platinum is also rhodium plated, since plat is a dullish gray and not chrome-like. Personally, I think it's a waste to spend money on platinum and then plate it!
 
Thank you all & Hest88 for the additonal info.
The change in alloy cetainly makes sense. The one part I am confused on is the 19k alloy that you had mentioned(what can I say I'm uneducated). Would you not see a increased potential for yellowing as the gold content increased?
 
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On 6/21/2004 5:34:04 PM victorianblue wrote: Would you not see a increased potential for yellowing as the gold content increased?

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Click to expand...

That's what I would have thought and that's why I was so surprised that the 19K contained nickle. However, this is the explanation I got from this jeweler. There's just not enough info out there for those of us not in the industry so I'm still a bit fuzzy about the entire thing. I think we still need to do more research to get the complete story.

"18 white has copper and zinc silver and other metals as well as nickel, because more nickel renders the alloyed metal too hard to work with, because of its inability to bend easily and its brittleness. The offending alloys that produce the poor colour are the above ones, primarily the copper. Even palladium-gold is a poor colour at 18K."
 
There are plenty of really nice white golds - the problem should be too greyish, not too yellowish. There is no excuse for yellowish white gold alloys.

Rhodium plating can only hurt pearls because it is a mild acidic solution. It is done at below boiling point.

If anyone asked me to remove their diamond before working on it because they did not trust me, I would show them the door.
 
Thanks for all your inputs!! I am also coming across the same problem.....My mother told me that my grandmother's set is white gold, and has only been redipped recently (within the past five years) she thinks. They will be married 50 years this Sept 11th, engaged for 51 years this August.
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Also, so if your choice is white gold, am I to guess that 18k is "better" at not yellowing than 14K??
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Our real reason to choose white gold is because we are still in school & watching our money, but I've told Ben that I'll pay the extra for platinum, IF it's worth it!! I like the weight of platinum, but I don't like the scratch-factor. I am wearing a white gold "temporary" engagement ring until this fall, when I get the real thing, so I am researching like crazy.
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...I have had this ring since December, and I'm always checking it out. I wash my hands a LOT b/c I work in a hospital & have clinicals in hospitals....No change, yet.
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Actually the lower the carat the better the color (gold is orange and less orange = more white colored metals).
We have a 9ct white gold in Australia that looks identical to platinum.
 
Does anybody have any idea why silver isn't as popular as either white gold or platinum for diamond settings? I've been curious about that for a while.
 
I'm curious about this topic as well, as I'm trying to decide between platinum and white gold for a setting. I want something that is going to remain white and shiny for the longest period of time and also be the most resistant to scratches and gouges. I understand I may be asking too much of one metal, but I'd like to learn more.
 
I have a white gold ring (non-"e" ring) that I wear all the time. I always think it look just fine, but when I put it next to Platinum, it looks very yellow. My "e"ring will be platinum. (I'll be wearing my old ring on my right hand) I've had this ring for 5 years...
 
I hate hate hate white gold. It is way too much upkeep and when you get it polished you lose metal. I had a white gold ring from my ex that I had to get replated almost every 2 months, in 6 months time we had paid out 100 more than the platinum version of the same ring~ You are better off buying platinum now then keeping up the gold.

you can also do more with platinum without destorying it. Gold is so easily mangled and stained and ruined by chemical.
 
If you have skin allergies, platinum is a safe way to go. Or you can get white gold made with a palladium mix since nickel seems to be what causes the irritation in most white gold.

The metal choice is very individual. I prefer the shiny white of white gold over the duller look of platinum.

Ame, it sounds like your skin really didn't like white gold! I think it's unusual to have to get it replated with rhodium that often.
 
As for silver, you might find this thread helpful:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-arent-silver-erings-part-of-the-latest-fad.16660/

I'm not sure if you're concerned about this, but one of the biggest plusses to platinum is that it sticks around. Gold will eventually wear away. So, if you want your heirs to be able to wear your rings down the road, it's something to consider.
 
I'm guessing it all depend on who makes it. I bought a white gold ring for my girlfriend from Shane Company that turned yellow after a couple of years. I have a ring she bought me from Ben Bridge, and it is still silver after 6 years (14K). I'm definitely going with platinum for the e-ring & wedding rings.

Any opinions on titanium or tungsten?
 
I have a wide wedding band, 14k white gold which is 30 years old and has not yellowed and still has a brilliant shine. I have had it only professionally polished once around 10 years ago. But then I have other white gold jewelry which hasn't kept the shine nor whiteness as well. When planning to have my diamond reset into a more unique setting, I flip flopped between platinum and white gold. I like the heavier feel of platinum but really dislike the matte finish it develops after a short while. When discussing the pros and cons with my designer he suggested a 900/100 iridium harder alloy for the platinum. I couldn't be happier. The shine that it came with is still there after 2 years. No steely dull look.
 
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