White Gold Vs. Platnium

[justinjustice]

I''d like to ask this question to all of you who have experience with both metals, white gold vs platnium. I recently gave my fiance a white gold tiffany-style solitare e-ring. She loved the ring, but at the top, near the head she noticed some minor scratches giving a lack luster appearance that would not come off with a polishing cloth, so we returned to the jeweler to have it polished and when he was finished it was good as new and my fiance was happy again. The very next day, she was in the supermarket under warm flourescent lighting and she swore to me that the metal appeared yellow. In her panic she looked at everybody''s rings in the store and tells me they still looked silver, not gold like her''s. I know that white gold turns yellow over time, I''ve seen a co-worker''s 3 yr. old e-ring which has turned yellow already, but my fiance has only had her ring for about two weeks now! I''m going to do my best to make her happy, so I''m going to request that my jeweler order the same setting in platnium. I''ve read comparisons of the two metals, a good one is presented on GOG, so I like the idea of platnium, but have never owned. My question is, does platnium ever look yellow under specific lighting conditions? or is only white gold succeptable to this coloration? The sterling silver of a tiffany''s heart ring, bracelet, or neckalace is the brightest silver I''ve ever seen, she said she would prefer this sterling silver for her e-ring if platnium would still have the same "yellow" problem. Is a silver e-ring unheard of? I know lighting conditions play alot into this, infact I''m admist all the fires in So. Cal. right now, so the sky is yellow all day long, I see the yellow color she talks about inside my apartment, but I worry that because its in her head, she always sees it no matter what.... Is there anyone out there that can tell me if their plantium ring has ever given the appearance of yellow? I know platnium loses shine over time, but does it turn yellow?
Thanks,

 

[spicolicpa]

http://www.superbcert.com/information/ring_metals.cfm

Good brief rundown of differences at Superbcerts.

 

[fuffi]

Some people have great luck with their white gold rings, but I share your fiance's disappointment. The white gold wedding band I originally got as my everyday band looked terribly yellow after a couple of weeks. I had it replated but that didn't last very long either. My husband had the same problem with his band after about a month and has since changed to titanium.

However, my platinum rings still look great. Platinum doesn't yellow. It develops a dull patina but mine are still very bright and shiny afer a year.

 

[spicolicpa]

I wonder how Titatinum faces up with Platinum...I believe they both fall into the same elemental family (I was Spicoli w/ out the CPA during Chem 101)

 

[justinjustice]

Thanks for your replies and web links, I am positive about switching the white gold out for platnium. I know that white gold will only yellow more over time, so if its a problem now, it'll only get worse and I'd prefer to take care of it now... As for titanium, in person the metal appears darker, cannot be resized and hard to work with, however, it does come in different shades now that I think about it. I just got off the phone with my jeweler and we were talking about the different quality grades of platnium. Where they range in purity from 90 to 95% where irradium and other platnium family metals are mixed in for one reason or another. The ring he going to order me is of a new breed, 95.5 pure plantium mixed with cobalt, a metal outside of the platnium family. He said the technique was new and was designed to strengthen the band. He was very informative and stands by the casting technique. I was wondering if anyone knew about this advance in metallurgy? Is it a new manufacturing technique designed to cut costs or is it genuinely better than traditional platnium alloys?

 

[k-man]

I've been doing some research about platinum for a ring I'm having custom made. Becareful with what it is mixed with as it affects the rings hardness (and how quickly it will scratch). I have read and hear from several people that a cobalt mix is not ideal as it creates a brittle ring - although very hard.

Check this out for more info:
www.platinum-wedding-rings.com/platinum_alloy_information.html

 

[Gene]

I consider US white gold to be costume jewelry.

It contains nickel as a bleaching agent, which
some people are allergic to, and it's plated
with rhodium, so eventually (like costime jwl)
it wears off and turns yellow and potentially
starts irritating your skin.

Juan (of Van Graff, in Mexico) can make palladium
alloyed white gold. It does NOT need plating,
that's how white it is. And no nickel. the best!

I went through a dozen jewelers in the States 1st,
and all had no idea what casting process got them
the gold they used, what it was alloyed with, etc.
Granted, they were retailers, not e-tailers.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I hear complaints about White gold looking yellow all the time and can not understand why it is so.

Both nickel and palladium have the same coloring effect and both should produce a steely grey alloy when properly done.
There should not be a hint of yellow.
Both metals are the same color as nickel coins and both should mask the color of gold to produce a very similar colored metal.

We use nickel white for non stone set jewellery - especially mens wedders (I have had only 5 allergy problems in 28 years). Palladium and palladium nickel (MP or multipurpose) alloys are best for stone set jobs or when there are several complex solder joins in close proximity.
Nickel takes a better mirror like polish.

Personally I am happy to recomend lower carats for white gold - 14k or here in Australia - 9ct, because there can be about 1/2 white metals in the alloy, as opposed to less than 1/4.
Pure Gold is always orange.

Titanium is very dark grey and not good for diamond jewellery (other than tension setting) because it is brittle and too hard (= busted diamonds).

 

[nhwhazup]

I had my white gold wedding band for 25 years and I never noticed much of a yellowing effect. But when I had my rings reset I went back and forth over the white gold versus platinum. I really didn't like the matte look that develops on the platinum (well at least everyone that I had seen their rings). I even went to several local jewelers and asked about how long it would take until the matte look started coming out and how often I would have to get the rings polished to keep a shine. They all told me there wasn't much that could be done to keep away the small scratches and matte finish and that was a quality of platinum.

Well I kept searching and ended up with a custom ring from a designer in CA that suggested 900 plat/100 iridium which is harder than the normal 950 plat alloy. I have been extremely happy with my rings. Truly have kept their shine and have yet to develop any hint of that gray matte look. I have had the rings for 10 months and they are still very shiney.

So for anyone wanting platinum but not the matte finish my recommendation is to go with a harder alloy.

Now I know that most folks that choose platinum actually prefer the matte finish but not me.

Another thing to consider is the weight. Especially on a chunkier ring you will have a much heavier feel and may or may not be as comfortable for her to wear. I prefer the heavier feel.

Good luck.