White Gold

[meleina]

I have read many posts on this board about white gold vs. platinum. It appears that the overwhelming position is platinum over white gold.

Now my question. I am in the process of purchasing a new ring from a designer in the Phoenix area who works with both platinum and white gold. This person is suggesting white gold over the platinum because it does not scratch easily and is whiter. He suggests that I would be happier with white gold and that most jewelers try to sell the platinum because it is more money in their pocket. Additionally, I stopped in another high end designer''s shop and was told a similar story.
The designer will make it in either metal but suggests white gold. Cost is not an issue.

What do you all think?

 

[cmcwill]

Hi,
I'm having this issue as well. From my jeweler:
White gold can be replated (how often is an issue) if it gets faded, and the scratches can be buffed out.
Platinum should not fade in color as much but can become dulled. Its harder to make it shiney again.

If the ring has engraving or other antique detail, I would go with platinum. You won't notice the scratches.
If it is flat, go with white gold...just realize that the color might fade depending on how much rhodium it was plated with originally, and the type of wear it gets.

I'm soooooo not an expert, just someone with the same decision to make

Colleen

 

[alexah]

Hi!
I am not an expert either but am having a flat-type e-ring band & matching wedding band custom made & the jeweler also told me to def go w white gold. However, the head/prongs will be platinum.
Good luck with everything!

 

[PlatinumDiamond]

White gold is not really whiter ...

Alot of White gold now a days can have a yellowish tint because of the metal mix that is added to the gold ...

White gold may not have a yellowish tint if used with a proper mix but it is rare to find that white gold mix today but can still be found here and there ...

IF the White gold is as white as Platinum, it is a very good chance the White gold is Rhodium plated ...
Rhodium plating on White gold gives a similar appearence in color as Platinum.

A nice hammered finish hides scratches extremely well.

950 Platinum S1 is harder to scratch than any of the golds because it's hardness is 280HV.

950 Platinum Ru has a 135+HV hardness and is just about the same as gold is for getting scratches.

Platinum is much harder to polish out the scratches compared to gold but can be done by an experienced jeweler.

When Platinum does get scratched, it doesn't loose any of the precious metal content and will not wear thin where as gold wears thin over time and does loose precious metal when scratched and each time it is polished.

Just some facts to help you decide what you want to do.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Mark spoke my sentiments exactly.

If you want to go with white gold, I would recommend using platinum for the prong setting, if that's the type of setting you're going with.

White gold sometimes "breaks", while platinum usually "gives" but doesn't break. I've seen far fewer diamonds lost out of a platinum prong setting than a white gold prong setting.

 

[DavidEmslie]

White gold is by far better for a long term,
W/ the end of the Cold War the Platinum refiners got together and spend over 4 Billion advertizing that Pt was better...well of course it must be better, all the big companies say it is right?

Not always the case. Platinum is different, it has its good points and bad, its great for some applications, not so great for others.

If anyone is concerned about yellowing, go with A Palladium White gold. There is no yellow, it has the white grey of platinum, the self bunrishing proporties of gold...you just cant go wrong with it. Its a little more expensive than nickel white gold but only by a few dollars per gram, the cost to benifit is worth it.

Anway since I started working with Palladium white gold I have not used much else. Id look into it as its the best of both worlds.

 

[hoffer]

Hello

Palladium white gold would be the best choice if wanting a white gold ring because it will not have a yellowish look to it as David Emslie mentioned and it should not have a rhodium plate on it as the Nickel white gold would require rhodium plate to give it a whiter color. Nickel is not a good idea if you have skin allergies. As Platinumdiamond mentioned it is hard to find 14k white gold that has palladium in stores. Most are of the nickel content and are rhodium plated.

In the long term, platinum is much better than white gold and will last longer because it will not wear out like gold eventually will if worn for many years and in everyday hard use. Value for resale is much better with platinum than gold because of the higher cost of platinum. Gold is not as strong as platinum.

Most jewelers that push white gold over platinum like white gold better because it is easier to work with, polish, and repair. Many jewelers do not have the time, experience, or technique required for working with platinum so gold becomes their preferred metal.

I like white gold as long as it is with the palladium metal but if given the choice, I would take platinum over it because in the long run it will last longer and that to me is worth the extra cost. Besides, platinum has a good feel when wearing it compared to gold.

As Platinumdiamond mentioned again I would go with a 950 platinum with ruthenium or even with tungsten. The S1 mix is impossible to beat for holding it's luster and for getting nicked or scratched, only problem is finding a jeweler that uses it anymore.

 

[Griffin]

I like plat heads, WG isn't nearly as good for heads. For shanks and everything else I usually go with Palladium WG.

White gold isn't 100% white, but it always stays it's color and is self-burnishing.

Nothing beats the feel of Platinum. It's dense stuff. The patina is really attractive to some folks, too, but only if you are expecting it.
Platinum is only white when you buy it, and it isn't self-burnishing. I find people who want to keep plat white and shiny can wear away a ring in months, as it constantly needs repolishing if you don't like the gray patina it gets. It isn't white and shiny AT ALL unless you constantly replate it - ironic since that's the most common charge leveled at WG by platinum sellers....
If you like the patina it is a good choice. If you want white and shiny, steer clear of it.

 

[strmrdr]

My non-expert opinion if you want white go with platinum if you want gold color go with Gold.

Its a zen thing Gold should be gold color not white.

 

[PlatinumDiamond]

>>> If you like the patina it is a good choice. If you want white and shiny, steer clear of it. <<<

Well, my rings are of the 950 Platinum with the S1 mix and they are still shiney new looking with no signs of patina at all. I don't really know if it is because of the S1 mix or if it is because I shower with them on every day. They are not Rhodium plated, either.

My wife has a 950 Platinum rings with the Ru mix and her rings shows no signs of patina. She too showers everyday with her rings on.

I think the key is keeping the platinum clean every day which keeps the patina away or at least prolongs it. I have seen platinum rings before with patina and I must say, they do not look bad at all. A distinguishing rich kind of look!

I also have seen white gold rings and platinum rings that are not polished, and platinum to me still looks nicer even in that state. But again that is my personal taste of the two.

It is all a matter of choice when it comes to patina or not like said above.

 

[tonysgeko]

I have a question about making gold white. While surfing, found an article about making yellow gold turn blue. Can the element that is added to turn yellow to blue be added to the process of making 14k white? The article said blue gold was brittle, but I'm asking can enough of the element be added just to counter effect the yellowish tint without making it brittle? It's just something I wanted to ask.

 

[verticalhorizon]

During the process of replating white gold, does the diamond have to be removed from the setting?

Can you polish platinum yourself at home with one of those cordless buffers that you can find in home centers?

 

[maristidou]

From reading other threads I thought that the best choices for those of us who like the whitest shiniest stuff are:
1. 19K white gold
2. 14k white gold with palladium alloy
3. 900 Platinum/100 Iridium alloy

Is this right?

Melina

 

[Patty]

verticalhorizon, As far as I know, the stones do NOT have to be removed to replate white gold with rhodium.

maristidou, You left out 18k white gold with a palladium mix. That is what my 3 stone is made of and it's white, white, white.

 

[Gordie]

Hi David:

I thank you for your response. Quick question, I bought a diamond and the goldsmith indicated it would cost a lot more to get my ring in Palladium white gold (similar price to platinum). He indicated no one in Canada (I live in Toronto) ever gets the ring done in Palladium white gold...that he would have to order some special for me...and that he would have to buy a lot of it (more than is necessary for my ring)...thus resulting in him charging me a lot for the ring. It this guy playing it straight?? Can you please help me out with a solution to my problem? Do you know any jewelers in my area/region (near Toronto) that you would recommend that use Palladium white gold, or is there anyway I can get an amount necessary for my engagement ring (I like platinum...but I spent a lot of money for the diamond and have no more money!!!) Thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated...hope to hear from you soon.

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On 3/1/2004 4:33:26 AM DavidEmslie wrote:

White gold is by far better for a long term,
W/ the end of the Cold War the Platinum refiners got together and spend over 4 Billion advertizing that Pt was better...well of course it must be better, all the big companies say it is right?

Not always the case. Platinum is different, it has its good points and bad, its great for some applications, not so great for others.

If anyone is concerned about yellowing, go with A Palladium White gold. There is no yellow, it has the white grey of platinum, the self bunrishing proporties of gold...you just cant go wrong with it. Its a little more expensive than nickel white gold but only by a few dollars per gram, the cost to benifit is worth it.

Anway since I started working with Palladium white gold I have not used much else. Id look into it as its the best of both worlds.
----------------

 

[enscjeff]

I'm getting a ring done at Britton Jewellery in Vancouver in 19k white gold. I was told that they order the 19k alloy from a supplier. I also got to see an unpolished ring made of the 19k, and it was white, white, white... not the slightest hint of yellow.

 

[pulp_princess]

Gordie,

A salesman at Birks told me that they now use palladium with their white gold and have been for 6-7 months. Some of their older stock contains the nickel alloy. I'm sure they would set your loose diamond in one of their engagement settings for you or do a custom design. From their brochure, they have 8 locations in Toronto. So far, they are the only ones in the area that use palladium that I know of.

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On 4/30/2004 11:48:55 AM Gordie wrote:

Hi David:

I thank you for your response. Quick question, I bought a diamond and the goldsmith indicated it would cost a lot more to get my ring in Palladium white gold (similar price to platinum). He indicated no one in Canada (I live in Toronto) ever gets the ring done in Palladium white gold...that he would have to order some special for me...and that he would have to buy a lot of it (more than is necessary for my ring)...thus resulting in him charging me a lot for the ring. It this guy playing it straight?? Can you please help me out with a solution to my problem? Do you know any jewelers in my area/region (near Toronto) that you would recommend that use Palladium white gold, or is there anyway I can get an amount necessary for my engagement ring (I like platinum...but I spent a lot of money for the diamond and have no more money!!!) Thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated...hope to hear from you soon.