Platinum and white gold jewelry look similar when new, but the metals are very different! Each has its own advantages. Here’s what to know before you purchase.
Color
White gold is yellow gold with alloys added to make it white. Imagine adding milk to orange juice. It will become whiter, but it will never be completely white. To make white gold look bright white, it is plated, or ‘dipped,’ with rhodium.
Rhodium plating on white gold jewelry wears off, exposing the underlying color. Plating is usually done most frequently for rings because they receive the most contact (typically every 2 - 5 years). Bracelets will need rhodium plating from time to time, while pendants and earrings rarely need plating.
Platinum is a completely white metal, and never needs plating.
Metal Properties
Gold (white, yellow, or rose) is not as durable as platinum. Every time a gold ring receives contact, a tiny bit of gold comes off. After years of wear, gold rings become thin, particularly at the back of rings.
But white gold is harder than platinum, so it scratches less. This makes it a good choice for rings with polished surfaces and few or no gems.
Platinum is infinitely more durable than gold. Every time a platinum ring receives contact, virtually nothing comes off. Prongs and intricate details usually stay intact for decades, making it ideal for ornate styles.
But platinum is softer than gold. So over time platinum prongs may flatten slightly, and rings will scratch more easily.
HTA Platinum is a special platinum alloy that combines the best of both! It is both durable and scratch resistant. Fox Fine Jewelry only uses HTA Platinum for our custom platinum jewelry.
Fox Fine Jewelry's Custom Platinum Alloy
It's durable and scratch resistant
Fox Fine Jewelry uses a special platinum alloy (HTA Platinum). This gives the best of both worlds: durability and hardness. Our custom platinum pieces are more scratch resistant than white gold jewelry.
Price
Platinum jewelry costs more because:
- Platinum jewelry is more pure at 90 - 95% pure, versus 14kt gold is 58.5% pure.
- Platinum is denser than gold. This means that for a similar ring, a platinum ring weighs more than a gold one, and therefore needs more metal.
- Platinum is more challenging to work with, and requires specialized training and equipment.
Also consider the weight of the jewelry. For example, a platinum bracelet will cost far more than a white gold bracelet, but a narrow engagement ring will have a much smaller price difference.
Platinum versus White Gold Summary
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Choose platinum if:
- There are many very small gems that are prong or pave set.
- There is a lot of detailing, like openwork or engraving.
- It's a ring that will be worn frequently.
- The additional cost is within your price range.
- If custom, choose Fox Fine Jewelry's HTA Platinum for durability and scratch resistance.
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Choose white gold if:
- There are a smaller number of stones with a polished surface.
- The stones are securely set, like channel or bezel setting.
- It's a bracelet, pendant, earrings, or an occasional ring.
- You're willing to have the piece plated every so often.
- It's more within your price range.
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"I was looking for a reputable jewelry store to fix my platinum wedding ring and I was not disappointed! From the moment I walked in I was greeted with warmth and a very knowledgeable jeweler. The quality of work was outstanding and the prices are very fair."
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on:
- Your budget (platinum is more expensive),
- The number of diamonds (prongs in white gold wear out far faster and require maintenance),
- If you are willing to do plating maintenance (white gold’s plating wears off), and
- If there are large, polished surfaces on your engagement ring or wedding band (platinum scratches easier). Fox Fine Jewelry uses a special HTA Platinum in our custom jewelry that scratches less than even white gold!
Platinum has two disadvantages: a higher price and it scratches easier. If your engagement ring band is a smooth, polished surface with few side diamonds, the scratching can be quite apparent and bothersome. Fox Fine Jewelry has solved this with our special alloy, HTA Platinum which makes our platinum more scratch resistant than even white gold!
Platinum is a pure white metal. White gold is yellow gold with alloys added to make it white, but it never gets completely white. So virtually all white gold jewelry, including engagement rings and wedding bands, are plated to make them bright white and shiny.
Plating wears away over time, especially on rings as they get touched more often. Many people have their white gold engagement rings plated every couple or few years.
New platinum and white gold jewelry look virtually the same. The white gold jewelry will be plated. But necklaces and earrings don’t get touched like rings do. As such, the plating typically lasts for many years. Therefore, nearly all necklaces and earrings are in white gold and not platinum.
On the other hand, if you have an allergic reaction to earrings, consider platinum earrings, as platinum is hypoallergenic. But platinum is a heavy metal and larger earrings can be too heavy! To minimize the weight, at Fox Fine Jewelry we’ll make the earrings in white gold and the post portion (that goes through your ear) in platinum.
Virtually all white gold jewelry is plated with rhodium (a platinum family metal). So new jewelry usually looks identical in white gold and platinum, but the platinum piece will be heavier.
Over time though, the two metals wear very differently. Platinum jewelry, including engagement rings and wedding bands worn daily, will last for generations with minimal upkeep. The same is not true for white gold rings.
Platinum jewelry is popular and has many benefits, but it does cost more, so you’ll find many more options in white gold. Any white gold jewelry can be custom made in platinum.
Platinum jewelry costs more than white gold jewelry because:
- Crafting jewelry in platinum requires a high level of skill, training, and experience. Fox Fine Jewelry is a platinum expert, but few jewelers are.
- Platinum jewelry is 90 - 95% pure platinum, while 14kt white gold is 58.5% pure gold. So platinum jewelry uses more platinum.
- Platinum is much denser (heavier) than gold. A platinum ring will weigh much more than an identical 14kt gold ring, and therefore use more platinum.
Yes you can! You might be surprised at how much money you get, as platinum jewelry is much heavier and more pure than white gold jewelry. If you’re local to our store in Ventura County, please stop in for a free quote. Learn about selling your jewelry
It depends on:
- Your budget (platinum is more expensive),
- The number of diamonds (prongs in white gold wear out far faster and require maintenance),
- If you are willing to do plating maintenance (white gold’s plating wears off), and
- If there are large, polished surfaces on your engagement ring or wedding band (platinum scratches easier). Fox Fine Jewelry uses a special HTA Platinum in our custom jewelry that scratches less than even white gold!
Platinum has two disadvantages: a higher price and it scratches easier. If your engagement ring band is a smooth, polished surface with few side diamonds, the scratching can be quite apparent and bothersome. Fox Fine Jewelry has solved this with our special alloy, HTA Platinum which makes our platinum more scratch resistant than even white gold!
Platinum is a pure white metal. White gold is yellow gold with alloys added to make it white, but it never gets completely white. So virtually all white gold jewelry, including engagement rings and wedding bands, are plated to make them bright white and shiny.
Plating wears away over time, especially on rings as they get touched more often. Many people have their white gold engagement rings plated every couple or few years.
New platinum and white gold jewelry look virtually the same. The white gold jewelry will be plated. But necklaces and earrings don’t get touched like rings do. As such, the plating typically lasts for many years. Therefore, nearly all necklaces and earrings are in white gold and not platinum.
On the other hand, if you have an allergic reaction to earrings, consider platinum earrings, as platinum is hypoallergenic. But platinum is a heavy metal and larger earrings can be too heavy! To minimize the weight, at Fox Fine Jewelry we’ll make the earrings in white gold and the post portion (that goes through your ear) in platinum.
Virtually all white gold jewelry is plated with rhodium (a platinum family metal). So new jewelry usually looks identical in white gold and platinum, but the platinum piece will be heavier.
Over time though, the two metals wear very differently. Platinum jewelry, including engagement rings and wedding bands worn daily, will last for generations with minimal upkeep. The same is not true for white gold rings.
Platinum jewelry is popular and has many benefits, but it does cost more, so you’ll find many more options in white gold. Any white gold jewelry can be custom made in platinum.
Platinum jewelry costs more than white gold jewelry because:
- Crafting jewelry in platinum requires a high level of skill, training, and experience. Fox Fine Jewelry is a platinum expert, but few jewelers are.
- Platinum jewelry is 90 - 95% pure platinum, while 14kt white gold is 58.5% pure gold. So platinum jewelry uses more platinum.
- Platinum is much denser (heavier) than gold. A platinum ring will weigh much more than an identical 14kt gold ring, and therefore use more platinum.
Yes you can! You might be surprised at how much money you get, as platinum jewelry is much heavier and more pure than white gold jewelry. If you’re local to our store in Ventura County, please stop in for a free quote. Learn about selling your jewelry