I often get asked about the difference between platinum and white gold because they are both similar in color. I could go on about the differences, but these are the main ones most jewelry wearers are concerned with.
· Different Metal: Platinum (Pt) and gold (Au) are separate metals on Periodic Table of elements.
· Color: Gold will always come out of the ground yellow, while platinum will always come out of the ground white. To make white gold, other white metal alloys are added to the gold, and then, it is covered in a rhodium plating that makes it bright white. The plating will come off leaving a warmer tone with white gold. Platinum will always be pure white in color.
· Pureness: In jewelry, a platinum piece is either 90% or 95% platinum with other alloys mixed in to make it stronger. White or yellow gold has 58.5% gold content for 14kt and 75% gold content for 18kt. The pureness of metal content makes platinum hypoallergenic.
· Finish: If your jewelry has a lot of engraving or detailed cut outs, platinum is the better metal because it will last generations as opposed to years with gold. If your jewelry has a lot of shiny metal showing, white gold is the better metal because it will stay shiny even with some scratches. Platinum scratches easier and gets a soft worn look to it.
· Weight: Platinum is about 60% heavier than gold. You can feel the heft on your body when you wear it.
· Price: Platinum is more than double in price what the same piece would be in white gold. One reason is that it is a rarer metal in the earth, and it takes a lot more efforts to mine it than gold does. Another reason is that it is harder to work with in creating jewelry. Platinum has a melting point of 3215 F and gold 1943 F which means a jeweler needs to be specially trained to work with platinum and many are not.
There are a few things to consider when deciding if you want platinum or white gold for your jewelry, and I would love to help you with your decision! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:
One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)
Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)
Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 26 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)
Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.angelacisneros.com/book-appointment
Comments