White Gold or Platinum: Which One To Choose
When you are searching out that perfect set of wedding bands, there are so many different types of metals to choose from. Silver, gold, platinum, stainless, white gold, copper, you name it, there are wedding bands made out of it. But, the two most popular types of metal that wedding bands are crafted from are white gold and platinum. So, which do you choose? Both are equally beautiful and will last a lifetime, but they both have different qualities that should be looked at when you are choosing a wedding band. So, to help you choose between white gold and platinum, we have some basic information about each one for you.
White Gold – This precious metal is a mix of pure gold and other metals that turn it a natural white color, including: silver, palladium, and nickel. Each batch of white gold is different, as different manufacturers create the metal differently. Depending on the mixture, the white gold of your ring can be either very strong or soft. And, if you are allergic to nickel or any other metal that is in this mixture, you will find out by noticing a green “ring” under your wedding band. In these cases, you can get the ring coated to prevent the metal from contacting your skin. White gold does have many perks though, and most people site the main perk of this metal as the beautiful, natural “white color”, hence the name “White gold”. This metal is stronger than platinum, due to the mixture of metals that are used to create the rings, so white gold will hold up better for those who work in heavy duty jobs. White gold is also much less expensive than platinum, so if you want the look of platinum without the high price, then white gold is the way to go.
Platinum – While white gold is made with a mixture of metals to create it’s white appearance, platinum is naturally white without any help. Since platinum is naturally white, very rarely is it mixed with any other metal when used for wedding bands. You also will not have to worry about an allergic reaction to platinum due to the fact that it is used in a 95% pure form in wedding bands. There is a very noticable difference in the weight of platiunm versus white gold, as platinum is a more pure metal, it will weight more. Although platinum is more expensive, a wedding band of this metal will hold up just as well, if not better than a mixture of metals due to the fact that there is no mixture involved in the process and the ring and settings are pure. Although platinum is soft and will bend just as easy as gold, the metal itself will hold up just as well, if not longer than gold will.
No matter which metal you choose for your wedding bands, they both will look beautiful for a long time to come. Both white gold and platinum will hold up for many, many years and provide a great family heirloom to pass down to generations to come. So, either choice will give you a great symbol of love for your wedding day. It is for these reasons that these two metals, white gold and platinum, are by far the most popular metals in wedding bands today.
One Response to “White Gold or Platinum: Which One To Choose”
Great post – I can really relate to the decision between platinum and other metals. After being married a year, I initially opted to go with a non-platinum band for my wife’s engagement ring and our wedding bands. We were very disappointed and frustrated with the inconvenience of having to re-plated our rings in such a short time.
We recently decided to replace our bands with platinum as we realized it is worth the quality. I personally like the feel and look of the band better. The additional weight feels more secure and the matte luster is a nice subtle finish.
One other thing I noticed is how with most metals, when scratched, you actually lose material, but with platinum you will only scratch the surface (which can be polish back to new).
http://www.engagementguide.com is a great source for information, comparison between metals, settings, and diamonds.
We are extremely happy with our new platinum rings!
By Dan on Jan 28, 2009