FH is upgrading my engagement ring-- I need advice **White gold or platinum?**

FH is wonderful--- he purposely bought me a plain solitaire white gold ring with the intentions that I would upgrade it to the style I liked. he didn't want to pick wrong.... So the time has come & he wants to get it for me as a Christmas gift... I picked out what I wanted but my dilema is---


White gold or platinum?

The platinum ring costs $600 more.... Should I ask him to spend that on top of what he's going to spend for white gold & diamonds?

Is there REALLY much of diiference?

I ask b/c its not just the $600 difference now, but when we buy the wedding band I'm sure it will be at least that much more for platinum then too!

I'd stick with platinum!

You'll have these rings the rest of your life.... I think it's worth the extra money.

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Posted by Captsarkasm

I'd say go white gold. Platinum looses it's shine over time and would have to be re-dipped. White gold remains shiney and would just need to be cleaned. If you like a more 'brushed' look rather than 'polished'...then I would go with the platinum.

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Platinum needds to be redipped? I know white gold does-- I just had to do it on my 'temporary' engagement ring. I didn't know platinum need it too
hmmm...

So what are the perks to having platinum?

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Posted by Captsarkasm

I'd say go white gold. Platinum looses it's shine over time and would have to be re-dipped. White gold remains shiney and would just need to be cleaned. If you like a more 'brushed' look rather than 'polished'...then I would go with the platinum.

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thats not correct.

White gold has to be re-dipped, not platinum.

platinum is duller than white gold, but has a better value in the long run.

i would go with platinum.

if we are talking about the type of metal. then platinim is 'better'
I ersonally do not likeit. The saftye of the diamond is not the same in a platinum ring cuz its a softer metal and it bend easier. the prongs bend much easier and I can even tell u how easy it scratches. u will have to get it polished every couple of months so that it can be shiny and not dulled with scratches.
I say go white gold

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Posted by Captsarkasm

I'd say go white gold. Platinum looses it's shine over time and would have to be re-dipped. White gold remains shiney and would just need to be cleaned. If you like a more 'brushed' look rather than 'polished'...then I would go with the platinum.

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White gold needs to be redipped.... not platinum.

this may help you decide:

while virtually all Platinum Jewelry is 95% Platinum, Gold comes in a variety of mixtures. The most common are 10k (41.7% gold), 14k (58.3% gold), and 18k (75% gold). 24k (100% gold) is too soft to use for jewelry. Also, all Gold is yellow. There is no such thing as natural white Gold. Gold is made to look white by alloying (mixing) it with white metals, then plating it with Rhodium (in the Platinum family).

The main difference between Platinum and white Gold is price. Pure Platinum costs roughly twice as much as pure Gold. And because there is a higher percentage of Platinum used (95% versus 75% for 18k gold) in making jewelry, the same design can cost more than twice as much in Platinum than it does in Gold.

So, beyond price-what is the real difference between white Gold and Platinum?

Preference!

Both metals have different benefits, and determining which set of benefits is most attractive to you is largely preferential. So, here is a breakdown of the real differences:

Platinum wears better than Gold. When you scratch it, you’re actually just rearranging the metal as opposed to removing it. You can wear a Platinum ring for 80 years, and it won’t wear out. You may have to repair a Gold ring to add material where it has worn off over time.

BUT, Platinum is softer. This means that it will bend and scratch easier than white Gold. And because it’s softer, Platinum will lose its polish and appear dull faster than white Gold.

You’re more likely to bend the Platinum prongs holding a diamond than if they were made of white Gold. However, you will need to have your white Gold prongs re-tipped over time as they are more likely to wear down than Platinum prongs

Platinum is naturally white, while white Gold will need to be Rhodium plated every few years to maintain it’s bright white appearance. BUT, because white Gold is harder, it will maintain that shiny polished look longer than Platinum will.

As you can see, there is no clear cut winner in this contest. Personally, I give the edge to white Gold-but only because affordability is one of my main priorities. If your priority is longevity without wear, you might select Platinum. If maintaining a shiny polish is more important than maintaining a bright white color, Gold may be the way to go.

WOW-- thank you for that post!!!
It did help clarify it for me-- I think I am going to stick woth the white gold & redip it when necessary.... The price & shine are a priority.
Thanks again to everyone for helping!

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BUT, Platinum is softer. This means that it will bend and scratch easier than white Gold. And because it’s softer, Platinum will lose its polish and appear dull faster than white Gold.

You’re more likely to bend the Platinum prongs holding a diamond than if they were made of white Gold. However, you will need to have your white Gold prongs re-tipped over time as they are more likely to wear down than Platinum prongs

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And see this is what I got from the internet....

STRENGTH. Platinum is a much stronger metal than gold, so much so that jewelers who work with it usually have special tools to accommodate it. Platinum heads are becoming popular for diamond solitaires because of their general strength, and while they are much more expensive than their white gold counterparts, they should wear longer. Platinum is also harder to scratch

Platinum is denser and stronger than white golds. This means that settings can be made of thin, seemingly fragile constructions, and still have the needed strength and integrity to securely hold stones or jewelry together. Its density and strength combine as well to make it remarkably resistant to abrasion.


.... go figure they're basically opposite!

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Posted by Meaghan729

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Posted by Captsarkasm

I'd say go white gold. Platinum looses it's shine over time and would have to be re-dipped. White gold remains shiney and would just need to be cleaned. If you like a more 'brushed' look rather than 'polished'...then I would go with the platinum.

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thats not correct.

White gold has to be re-dipped, not platinum.

platinum is duller than white gold, but has a better value in the long run.

i would go with platinum.

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I'm with ya on that. Your information is incorrect about Platinum. It's the white gold that needs to be dipped. Besides that, white gold is cheaper in price, and the cost of getting it dipped is pricey, so you mine as well spend the money on the Platinum, and save yourself the aggravation!

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Posted by werock0709

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Posted by Meaghan729

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Posted by Captsarkasm

I'd say go white gold. Platinum looses it's shine over time and would have to be re-dipped. White gold remains shiney and would just need to be cleaned. If you like a more 'brushed' look rather than 'polished'...then I would go with the platinum.

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thats not correct.

White gold has to be re-dipped, not platinum.

platinum is duller than white gold, but has a better value in the long run.

i would go with platinum.

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I'm with ya on that. Your information is incorrect about Platinum. It's the white gold that needs to be dipped. Besides that, white gold is cheaper in price, and the cost of getting it dipped is pricey, so you mine as well spend the money on the Platinum, and save yourself the aggravation!

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it's about $25-$50 to get white gold dipped, depending on the jeweler. over the years, that will add up to a LOT.

I don't agree with the info a previous poster provided...that platinum is softer than gold. that is completely false. the only thing I have heard is that plat scratches more easily. but IMO, that is a matter of opinion. my rings are not any more or less scratched (in the back only) than DH's ring, which is white gold.

I did a lot of research on this b/c money was tight during the planning. I wanted something that will look just as good 50 yrs from now as the day I get it. polishing platinum is very simple, you can even do it yourself with a kit. the maintenance on white gold you cannot do yourself.

PLATINUM 100%
My friend has a white gold bamd and it is already turning a yellowish color and its not even 2 yrs.

I am confused!!!!
My really big concern is putting FH out more money (especially now during the holdiays & its his slow season at work) ugghh!!!!

He's great -- he tells me to pick whatever I want (but I know deep down he thinks platinum is unnecessary)

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Posted by lilqtpie2181

if we are talking about the type of metal. then platinim is 'better'
I ersonally do not likeit. The saftye of the diamond is not the same in a platinum ring cuz its a softer metal and it bend easier. the prongs bend much easier and I can even tell u how easy it scratches. u will have to get it polished every couple of months so that it can be shiny and not dulled with scratches.
I say go white gold

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I agree!!!

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Posted by kat74

I am confused!!!!
My really big concern is putting FH out more money (especially now during the holdiays & its his slow season at work) ugghh!!!!

He's great -- he tells me to pick whatever I want (but I know deep down he thinks platinum is unnecessary)

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it's like this... when buying clothing, do you go for the Mandee type of 'trendy wear' or do you get the good quality stuff that will last you for years to come?

IMO it is 100% your choice and there is no wrong answer. you will either pay more for it now and spend nothing on maintenance or spend less now and then have to maintain it throughout the years.