Thread: Platinum vs White Gold jewelery

Hey guys, I've spoken with many jewelers but few chemists on this matter. Platinum is supposedly superior to white gold but I'm not exactly sure why. From what I've heard, platinum is heavier, stronger, more pure, shines longer, and costs 2.5x as much as white gold. White gold is an alloy, lighter, dulls easily (requires rhodium plating every 1-2 years), but costs much less than platinum. I have also heard platinum is hard to repair if it scratches, because it is so hard.

From my experiences I have found alloys to be stronger than pure elements.

Anyone chemists with expansive jewelry collections care to weigh an opinion?

-TAMB0

Well, you're talking about two completely different materials. Aside from appearing the same to the untrained eye, they have little in common. White gold is just gold mixed with a few other white metals like silver or palladium. It has a karat quality like all gold that determines it price. White gold isn't really white. It's actually plated, which means it can tarnish and should be cleaned and even replated every so often. But, it's cheaper.

Platinum, however, is usually a nearly pure white metal. Platinum is a more expensive metal, but also naturally very white so it doesn't need to be plated. It's denser as well.

As for alloys being stronger, they are usually stronger than the individual metals of which they are made (sort of the point of alloys), but you're comparing an alloy of soft metals to a different pure metal. Apples and oranges. If you compare iron to steel, then you can see how an alloy makes a stronger metal. Also, I'm not sure that white gold alloy is intended for strength as much as for color, but I'm not 100% sure of the history of white gold.

Flick, you truly are a renaissance man. Thanks for the info.

Personally, I think platinum is overrated. Until the price of gold goes even higher, it seems not worth the extra cost. Like I said earlier, platinum isn't as malleable as gold alloys and doesn't repair from scratches and dents well. I guess the good news is if you are using it for a stone setting, you can always take the stone out and get a new setting.

I don't understand the appeal of wearing semi-precious metals, anyways. I only chose a titanium wedding band because it was the only ring that came with a warning. If my hand swells up, they can't cut the ring off so I could lose my finger, or so they told me. I live life on the edge.

Interesting link below. But what's wrong with good old yellow gold?

Platinum vs White Gold & Other Metals