Platinum vs. white gold: Which one should I use on my engagement ring?

Choosing the right metal for your engagement ring is an important task and can depend on a range of factors. Gold and platinum are the two most commonly used metals for engagement rings as well as wedding rings. Both of these metals are individual yet share a range of qualities too. It’s important to consider these differences and similarities before you begin the purchasing process, so we’ll pick apart the platinum vs white gold below.

White Gold is made by combining gold alloy with a range of white metals including nickel, palladium and silver. The karat is determined by the mixture’s amount of gold versus the amount of allow – this is, effectively, the purity of the gold. There are 24 karat, 18 karat and 14 karat white gold options – gold is always alloyed to make It more durable and last longer. Crucially, here, white gold is not a naturally made product – the combination of metals produces the final aesthetic.

Platinum is a naturally occurring white metal, which is much rarer than gold. It is a very hard metal and can thus be used in a purer form than gold. As a result, platinum is more expensive than gold jewellery, as more of the metal exists within each jewellery piece due to its stand-alone strength. Physically, platinum is close to scratch-proof – it can develop little naturally-occurring bumps and ridges, but the platinum surface remains unscratched. Oftentimes, ridges and bumps in the platinum surface is heavily sought-after, as it shows the age and durability of the metal.

The main advantage of white gold over platinum is that its more affordable. However, due to white gold’s lower durability, you may need to have your item recoated every so often. This can actually make the cost of white gold higher over the long term. Investing in platinum engagement rings may be a higher expense initially in the short term, but over time the comparative cost to white gold may even out.

So, for those looking for a cheaper option due to having a lower budget, buying a white gold engagement ring might be the best bet. By minimising this initial cost, buyers can allocate their money or budget onto other areas of the ring, such as design or the diamond. If, however, you may have a preference towards durability and strength, then platinum is a good option. It will cost you more initially, but you will have to spend less on upkeep as the years go by.

It is, obviously, important to consider these rings as investments – precious metals’ value goes up over time, and so it’s important to monitor the demand and prices for both platinum and white gold metals as the years go by. Overall, there are both positives and negatives associated in the white gold vs platinum debate, but it truly boils down to the priorities of the person buying the jewellery.