Which Metal is Better for Your Engagement Ring?
Which Metal is Better for Your Engagement Ring? - If you've even done the slightest bit of shopping for a diamond ring, you know that platinum can be significantly more expensive than a comparable ring in white gold. It used to be that there was a large discrepancy between the cost per ounce of gold and platinum with gold costing around $1,000 per ounce and platinum costing around $1,800 per ounce. Nowadays however the cost per ounce is similar with gold averaging $1,300 per ounce and platinum averaging $1,400 per ounce. Even with the cost per ounce being similar, platinum is still much more expensive. The main reason platinum is more expensive is because even at the same cost, it takes more platinum to make a platinum ring than it takes to make a similar size ring in gold. Platinum is between 90 - 99% pure whereas 14K white gold is only 58.33% pure with the rest being alloys. Platinum is also more dense and therefore more heavy than the same size ring in gold. White gold initially became popular as an inexpensive alternative for platinum with platinum being the original luxury precious metal of choice. So what are the benefits of paying the extra money for platinum? Which metal is better for you?
Benefits of Platinum
- Platinum is allergy friendly because it is a hypoallergenic and pure metal. If you have allergies to certain alloys or metals, you may need a platinum ring. Many people allergic to white gold are able to wear platinum with no issues.
- Platinum will never discolor or tarnish. Gold over time will tarnish due to the alloys in the metal, and modern day white gold can turn yellowish, requiring additional rhodium plating.
- Because platinum is more dense, it is up to four times stronger than white gold. It is less likely to bend, scratch, or dent.
- If you are hard on your rings, platinum may be the best option for you. Platinum is less likely to wear down in cleaners or with everyday wear. When it does wear, it will do so at much slower rate than white gold.
- Platinum can make off color diamonds appear more white due to the pure white color of the metal.
Benefits of White Gold
- White gold is friendlier on your budget, so if you have a specific price point you need to stick to, you can get more in the way of diamonds if you stick to white gold.
- White gold is less expensive for repair work. Say eventually you need a prong replaced, a platinum ring is going to cost significantly more to get fixed. Also if you ever need your ring resized, the cost can be nearly double on a platinum ring.
- Antique white gold predating 1940 uses more pure white alloys so it does not yellow in the same way modern white gold does. If you are seeking out an engagement ring from the 1920's or 1930's, 18K white gold makes for an inexpensive but more pure and beautiful white gold alternative, without having to pay the cost for platinum.
- If you have a white gold engagement ring, buying platinum wedding bands would be a bad idea, since the metals wear at different rates and the strength of the platinum would cause the gold to wear down faster than usual.
Ultimately the decision of which metal to buy revolves mostly around your budget. If you are buying new rings and have the budget for platinum, that is definitely the right choice. If you are shopping for an antique rings, 18K white gold is a great option being more pure than modern 14k white gold. Otherwise, with proper care, even a 14K white gold ring can always be kept in a beautiful state.
Source : about.com
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