Platinum vs White Gold: What Other Jewellers Won’t Tell You
When you’re shopping for an engagement ring, wedding ring, or other custom-made jewellery, one of the most important decisions you must make is the metal type and colour. There are several metals to choose from, with Platinum and White Gold among the most popular.
One of the most common questions buyers ask is “which metal is better, Platinum or White Gold?”. To truly answer this question, however, you need to ask the experts.
For two generations, Dracakis Jewellers has been one of Sydney's leading destinations for luxurious fine jewellery. During this time, the team have worked considerably with both Platinum and White Gold.
Here are the most important differences between these two metals that other jewellers won’t tell you.
Hardness and Malleability
The term "hardness" describes a metal's resistance to dents and scratches. A soft metal will easily scratch, but a strong metal can withstand scratches. When a metal is malleable, on the other hand, it can be bent and shaped into a variety of forms without breaking. A brittle metal will not bend easily, but a malleable metal will.
In its purest form, Platinum may be harder than gold, but 18kt White Gold is usually combined with other metals to make it harder, including Palladium, Silver, and Copper. Because of this, 18kt White Gold is harder than Platinum alloys, which are typically composed of 95% Platinum.
In contrast, Platinum is more brittle than White Gold and is challenging to shape. Although a Platinum ring is more prone to scratches and dents than White Gold, it will retain its diamonds and other gemstones more firmly, however, since its brittleness makes it less likely to lose its form.
Durability, Density and Weight
Platinum doesn't lose much weight during daily use or polishing. This makes the metal last a considerably long time before requiring repair.
Nevertheless, a well-crafted ring – whether it is made of Platinum or White Gold – should survive for many generations.
Platinum alloys are also up to 20% denser than White Gold, resulting in a ring that feels weightier and thereby more luxurious – despite Platinum’s brittleness when compared to White Gold.
Price
Many people wonder why Platinum jewellery costs more than White Gold. This is due to several reasons.
Firstly, Platinum is denser than White Gold, so more material weight is required to manufacture the same ring. Additionally, because most Platinum alloys are 95% Platinum, while 18kt White Gold is 75% gold, less gold is required to craft an 18kt White Gold ring.
When working with Platinum, which is more challenging, a skilled jeweller is frequently needed to generate high-quality results. The labour cost is therefore around 20% higher than that of White Gold.
Finally, Platinum cannot be reused or remelted, unlike White Gold. Any filings or scraps must be sent to a refiner, which is a costly process.
When it comes to Platinum vs White Gold jewellery, there are plenty of pros and cons regarding each.
If you'd like to learn more about these metals, you can book a consultation with the team at your local Dracakis boutique here - or, browse our collection of stunning Platinum and White Gold jewellery.
