Difference Between Platinum and White Gold

Jewelry plays and has always played a significant role in human life. It symbolizes beauty, wealth, power, and status. Jewelry symbolizes one’s personality and identity, particularly women, who wear them for many reasons in the form of necklaces, pendants, rings, etc. When we talk about some white metal aesthetic, we have two popular choices: platinum or white gold. Both appear kind of similar so it is sometimes tough to tell the difference. Read on to find some key differences between the two metals.

Platinum

Platinum is the most precious metal on earth and probably the most expensive one. Like gold and silver, it is an element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. Platinum is a lustrous, silver-colored metal that owes its name to the Spanish word ‘platina’ which means little silver. It is a naturally occurring white metal and a lot of jewelry is actually made of platinum. If a piece of jewelry is unexpectedly heavy, then it is most likely platinum, unlike silver. It is heavy, durable, and resistant to wear, making it one of the most secure metals on earth.

White Gold

While gold is an alloy of gold composed for pure gold and other metals including zinc, nickel, palladium, and copper. It is designed to imitate platinum but unlike platinum, it doesn’t exist on the periodic table, which means technically, there is no such thing as white gold. Well, everybody knows that pure gold is yellow in color and is 24 karat. There is also 18 karat gold which is like 75% pure gold or yellow gold and 25% something else. This something else in white gold is composed of additional metals that give it a white color instead of yellow. It is further plated with a thin layer of metal called rhodium which adds shine to gold.

Difference between Platinum and White Gold

Color

– The most obvious and the noticeable difference between the two metals is the color. Platinum is a natural and lustrous, silver-colored metal that will never change color. Platinum is the most precious metal on earth. White gold is a really rich yellow color gold that is composed of pure gold and other durable metals like zinc, nickel, and palladium.

Property

– Platinum is the most precious metal on earth. It is heavy, durable, and resistant to wear, making it one of the most secure metals on earth. Platinum is a purer metal and heavier than gold, precisely 33% denser and heavier than white gold. Due to this reason, platinum wears slower than 18-karat white gold. The mixture of different metals on white gold makes it durable and stronger, but not as much as platinum.

Price

– Platinum is undoubtedly the most precious metal on earth. It is rarer and less mined than gold, so that’s the first main reason platinum is more expensive than gold or white gold. There’s also a significant difference in the manufacturing cost of platinum because of its higher melting point. So, platinum is around 40-50% more expensive than white gold.

Platinum vs. White Gold: Comparison Chart

Summary

Platinum is naturally heavy and much durable than white gold, which makes it one of the most secure metals on earth. But for the fact that white gold is lighter than platinum, it feels comfortable to wear for everyday use rather than a heavy platinum jewelry. While both platinum and white gold appear almost identical on the outside, it’s when you actually hold one of them you’ll feel the difference between the two metals. Platinum is unexpectedly heavy and expensive, which is why it is the most precious metal on earth.

Is platinum better than white gold?

Platinum is purer and wears slower than 18-karat white gold, which makes it one of the most secure metals on earth.

Can you tell the difference between platinum and white gold?

When you hold a platinum ring on one hand and a white gold ring on another, you can actually feel the difference – platinum is heavier than white gold and is more durable.

Is white gold more expensive than platinum?

No. White gold is a mixture of different metals, so it is lower in price than platinum, which on the other hand, is almost 50 percent expensive than white gold. Because more platinum is required to make a piece due to its density, it is more expensive.

Is platinum better than 18K white gold?

Platinum is almost 40-50% more expensive than white gold. Platinum is purer and durable than 18K white gold. Also, platinum wears slower than 18K white gold.

Do platinum rings wear down?

Like other metals, platinum does wear down with use and time, but it does so at a much slower rate than other metals.

Is it worth buying a platinum ring?

Platinum is definitely worth it if you can afford it. Generally speaking, platinum looks almost identical to white gold but costs significantly more. Even the 18K white gold is durable enough for everyday use. Platinum also requires more maintenance.

Is platinum shinier than white gold?

White gold is typically rhodium plated to give it a white, shinier finish whereas platinum is naturally a lustrous, silver-colored metal. Platinum is also rarer than gold and much heavier.

Does platinum turn your finger green?

It is reported that a green discoloration is noted on the finger after prolong wearing of a platinum ring made out of copper. Copper makes your skin turn green.

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