should i get platinum or white gold? what is the difference between platinum and white gold? is platinum better than white gold?

Platinum vs. White Gold
Platinum is naturally mined white metal while white gold is not. White gold is actually pure yellow gold mixed with alloys that overpower the gold color to create an almost-white hue.  Platinum is tough and durable however it is malleable.   It's also one of the heaviest metals, weighing about 66% more than 14K gold. This property gives platinum jewelry the substantial hefty feel that many people prefer.  Platinum is also hypoallergenic.

So the difference in metals and selecting the "right one" can be simply a personal preference.

In jewelry platinum can be pure platinum but more commonly it is mixed with iridium or another alloy to make it easier to work with.  Generally in jewelry here in the US purity of platinum will be 90% or 95% (this is also what we manufacture in).  White gold is totally different.  White gold can be 41.7% pure; 58.3% pure, 75% pure and is mixed by taking yellow gold and adding many alloys to it (read our blog on gold to learn more).  The main difference is platinum will be much, much heavier!  You'll tend to 'feel' it on. 

Maintenance wise:
Platinum will need to be polished as it wears and scratches it will turn a greyish color
White gold however wears differently.  Generally when you first get any piece of white gold jewelry it is actually coated it Rhodium! Rhodium is a super expensive metal that makes white gold look, well, really really white.  In time the rhodium will tend to wear and you will begin to see the color of white gold which is less white than platinum.  This means, like platinum, there will be maintenance and if you want to keep that bright white appearance the best bet is for you to polish and re-rhodium you pieces.  This coating can last 6 months to several years depending on wear and body chemistry and chemicals you expose yourself to (like chlorine in a pool)

So in the end it comes down to budget, and personal preference.
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For more information contact us; or if you should need platinum work or your piece "redipped" or re-rhodium plated we are happy to help.
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