The gold carat weights most commonly seen in jewellery are 9K, 14K and 18K: In the UK, all gold jewellery items above 1 gram in weight must be hallmarked. However, when it comes to shopping for an engagement ring or wedding band, the differences between these similar-looking precious metals become quite pronounced, both in terms of quality and of price. For this reason, both yellow gold and white gold have to be mixed with harder alloy metals, to make them more rigid and durable in jewellery. Over time platinum develops a natural patina, which many people find just as attractive as a polished finish. Wh… Although white gold and platinum look similar, sharing a silvery hue, the two are actually quite different in terms of color, durability, and price. There are many precious metals such as gold, silver, diamond, platinum, and so on. Platinum and white gold resemble each other aesthetically, but differ in composition, density, hardness and other properties. White gold is an alloy of gold and has the same symbol as gold Au. This process is called "flotation" or "mineral beneficialness". We can outline several differences between these types, including their advantages and disadvantages. Platinum is itself a white metal. It’s platinum’s rarity that makes it generally more valuable than white gold, hence the higher price tag. This article explains: Not everybody knows it, but white gold doesn’t exist naturally. Looking at current bullion prices there is not much difference between an ounce of pure gold and an ounce of pure platinum, which leads people to assume the prices of a finished jewelry piece would be approximately the same in either metal. 10 Engagement Rings of the British Royal Family, 4 Jewellery Styles to Suit Your Wedding Dress, Why Choose Coloured Gems for Your Bridal Look, However, the disadvantage is that you may need to have your white gold item recoated in rhodium every so often. The patina shows an item of platinum jewellery is much loved and used, and gives it an antique heirloom feel. In its pure form, platinum is a soft metal and hence is very malleable, similar to gold. For diamond engagement rings or wedding rings, the popularity of platinum and white gold has increased dramatically in recent years. The next step is smelting. For white gold, the price depends on how much gold goes into the jewelry. Generally, white gold is pretty reasonable when it comes to price and is the more popular option when it comes to jewelry. White gold is chosen by many people due to its silver color, although it is sometimes more expensive when it is mixed with platinum or titanium. It is rarer than gold, and much heavier and harder. For example, compare these two complete rings from Jame… This “ridging” is natural, as the metal gets pushed to one side and another while the jewellery’s owner wears it. Platinum does not micro-scratch the same as Gold, but actually “furrows” instead. Hence, the main difference between white gold and platinum is that platinum is a metal while white gold is an alloy. What actually happens is that while platinum doesn’t actually scratch (in the sense of losing particles), its surface can develop little bumps and ridges. Platinum and white gold are two altogether different metals. However, the scratch on platinum is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost. And even when you think you have some sort of idea about the differences between these two metals, choosing one over the other can seem quite impossible. < >. However, it can be argued that platinum is better than white gold because it is more cost-effective in the long run (no need for recoating) and has better investment value in the long term. As these two kinds of gold are in question, let us weigh them ourselves. 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