White gold and platinum look very similar at first, but they actually differ in many aspects. To tell them apart you should use the five C's: Composition, Colour, Cost, Care and Culture. Do you prefer platinum or white gold for your diamond engagement ring? Get to know the difference between the two precious metals here.
Browse our extensive collection of jewels in platinum and white gold
Pure gold is too pliable and therefore not suitable for jewellery. That's why we use gold alloy, a combination of gold and other metals.
Platinum jewellery on the other hand, consists of almost pure platinum. It is usually made using 95% pure platinum in combination with 5% other metals, making it softer, more scratch-resistant, and more likely to bend than break. Because of its density, jewellery in platinum weighs around 34% more than gold jewellery. So, if you seek large earrings, we recommend going for white gold as heavy earrings might feel uncomfortable.
In terms of allergies, it’s a tie. Even though platinum is known to be both hypoallergenic and durable, European guidelines ensure that 18 carat jewellery may only contain a minimal amount of nickel, which makes white gold an excellent hypoallergenic alternative to platinum.
At BAUNAT, we go one step further. By composing all of our white gold jewellery with palladium instead of nickel, the jewellery retains its white colour longer and is an excellent choice for those with nickel allergies or sensitive skin.
Another difference is that platinum is much rarer. Each year, fewer platinum ore is mined than gold ore. It concerns just under 200 tonnes compared to 1500 tonnes of gold ore respectively.
Platinum in its pure form is much stronger than pure gold, but when both precious metals are used in an alloy, 950 platinum becomes softer, making it harder to work with and increasing the labour cost of the jewel.
If you decide against buying platinum, but rather white gold, you can invest the money you saved in a larger diamond for your engagement ring. Of course, it comes down to your personal choice.
Cleaning white gold or platinum jewellery yourself is easier than you think. Even for jewellery with diamonds, you have the right cleaning agents at home.
We do recommend that you clean platinum and gold jewellery yourself on a regular basis. You can easily do this by soaking the jewellery in a mixture of lukewarm water and detergent. In time, it is recommended to have your platinum and white gold jewellery cleaned professionally by a jeweller.
Need help deciding which engagement ring is right for your loved one? BAUNAT's experts are happy to give you advice. In the showroom, our experts will provide you with even more benefits of white gold or platinum, and weigh up what will suit the lucky one the most. So book an appointment now.
Would you like to know more about the investment value of white gold, or platinum or how the precious metals became popular? Learn all you need to know about jewellery in the following interesting blog articles: