Platinum & white gold are visually very similar and they both are used in very similar types of ring settings, which can sometimes make it challenging for the average person with an untrained eye to tell the difference between Platinum Mens Rings and white gold wedding rings. Here are some of the key differences and identifying traits between these two beautiful but very different precious metals.
Platinum wedding rings will always show platinum’s natural pale whitish grey colour. Platinum wedding rings will always be made with other alloy metals, but not as much as white or yellow gold. Platinum wedding rings are 95% pure platinum, whereas white gold or yellow gold jewelry is about 60% pure gold if it is 14 karat and 75% pure gold if it is 18 karat. Platinum also has a much higher density than any type of gold, making it always twice as heavy, and it is stronger. Both metals are rare, but platinum is rarest metal on Earth, so its price is significantly higher.
White gold is just natural yellow gold alloyed with pale metals like platinum, palladium, and nickel to lighten its color, and white gold jewelry is almost always electroplated with rhodium to give it its bright white shine. Over time the rhodium will wear off and expose the gold’s more yellowish natural color and will need to be reapplied. Platinum wedding rings, on the other hand, will not need to be plated or tinted in alloys because platinum is naturally white.
Platinum is harder and stronger than gold too, so Platinum Mens Wedding Rings are very popular as sturdier counterparts to ladies wedding bands and engagement rings in white gold. That way she can wear the delicate, finely tooled and detailed ring of her dreams and his Platinum Mens Wedding Bands can match her wedding and engagement rings in color but not ding or break. Platinum wedding rings are also a great choice for men because they are so low maintenance. Along with not having the rhodium plating wear problem of white gold wedding rings, platinum wedding rings are harder to scratch than gold and they will not tarnish. If your platinum wedding bands start to look dark or discolored, they are not tarnished or permanently damaged, they are just dirty! Platinum wedding rings do pick up dirt, oils from skin, cosmetics, food, and work, and other basic grime that can accumulate on anything, but all that’s necessary is a simple soap and water buffing.
November 1, 2009
Mens Wedding Rings Are Made in Numerous Styles And Metals
In the past there were very few options in mens wedding ring designs, but fortunately today’s jewelry designers are producing wedding bands for men in a variety of classic and contemporary metals, shapes, widths, and styles, so every man can find the Mens Wedding Rings that best suit him. Although a Mens Wedding Rings is more of a symbolic piece than something worn for style alone, it is unlikely that a man will wear any other piece of jewelry as much as this one, so it is important to choose a mens wedding ring that is well matched to your personality, profession, lifestyle, and wardrobe.
This new variety is most evident in the assortment of metals from which a mens wedding band can be made. Classic yellow gold or white gold, in 14kt for a stronger gold ring or 18kt for the best quality, is still alive and well in traditional domed and flat milgrain mens wedding bands as well as styles with newer design accents. Some gold rings even use both colors and often include rose gold for a rich multichrome look. Platinum, the most precious of the precious metals, has also come to be regarded as a traditional choice. Palladium is similar to platinum in color and strength but is more affordable, and has an interesting history as the metal most used for ladies and mens wedding bands in the 1940s as many other metals went to the war effort and were unavailable. Titanium mens wedding rings are perfect for active men because they are tough and lightweight. Mens wedding rings in strong, brightly shining tungsten are the newest trend and seem poised to achieve classic status as they have the solid weight of gold, greater strength than titanium, and the tarnish proof shine of platinum combined in one versatile metal. Tungsten is also scratch-resistant, making it a good match for men in manual professions. Best of all, every one of these metals can be found paired with one or more of the others in several two tone or inlay mens wedding band designs.
The choices for a personalized ring do not end with the metals. Mens Wedding Rings are also being created in every combination of basic to elaborate styles, with simple design accents or breathtaking artistic flourishes. Space age titanium and tungsten are utilized in the simple domed, mirror polished bands that first come to mind when thinking of mens wedding rings. Classic, tasteful diamonds in spring loaded tension settings are being seen in more and more wedding bands for men. An understated brush finish, when applied to an unusual wide, concave tungsten mens wedding ring looks modern and elegant. Mens wedding bands are intended to be worn every day for many years, and with so many options, finding the right one is easy and fun!