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.