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Expertise you can trust: Brilliant Earth is known for its award-winning jewelry designs and seamless, innovative shopping experience. This Brilliant Earth metal guide compares platinum and gold's price, durability, weight, and other key characteristics to help you choose the best option. All Brilliant Earth guides are meticulously researched and reviewed by our certified gemologists, content, editorial, and brand teams before publication to ensure industry-leading excellence and accuracy.
White Gold and Platinum Side-by-Side Comparison
Metal | Composition | Color | Weight | Durability | Maintenance Over Time | Price | Hypoallergenic Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Platinum | Mixture of pure platinum with ruthenium and iridium alloys | Lustrous silvery-white metal | Substantial, luxurious feel | Highly durable; maintains shape over time | Requires occasional polishing to maintain shine; patina can be maintained or polished away | Higher cost due to its rarity, purity, and durability | Extremely hypoallergenic due to high purity; ideal for sensitive skin |
White Gold | An alloy of gold mixed with white metals like palladium, silver, or nickel | Bright silvery white color when freshly plated; may show warm undertones as plating wears | Significantly lighter than platinum | Durable; suitable for everyday wear | May require rhodium replating every 1-3 years | Lower cost due to its lower purity content | May cause reactions if nickel is present |
White Gold vs. Platinum
Composition
White gold is not naturally white. Jewelers create it by mixing pure gold with white metals like palladium, silver, or nickel. This combination transforms yellow gold into a white metal suitable for jewelry.
Platinum jewelry consists primarily of pure platinum. It typically contains 90-95% platinum mixed with a small amount of other precious metals. This high-purity composition gives platinum its renowned durability.
The minimal mixing of other metals contributes to platinum's natural white color and hypoallergenic properties. White gold requires additional plating to achieve its white appearance.
Color
While both metals appear silver-white to the casual observer, white gold and platinum display subtle yet important differences in their coloration and how they age visually.
White gold receives a rhodium coating that creates a bright, mirror-like finish. This coating gives white gold its characteristic bright white color.
Platinum shows its natural white color with a subtle grayish undertone. Many consider this hue sophisticated and timeless. Unlike white gold, platinum requires no coating to achieve its color.
Over time, platinum develops a distinctive patina that many jewelry enthusiasts value. White gold may need periodic replating to maintain its bright white appearance, while platinum retains its natural color throughout its lifetime.
Weight
One of the most immediately noticeable differences when comparing these two metals is how they feel when worn.
Platinum's greater density makes it noticeably heavier than white gold. A platinum ring feels substantially weightier than the same ring design in white gold, even when they appear identical.
This weight difference affects both the wearing experience and the amount of metal needed to create each piece. Some wearers prefer platinum's substantial feel, viewing it as a sign of luxury.
Others find white gold's lighter weight more comfortable for daily wear. The weight preference is entirely personal and worth considering when selecting between these two metals.
Durability
Understanding how these precious metals withstand daily wear is important when deciding between platinum and white gold.
Platinum's remarkable strength makes it an excellent choice for securing diamonds and other precious stones, providing unmatched protection for your valuable gemstones.
White gold, on the other hand, offers excellent durability through its harder surface. It resists denting and maintains its shape well during daily wear.
Maintenance Over Time
Maintaining the beauty of your precious metal jewelry requires different approaches depending on whether you choose platinum or white gold.
White gold may need ongoing maintenance to preserve its bright finish. The rhodium plating that gives white gold its color can wear away over time, requiring professional replating to restore its appearance.
Owners should remove white gold jewelry during cleaning or chemical exposure to protect its finish. Regular cleaning with mild soap and water helps maintain its beauty between professional services.
Platinum demands less frequent maintenance but develops a distinct patina with wear. This patina, a soft sheen that develops on the surface, distinguishes platinum from other precious metals. Owners can choose to maintain platinum's bright finish through professional polishing or embrace the patina's unique character.
Price
The investment you make in either platinum or white gold reflects not just the materials themselves but also the craftsmanship and longevity they offer.
Platinum jewelry typically costs more than white gold due to its purity and density. More platinum is required to create a piece identical in size to one made of white gold.
The manufacturing process for platinum requires higher temperatures and specialized tools. These requirements add to platinum's final cost.
White gold presents a lower initial cost due to its lower gold content and simpler manufacturing processes. However, the long-term maintenance costs of white gold, including periodic replating, can reduce this price advantage over time.
Hypoallergenic Properties
For those with sensitive skin or metal allergies, the composition of your jewelry can make the difference between comfortable wear and uncomfortable reactions.
Platinum offers superior hypoallergenic qualities due to its pure composition. The metal rarely causes allergic reactions, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin.
White gold, depending on its composition, may contain metals that can cause reactions in sensitive individuals. Nickel, sometimes used in white gold alloys, is a common allergen.
The rhodium plating on white gold provides temporary protection against allergic responses. However, as this coating wears away, the underlying alloy may contact the skin. Platinum remains the safer choice for those with metal sensitivities.
Difference Between Platinum and White Gold
The main difference between white gold and platinum is their composition.
White gold is an alloy made by mixing yellow gold with white metals and coating it with rhodium to achieve its bright color. Platinum jewelry, however, is made of 90-95% pure platinum with minimal alloying and no coating needed.
This fundamental difference affects everything else about these metals — their appearance, weight, durability, how they wear over time, and ongoing maintenance. While white gold may need periodic replating to maintain its bright white finish, platinum naturally maintains its subtle white-gray color. Platinum is also significantly heavier and is hypoallergenic due to its purity.
These differences affect both the initial purchase decision and long-term ownership experience.
Is Platinum Better than White Gold?
Neither platinum nor white gold holds the title of "better" metal. Each offers distinct advantages that may align better with different priorities and preferences.
- The bright white color of freshly plated white gold attracts those seeking a mirror-like shine. Platinum displays a more subtle, natural silvery-white tone that some find more sophisticated.
- White gold's lighter weight appeals to many wearers. This reduced heft makes it comfortable for daily wear, especially in larger jewelry pieces.
- Platinum provides superior durability through its exceptional strength, creating secure prongs and settings that keep precious stones firmly in place.
- Maintenance requirements differ significantly between these metals. Platinum needs only occasional polishing, while white gold may require periodic replating.
- White gold offers excellent value with its lower initial price point. This makes it accessible to more buyers while still providing the prestigious look of a white precious metal.
- The hypoallergenic nature of platinum makes it ideal for those with sensitive skin. Its pure composition rarely causes allergic reactions, unlike some white gold alloys that may contain nickel.
The "better" choice ultimately depends on your personal priorities and lifestyle. Consider factors like budget, maintenance preferences, skin sensitivity, and aesthetic taste when deciding between these two exceptional metals.
How to Tell Platinum from White Gold
Platinum and white gold can appear similar at first glance, but a few key characteristics can help distinguish the differences:
- Weight: Weight provides the most immediate clue. When holding similar-sized pieces, platinum feels noticeably heavier due to its greater density. This substantial weight difference is often apparent even without direct comparison.
- Color: Color differences become visible upon close inspection. Platinum displays a natural grayish-white tone, while white gold typically shows a brighter, more reflective white finish due to its rhodium plating. As white gold's plating wears, it may reveal a slightly yellowish tint underneath.
- Markings: Stamps inside the jewelry offer definitive identification. Platinum pieces are typically stamped with "PT" or "PLAT" followed by numbers like 950 or 900, indicating 95% or 90% platinum content. White gold usually bears markings like "14K" or "18K" with "WG" or simply "14K" or "18K" alone. To learn more about markings, read our Stamps and Markings Identification article.
- Price: The cost often reflects the metal difference. Platinum jewelry generally commands a higher price than comparable white gold pieces due to platinum's greater purity, density, and the specialized craftsmanship required to work with it.
For absolute certainty, consult a professional jeweler who can perform specific tests to definitively identify the metal in your jewelry.
Platinum or White Gold: Which to Choose
The choice between platinum and white gold depends entirely on your lifestyle, budget, and personal preferences.
Best Uses for Each Metal:
- Engagement Rings: Platinum excels for engagement rings with its superior stone-setting security and durability for daily wear. White gold works well for those seeking a brighter white appearance or working within budget constraints.
- Wedding Bands: Platinum offers exceptional durability for wedding bands worn daily. White gold provides a more affordable option with good durability, particularly in higher karat versions (14K-18K).
- Jewelry: White gold shines in fashion jewelry where weight, cost, and brightness matter more than longevity. Platinum suits heirloom-quality pieces meant to last generations.
- Prong Settings: Platinum provides superior security for valuable gemstones with its strength and malleability.
A general rule of thumb is to choose platinum if you value durability above all and don't mind paying more for a heavier, naturally white metal that requires minimal maintenance. Platinum also makes the better choice for those with metal sensitivities or anyone who works with their hands frequently.
Select white gold if you prefer a lighter-weight ring and don't mind periodic maintenance to maintain its bright finish. White gold offers excellent value for those working within a specific budget while still providing durability and beauty.
The best choice depends on balancing your priorities regarding budget, maintenance willingness, durability needs, and aesthetic preferences. Consider how and when you'll wear the piece and which factors matter most to you personally.
