Article Highlights
- Platinum has a higher value than gold.
- Platinum is hypoallergenic while for gold it depends on its purity.
- Platinum is naturally white while gold needs to be colored white.
- Gold has many purity levels to choose from while platinum is consistently 90-95% pure.
When choosing an engagement ring, most of your time is spent learning about the intricacies of diamonds and how they are valued, but choosing which metal will encase whichever stone you pick is also quite important. Jewelry can be made out of many types of metals. Sterling silver, titanium, and tungsten, just to name a few, but the most popular for engagement rings are platinum and gold. There are many factors at play that make both gold and platinum ideal options for engagement rings and wedding bands. Here is how they compare.
Durability
Part of the reason both gold and platinum are often used in engagement rings is they both have excellent durability. Items like wedding bands and engagement rings are typically worn every day and therefore need to be sturdy enough to withstand daily wear and tear. Pure gold is naturally very soft and would not be a good option, but gold in jewelry is always mixed with other metals to improve durability. The more gold, the weaker it is. 18k gold has a higher gold purity but weaker durability than 14k gold, and 10k has a lower gold purity but a higher durability than 14k gold. Platinum, however, is considered to be much more durable than gold. Nearly pure platinum is stronger than 10k, 14k, and 18k. Platinum, however, is more prone to getting deep scratches.
Price
Due to platinum being more rare than gold, you can expect that platinum jewelry will normally be a few hundred dollars more than gold.
Weight
Just from holding it, jewelry experts can tell platinum from other white metals. Platinum is much heavier than gold.
Color
If you are into yellow gold, the choice is clear, but if you're a fan of white metal, then you have a choice that needs to be made. We have touched briefly on the different purities of gold, and now we will go over how those purities affect color. Gold is naturally a yellow metal and is mixed with other metals to not only improve durability but also to change the color. Therefore, the higher purity golds have more yellow tint present than the lower. With the use of a chemical process, jewelers can plate white gold in order for there to be no presence of yellow. Platinum, however, is naturally white and does not need plating.
Purity
One big difference between gold and platinum is purity. You can have 10k gold which is less than half gold and mostly alloy, 14k gold which is just over half gold and half alloy, or 18k gold which is mostly gold but still contains about 75% alloy. Platinum jewelry, however, has a more pure composition with most platinum engagement rings containing between 90-95% pure platinum. Since platinum is more durable than gold it does not require the same amount of alloyed metals gold does to be stable enough for jewelry.
Hypoallergenic
There are many people out there who love jewelry but are limited in what they can wear due to a metal allergy. For example, many people can't wear plated jewelry because their skin gets irritated by the presence of nickel. Platinum is a safe choice for those who have metal allergies because it is hypoallergenic. Gold, on the other hand, is not such an easy answer. Gold in its pure form is hypoallergenic like platinum, but we already know that the gold used in jewelry is never pure and will always be mixed with other metals to either enhance its durability or alter the color. Depending on the gold purity and how severe someone’s allergies are, gold may not be the best option. The lower the gold purity, the more likely the jewelry is to cause someone with metal allergies to have a reaction. For example, a 10k gold engagement ring would be a risky choice for someone with metal allergies but 18k would be a safe bet.
No matter what you choose, you can't go wrong. Both gold and platinum are excellent choices for engagement rings and any jewelry style for that matter. Both are durable, valuable, and most importantly, beautiful. It’s important to note that if you are buying jewelry for someone else, many people have a preference on what metal they like their jewelry to be set in. If you aren't sure which they would like, it's best to get with their friends and family to ensure they will love it! If you have any questions or need help picking out your next piece of jewelry, remember that the Lola Ade team is only an email away!