Tuesday 27 May 2008

White Gold vs Platinum Jewelry

Jewelry pieces are available in a wide array of metals. Perhaps the two most common metals which one will see with jewelry are gold and platinum. For those who like white-tone jewelry, white gold and platinum present two options for jewelry shoppers to choose from if they are searching for a higher end metal which is durable and considered to fit within the fine jewelry category. The following will list some things to consider in order to determine which type of jewelry metal is right for you.

Durability Factor

When comparing the two types of metal, platinum tends to be a bit more durable in consistency than white gold. Although both metal varieties in a jewelry item should be treated with care, the platinum items may be able to handle a bit more wear and tear than their white gold counterparts. If you are searching for a ring, necklace, bracelet or other type of jewelry piece which is durable then platinum might be your best bet.

Color Tone of the Jewelry

Although both white gold and platinum are of a whitish color, white gold is only so due to the adding of alloys to pure gold. White gold is usually comprised of a combination of metals such as gold, silver, palladium, zinc, and copper. In order to make the color whiter a coating of rhodium is often placed on top of the white gold. On the other hand, platinum jewelry is already a whitish color and does not usually need rhodium to be placed on top of it in order to whiten the overall color. Depending on your tastes, choosing one type of metal over the other should be based on your individual desires as the final product is usually white in both cases. It is just through different manufacturing processes in which the jewelry items reach their final color.

Cost

If you are hoping to compare white gold jewelry and platinum jewelry on the basis of cost you will usually find that platinum jewelry is more expensive than white gold jewelry items. This is due in part to the pure consistency of the platinum metal in addition to the preciousness of the metal itself and difficulty in the manufacturing process. With that said, no matter what your price range may be when shopping for jewelry items, if you are searching for a platinum piece of jewelry you can often find a good deal on this item albeit you may have to pay more in the end than if you were buying a white gold item.

Product Availability

For those who are going back and forth between selecting a white gold piece of jewelry and a platinum product you may be wondering which one is more readily available on the general consumer market. Today the trend is to see many more platinum jewelry items being sold by retailers than in the past. Platinum is extremely popular these days as the favorable qualities surrounding this type of jewelry item attract individuals. However, jewelers still carry a great deal of white gold items due to the constant desire of purchasers to buy this type of jewelry. White gold is less expensive than many pieces of platinum jewelry and although it may not be as durable it is still a good choice for many. A diamond will usually look whiter when it is set into a platinum engagement ring. In the end it is ultimately up to the jewelry purchaser to determine which metal type is best suited for them and purchase an item which has the qualities they are looking for in a lovely piece of jewelry.

James Greene is a Graduate Gemologist and Master Gemologist Appraiser. James has been in the Diamond, jewelry, and appraisal business for over 25 years and specializes in Diamond Engagement Rings and Loose Diamonds.

No comments: