White Gold vs. Platinum

White Gold

White gold is a popular alternative to yellow gold, silver or platinum. Some people prefer the silver color of white gold to the yellow color of normal gold, yet may find silver to be too soft or too easily tarnished or the cost of platinum to be prohibitive. While white gold contains varying amounts of gold, which is always yellow, it also contains one or more white metals to lighten its color and add strength and durability. The most common white metals that form the white gold alloy are nickel, palladium, platinum and manganese. Sometimes copper, zinc or silver are added. The purity of white gold is expressed in karats, the same as with yellow gold.

White gold is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as silver and palladium. White gold can be 18kt, 14kt, 9kt or any karat. For example, 18kt yellow gold is made by mixing 75% gold (750 parts per thousand) with 25% (250 parts per thousand) other metals such as copper and zinc. 18kt white gold is made by mixing 75% gold with 25% other metals such as silver and palladium. So the amount of gold is the same but the alloy is different.

Is the color of white gold different to platinum?

If a white gold item has been rhodium plated (note: most white gold rings are rhodium plated) then the color difference will not really be noticeable at all. For example, the image on the left shows a rhodium plated 18kt white gold diamond engagement ring together with a platinum wedding ring. As you can see, there is essentially no difference in the metal color.

Then compare that with this picture on the left that shows the contrast in color between the natural colors of white gold and platinum. This men's white gold and platinum ring incoporates a combination of both platinum and white gold. The light sections are platinum, the darker sections are the natural color of white gold.

Platinum

Platinum is a white metal, but unlike gold it is used in jewelry in almost its pure form (approximately 95% pure). Platinum is extremely long wearing and is very white, so it does not need to be Rhodium plated like white gold.

Platinum is very dense (heavy), so a platinum ring will feel heavier than an 18kt gold ring.
Platinum is, however, very expensive. A platinum ring will be approximately twice the price of an 18kt white gold ring (excluding gemstone costs).

For most jewelry white gold is going to do the same job as platinum. Platinum is heavier and a bit more durable. It can be fabricated better when making complex items than gold, but simple solitaire rings generally are not made in a way that platinum is totally required. Platinum is easier to hand engrave, but there is plenty of engraved white gold jewelery, too.

When not rhodium plated, white gold is a bit yellowish and platinum is more grayish in color. Rhodium on a ring is a short term plating anyway so it is only an initial "look".

People will almost always recommend platinum, if you can afford it. I basically agree, but I wear a nice 14kt white gold diamond ring every day and it is light weight and looks just fine....So the answer is really a matter of choice in most cases.