Platinum wedding how long

You might have heard that platinum is the "best" metal, but is it enough to justify a heftier price tag? We want you to decide for yourself! There are a lot of different factors that set these two white metals apart from one another. On the surface they may look the same, but they couldn't be more different. We've identified the five biggest differences between white gold and platinum rings that you'll want to know before you make any sort of jewelry decision:. A common misconception is that white gold and platinum metals will essentially perform the same over time because they look the same at the time of purchase.

This couldn't be further from the truth. White gold is a beautiful white metal, and we often recommend it, but any smart consumer should know some of the drawbacks of this metal as it ages. A white gold piece is not pure gold. When white gold is made, yellow gold is mixed together with white metals such as silver, palladium, or nickel. Once the metals are mixed together, a white gold piece will then be "rhodium plated" to give it a whiter, shinier finish.

This is what makes a white gold piece look the same as a platinum piece when they are both in new condition. It's very important to understand, however, that over time the rhodium plating finish will wear down and the jewelry will begin to show its natural yellow color.

When this happens, you'll have to get it rhodium plated again by a jeweler. Depending on how active you are and how often you wear the piece of jewelry, this could start to happen fairly quickly.

There is a long term commitment to maintenance when you agree to purchase white gold. Platinum , on the other hand, will age in a different way. Over time, platinum will fade in a different way. It won't turn yellow, like yellow gold; but, it will begin to lose its shiny finish and build a natural patina more on this in a bit.

Some people actually prefer this look because it will accentuate the brilliance of a diamond and make it appear more sparkly. To the untrained eye, palladium and platinum look identical. If you put a palladium ring next to a platinum one, the average person will see very little difference between the two.

However, when you look closer, there are a few small differences in appearance between these metals. The biggest of these is color.

Palladium and platinum are both extremely durable metals. However, palladium is very slightly harder than platinum, meaning a palladium wedding band will usually be a small amount more resistant to scratches than a platinum ring.

From a raw strength standpoint, platinum is a slightly stronger metal than palladium, with better corrosion and rust resistance.

However, the differences are relatively minor. Instead, it simply moves around on the band. Overall, both materials are hard and durable.

Platinum is a much more dense metal than palladium, meaning it weighs significantly more. On average, a platinum wedding band will weigh close to twice as much as a palladium ring of the same size. While some people like the weight and presence of a platinum wedding band, others prefer the lighter weight of a palladium band. Palladium and platinum are both hypoallergenic metals, meaning that neither of them is likely to trigger metal allergies. Metal allergies can be triggered by the additional metals used in gold and other metal alloys.

Palladium and platinum have a similar appearance, albeit with a few small differences. From a color perspective, palladium is ever so slightly darker than platinum. Palladium is a very durable metal that resists tarnish very well. Many people like this appearance. It is possible to resize palladium rings. However, resizing a palladium ring is a difficult process that can often be quite expensive.

Others may not offer resizing for palladium rings at all, either due to the difficulty or due to a lack of trained staff. White gold has a similar appearance to palladium and platinum. In terms of pricing, white gold is significantly more affordable than either metal. White gold is significantly less durable than palladium or platinum. Until quite recently, palladium was a significantly less expensive metal than platinum. However, the price of palladium has risen recently due to a massive increase in demand for palladium by industrial customers.

Although palladium is best known as a metal for jewelry, its most common use is in cars. Palladium is also heavily used in the production of electronics, dentistry equipment and other products. Currently, rings made from either metal are significantly more expensive than those made from 14k or 18k gold. If the demand for palladium or platinum changes in the future, one metal might become a more cost-effective option than the other.

Palladium and platinum both offer their own unique advantages. Overall, both metals are appealing choices that look great in a wedding band. Though both gold and platinum are strong and durable precious metals, platinum is the more durable of the two. For example, the prongs holding the center stone of a platinum engagement ring are less likely to break then those of a gold engagement ring. Pretty neat right? Despite being more durable, platinum is actually a softer metal than 14k gold.

This means it will scratch a little easier than 14k gold. However, an important thing to note is that when gold is scratched, the gold is lost and it looks like a scratch. When platinum is scratched, the platinum only gets moved from one place on the ring to another. And, it develops something called a patina finish the look of an antique ring. A lot of people love and desire a patina finish! While polishing a white gold ring may thin it out, polishing platinum just moves the metal back to a smooth finish.

Pro Tip: Re-polishing your ring will help restore the ring to near its original look for both platinum and gold. As mentioned above, platinum will always stay white but white gold needs to be re-polished and re-plated occasionally to avoid a yellow hue. This yellow hue usually appears several months to several years, depending on how much wear and tear the ring faces. Because platinum is more dense than gold, platinum rings will be heavier than gold as well. Some prefer the heavier weight, but some find the lightness of gold rings to be more comfortable.