Last Updated on 04/01/2022 by Above Diamond
Are you unsure of the difference between white gold and platinum?
When talking about white gold, platinum, 90% gold, 18K gold, etc., many people may feel slight confusion as they are unsure which of these options are better than others.
Other than this, many have a misunderstanding that white gold and platinum (popularly referred to as “white gold” as well in the Thai language) are the same because of their similar silver appearance.
But they are not the same…
Because although these two materials do have a very similar physical appearance, they are made up of completely different components, the difference does not end here as the price gap is also quite vast.
More than that, lately we may often hear people talk about pink gold or rose gold…so what are they actually made from? How are they different from regular gold?
In this article, I will relieve you of all your questions. I will provide you the difference of each material as well as the pros and the cons of them in detail. You can also use this set of information when making a jewelry purchase in the future as well.
What Is 18k Gold? How Is It Different From 90% Gold?
Now I will begin my explanation, first of all, let us start with the percentage of gold as it is commonly misunderstood by some. Some have even misunderstood as the “K” in gold means it is fake gold, this is not the case at all.
“K” is derived from “Karat” which is an international unit of measuring gold. It differs from “Carat” which is used to measure the weight of a diamond. The number in front of the karat stands for a different percentage of gold used, 1K stands for 1/24 part gold. For example:
- 24K = 99.99% Gold (Globally used as investment gold bars)
- 23K = 96.5% Gold (Popularly used as standalone gold rings)
- 18K = 75% Gold (Standard for fine jewelry diamond rings that are used in most European high-end brands)
- 14K = 58.3% Gold (Popularly used in diamond rings from the USA)
- 9K = 37.5% Gold (Popularly used in lower-priced diamond rings)
The percentages that are not gold are different alloys that make the gold jewelry durable, these alloys could be silver, nickel, bronze, and rhodium.
Why Aren’t 23K Gold Rings Used as Diamond Rings?
That is because 23K gold rings (96.5% gold) contain too many gold parts which cause the jewelry to be softer and prone to bending. This is why they cannot be used for diamond setting, they will not hold on to the diamond well enough and so the chance of the diamond falling off is always there.
If you are wearing a gold necklace bought from a gold shop, take a look at the clasp of the necklace that is made from 23K gold. Once worn long enough, you will notice that the clasp will likely bent from everyday use.
In conclusion, 18K gold or 75% gold is a high quality gold that is most appropriate for a diamond ring setting or other diamond jewelry because of its already high value and durability. It is much stronger than 23K gold which is why it is more appropriate for everyday wear.
18K Gold Has Low Resale Value, Right?
Because 18K golds are still real gold, they will already have a lot of value. If you sell your gold, the resale value will be at 75% of that day’s gold value (Mark-to-Market) which when compared with 96.5% gold – the difference is minor. Unlike buying a smartphone from a popular brand or a luxurious car that has high price depreciation.
Is Buying 14k Gold or 9k Gold Better for Saving Money?
Because 14K gold and 9K gold will be made up of only 58.3% or 37.5% parts gold, respectively, their prices are much lower and are popular for lower-priced diamond rings to reduce the costs of the manufacturers.
Once you have worn these types of gold for a while, you may face 2 major problems – the gold may become pale and the gold may become brittle. This is because the ring is made up of many other metal parts that will continuously react with the environment, eventually, your diamond jewelry will have cracks or fractures which are difficult to fix.
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What is Platinum?
Platinum is one of the most valuable metals on the periodic table and is often used at the percentage of 90-98% in producing jewelry. Not only is its outer appearance as beautiful as white gold, but it is also much more durable whilst retaining its beauty if you know how to take care of it.
If you are considering the purchase of a platinum ring, this is the pros and cons of it you should consider:
Pros of Platinum
- It is hypoallergenic which means it is unlikely it will cause skin irritation.
- It is rarer than gold.
- It is a symbol of high status (Similar to Platinum Credit Cards)
- Is stronger than white gold and is hard to scratch.
- It has a finer color which is softer and more natural-looking than white gold.
- It will not peel off in your lifetime, there is no need for frequent polishing.
- It is suitable for those with paler skin tones such as those of Asian descent or Caucasian descent.
Cons of Platinum
- Has a 30-50% higher price than white gold (When used as jewelry)
- It is difficult to resize because of its durable nature, and so the costs for resizing is higher.
White Gold vs Platinum
When it comes to choosing the material for your beautiful diamond ring, many will ask themselves – “Which material is better, white gold or platinum?”.
The main difference in these materials is its elements, durability, and price. Even though they may appear similar externally, to the point where its similarity exceeds 90%, white gold rings will have to go through rhodium plating to create its shiny surface whereas platinum already has a natural shine and durability. Platinum is slightly darker in color, giving it a deep white tone which appears pleasingly natural.
In Thai, many may refer to platinum as “ทองขาว” (Tong Khao) to differentiate it from white gold which is called “ทองคำขาว” (Tong Khum Khao), but this may actually cause more confusion. The best way to refer to platinum is by calling its actual name. Platinum is a chemical element with “Pt” as its symbol and gold have “Au” as its symbol. They are different elements with their own set of unique characteristics.
White Gold vs Platinum: Mixtures
For the percentage of gold that is used in Thailand, there is an industry of 18K gold which is higher than what is popular in the United States, where 14K gold is popularly used.
As for platinum, “Platinum 90%” or “Platinum 95%” is commonly used. If I were to recommend one, I would recommend the 90% as when they are used as a ring setting they are less likely to be porous than the 95% platinum. The porous nature of the 95% platinum is more prone to damage.
White Gold vs Platinum: Care and Safe Keeping
When you wear platinum jewelry, it can be said that you can feel comfortable wearing them for the rest of your life because platinum is much more durable than 18K white gold, and so there is not as much need for maintenance in the long run. Even better, the color of the material will never change.
As for 18K white gold, you may find that it scratches easily. You may need to service it every 3-5 years (In the case that you wear it frequently), this causes the costs of 18K white gold maintenance to be higher than yellow gold in the long run because it needs to be constantly cleaned and polished to retain its smooth silvery surface.
White Gold vs Platinum: Price
The biggest difference you will notice is that the price is platinum is 30-50% higher than the price of white gold.
If we were to analyze the cause of this from the perspective of economics, you will find that the price per gram of these two materials is not that different, but from a scientific perspective, producing a platinum ring requires much more minerals as its density is much higher than white gold.
From the production viewpoint, platinum has a melting point of 982°C whereas white gold will melt at 732°C. The fire needs to be much hotter to melt platinum because of its extremely high durability.
This warrants a special room for production, the technicians cannot produce platinum in the same room as gold or silver, this is the reason why the production process of platinum is much more expensive than that of white gold.
If you are charmed by the durability of platinum and worry-free long term wear, a platinum ring is a highly alluring option but if you have a limited budget then a white gold ring will be sufficient for everyday wear.
The 3 Colors of Gold
When it is time to choose a gold material, you will notice that there are 3 choices:
- White Gold
- Yellow Gold
- Rose Gold/Pink Gold
What is White Gold?
White gold is an alloy that is produced from a mixture of pure gold and metal that has a white texture such as nickel, silver, and palladium.
Pros of White Gold
- Is much more affordable than platinum.
- Is more durable than gold because its mixture has stronger metals.
- Is more popular than yellow gold, especially for diamond rings.
- If a diamond is placed onto a white gold ring, it will appear whiter than on a yellow gold ring.
- It is suitable for those with paler skin tones such as those of Asian descent or Caucasian descent.
Cons of White Gold
- May need to be plated with rhodium once every 3-5 years to keep up its appearances, there is a small fee but it is not as costly as platinum.
What is Yellow Gold?
Yellow gold is made for accessories, it is made from pure gold, copper, and zinc.
As you may have known, the higher the “K” in front of the gold – the more parts of gold it contains.
Pros of Yellow Gold
- Is the most hypoallergenic when compared to the other colors of gold.
- Was the most popular type of diamond ring in the past, so they are suitable for vintage style rings.
- Is a color of gold that looks most natural because of its yellow color.
- Is the easiest to care for in all the colors of gold.
- Is the easiest to resize because of its softer nature.
- It can make lower-grade (K color or lower) diamond colors appear clearer.
- It is suitable for those with darker skin tones such as those of Thai descent or Indian descent.
Cons of Yellow Gold
- Some may not like wearing this color of rings.
What is Rose Gold/Pink Gold?
Rose gold or pink gold is a term used for gold that has a reddish-pink color, there is no difference in its two names and so both terms are popularly used.
The main reason why rose gold has its pink color is because of copper. The more copper is used, the more red the gold will appear. Usually, the mixture of 18K rose gold is 75% gold and 25% copper.
Pros of Rose Gold
- Is highly popular with the younger generations such as teenagers and newly working people.
- Is a romantic looking gold because of its reddish-pink.
- Is the most durable of all 3 golds because of its mixture of copper.
- Is suitable for every skin tone.
Cons of Rose Gold
- Is not suitable for those who are allergic to copper.
Conclusion: The Choice of Color Is Up To You
For those who are still trying to decide between white gold and platinum, I recommend you to reconsider the pros and cons once again – to ensure that you will receive what is best for you.
Platinum rings, despite its higher price and difficult resizing procedure, could be an interesting choice because of its durability and easy maintenance. It is an attractive option for those who want long-term ease of mind.
As for white gold, although durable, it is more prone to scratches than platinum but if you are worried that you may lose or gain weight in the future – resizing it is not a worry at all.
In choosing the color of gold for your next diamond ring, it is entirely up to your personal preference which is a topic purely based on styles. It is difficult for me to recommend this part.
When choosing a diamond ring, you may need quite a bit of time to contemplate your decision – if you want an expert’s advice – contact us now and we will help you find an eye-catching diamond of high quality whilst also remaining within your range of budget.
Read more: In-depth look at 15 popular engagement ring styles
