Do you want to know the advantages and disadvantages of platinum, platinum, silver? Or want to know the difference between these three high-quality metals. Or you’re not sure which metal to choose when it comes to jewelry and engagement rings? Read on to find out which one best suits your needs.
Platinum, White Gold, Silver
Platinum
Platinum is a dense chemical element that is at the same time highly non-reactive and resistant to corrosion. It is equally malleable and is considered a precious metal. The color of platinum is whitebait white. Its compactness makes it the heaviest precious metal. It is resistant to discoloration, making it ideal for making beautiful jewelry.
Platinum is a rare metal and difficult to find, making it a precious metal with high economic value. When mined, you can find platinum at its purest, but it is almost non-existent with other metals in the group. On Earth, most platinum is mined in South Africa.
Merit
- Of course, you will find platinum with a striking bright off-white color. This luster is maintained with just a quick polish, making it a premium metal suitable for everyday use. Platinum is also durable and does not require as much maintenance as white gold or silver. It is also not easy to scratch. Therefore, you can enjoy platinum because it does not require an additional trip to a jeweler for polishing.
- The durability of the metal makes platinum an ideal metal for fixing diamonds and gemstones.
Shortcoming
- The failure of platinum is that over time, it forms a patina, darkening the metal. This is a flaw for people who like shiny metal.
- Platinum is quite heavy. Some wearers may like its weight, while others may find that this is not their preference.
White Gold
White gold is an alloy of palladium, silver, nickel and pure gold. It is their color that gives platinum its color. Essentially, pure gold has a bright golden yellow color.
However, when it has a higher silver content, or in this case, a silver metal, it will look whiter. One thing to note is that some people may have an allergic reaction to nickel alloy when it is used.
There are many types of carat full gold, with 14k being the most popular. It consists of 53.3% gold, with the rest made up of other metals. People tend to choose 14k white gold because they are more resistant to discoloration.
This means that 18k white gold is less suitable for everyday wear. Externally, 18K jewelry looks brighter and whiter because it is less prone to oxidation compared to 14K jewelry.
Merit
- Due to the plating of the precious metal rhodium, white gold has a mirror effect.
- White gold is a very soft metal. This allows jewelry manufacturers to twist metal into incredible designs that other metals cannot. Compared to other metals, white gold has more design options.
Shortcoming
- People who own white gold jewelry worry that rhodium will eventually fade. Things that used to be gray are starting to look yellow. If you want to maintain the white luster, you have to constantly re-plate, which is an additional expense.
- The softness of white gold means that it is more likely to be scratched by frequent wear. This means that you must consider saving white gold jewelry for special occasions.
Silver
Silver is a transitional metal with a soft texture and a white color. It has the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity as well as reflectivity compared to other metals. Since silver is soft, it mixes with other metals.
The silver used in jewelry is a combination of 92.5% sterling silver and 7.5% copper. When combined, you will get a strong alloy that is perfect for making jewelry.
Another type of silver used is filled silver, also known as silver plating. Here we coat a layer of silver on cheaper metals, which is applied by heat and pressure. The layer is thick enough that you can use it; You can even carve jewelry without exposing the base metal underneath.
Merit
- The wonderful thing about silver is that its off-white color makes the gemstone even more eye-catching.
- Silver itself is a very soft metal, so dents and scratches are prone to occur. However, this is not how silver jewelry is sold. What we have on the market is sterling silver. Compared to gold, it is less likely to have stretching and other problems.
Shortcoming
- The concern for silver is that it will quickly lose its luster. Air pollutants, humidity, and even moisture can fade jewelry. As a result, you will find yourself needing to clean your silver jewelry more. You must also store it separately.
- While sterling silver being hard is a welcome thing, it can be too difficult to carve. Compared to the other two metals, this metal produces the least engraving effect.
Platinum, White Gold or Silver for Engagement Rings or Jewelry?
When it comes to engagement rings and wedding rings, a large portion of them are made of gold or platinum. When it comes to platinum jewelry, most are made from 90% to 95% pure platinum; The other part is iridium, copper, palladium, titanium or rhodium.
It is important to note that when platinum must be made from more than 95% virgin metal, any other metal must be called a platinum alloy.
The reality is that platinum is indeed more expensive than platinum, but it is considered a worthwhile investment because it is cost-effective. This is because you will never need to be repainted like white gold.
Overall, platinum is considered the best choice for an engagement ring because it is durable and tough enough to withstand everyday wear. It is worth noting that it is a rather heavy metal. It is 40% to 60% heavier than gold. Not everyone will like this.
White gold is also the best, depending on its carats. 14K gold contains 58% gold and 42% other metals. For 18K gold,75%is gold and 25% is other metals.
With these percentages, you can know the allowable hardness of gold. The more alloys, the stronger and more durable the metal, the best for long-term wear.
Another reason for this long-term wear is the rhodium plating on the gold alloy. Rhodium is a hard, shiny, bright white heavy metal because it belongs to the family.
The reason people don’t like silver is that it is a soft metal. Therefore, it is more likely to tarnish than platinum or white gold.
This is not entirely a good thing for holding a precious gemstone or diamond. Platinum has a similar problem. Compared to white gold, it is malleable, which means it can be bent.
For example, when exposed to stress for a long time, you will find that the gemstone will fall off due to the movement of the setting.
This only happens when the ring itself is subjected to a direct force. In the same situation, white gold will be worn better. Unfortunately, if the impact is too hard, the platinum will crack and break.
How to Choose Between the Three?
There are many factors to consider when choosing the type of metal you need for your engagement ring or jewelry. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to choose.
Platinum: This metal is dense, heavy, and durable for everyday wear. It is also a metal favored by people who want a wedding ring. This is because it can withstand daily stress and still remain as it is. Another reason that attracts it is that it requires less polishing and maintenance. The downside is that it is heavy and since it is malleable, it does not always hold in the gemstone when force is applied.
White Gold: When it comes to white gold wedding rings, people choose another traditional metal. Depending on the carat, white gold also withstands daily stress well. Thanks to the rhodium plating, the surface finish is very shiny. People can also do more designs on white gold compared to platinum because it is not as dense. The disadvantage is that white gold needs to be re-rhodium plated to restore its luster.
Silver: Generally, silver is not a traditional metal used for engagement rings and wedding rings. Silver in jewelry comes in the form of sterling silver because pure silver is soft. When it comes to carving and design, silver can play more role. The disadvantage is that silver tends to tarnish compared to other metals.
Conclusion
If you want to buy an engagement ring, it is best to choose platinum or white gold, everything depends on the price you are willing to pay.