New Engagement Rings

In modern times, there is already a wide variety of engagement rings available. Of course as in usual traditions, engagement rings comes with a diamond.

Important factors to consider in choosing a diamond are its clarity, color, cut and carat. But how about in choosing which metal to use?

Most men and women prefer rings made of gold and platinum. But just recently, white gold rings became more popular than platinum and yellow gold rings. Even when it comes to engagement and wedding rings, couples prefer buying these kinds.

They found it more unique and sophisticated. However, many people cannot actually distinguish a white gold from platinum because they almost look the same. They somehow have the same appearance, but they have their own qualities and properties that make them unique in their own way.

How does White Gold Differ from Platinum?

Many people fail to distinguish white gold from platinum. As mentioned above, both metals have almost the same appearance. But they definitely differ from one another in many ways.

White Gold is a combination of an alloy of gold and some metals such as silver and palladium. Their carats come in 18kt, 14kt, 9kt or any other karat. Nevertheless, white gold has the same amount of gold with most yellow golds but the alloy is different.

Long before, nickel was used in making white gold, but they have been said to cause reactions with some individuals. At present, nickel was already not used in white gold productions.

Later produced white gold rings are coated with Rhodium (another white metal), which is the reason why white gold somehow look like platinum. Rhodium is a kind of metal that is very similar to platinum, having many of the platinum’s properties as well especially its white color.

Makers use rhodium plating to make the white gold look whiter, because the natural color of white gold is actually light grey color. Thus, jewelries made of white gold must be taken care of very well in order to maintain them at their best looks.

Rhodium is a very white hard metal, but eventually it does wear away too. Handlers or owners should re-rhodium plate their white gold jewelries after 12-18 months.

On the other hand, platinum is a very white metal. And unlike gold, platinum is produced in its purest form. It is very white that it does need to be coated by any other metal. And unlike white gold, platinum doesn’t need to be rhodium-plated.

At present, platinum ring is more expensive than a white gold ring. It actually costs twice higher than that of a white gold ring because of its rare and unique beauty, above all other else.