Platinum and white gold may look nearly identical, but they are actually quite different — in makeup, durability, and price.
Whether you’re choosing between a platinum or white gold engagement ring or you have platinum or white gold jewelry to sell, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about these two popular metals:
- Which is more valuable white gold or platinum?
- What are the differences between white gold and platinum?
- What are the benefits of white gold vs. platinum?
- Platinum vs. white gold: Which is better?
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Is platinum worth more than gold, or is gold worth more than platinum?
Generally speaking, platinum is more valuable than white gold, though its resale value is less stable, and fewer shops are willing to buy it back.
Platinum spot price was per ounce as of .
As of , the spot gold value in the United States was trading at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.
While the price of platinum is currently lower than the price of gold, platinum jewelry contains a greater percentage of pure platinum (typically 95% or more) than white gold contains in pure gold:
- 24k gold = 99.9% pure (not suitable for jewelry)
- 18k gold = 75% pure
- 14k gold = 58.3% pure
The amount of pure metal is often stamped on jewelry.
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What are the differences between white gold and platinum?
To start, platinum is itself a precious metal, while white gold is an alloy of pure gold and other metals. These are some other differences between platinum and white gold:
What is platinum?
Platinum is a dense and malleable precious metal with a silvery-white appearance.
What is white gold?
White gold is an alloy of pure gold combined with other metals like silver, nickel, palladium, or zinc to dull its yellow color. White gold is often plated in rhodium to make it appear pure white.
White gold was originally developed to imitate platinum, according to the United States Geological Survey.
White gold vs yellow gold: What’s the difference, which is worth more?
Platinum vs white gold durability
Platinum is denser than gold, which means it's less likely to break and does a better job of keeping gemstones in place.
However, rhodium-plated white gold is harder to scratch than platinum. Note that white gold needs to be replated every six months to a year, which can cost $50-$120 each time, depending on the jeweler and the size of the item you’re plating.
Platinum vs white gold color
When it’s plated in rhodium, white gold and platinum have the same silver-white color (though white gold may be slightly lighter in appearance). Without rhodium plating, white gold is slightly more yellow in color than platinum.
Because rhodium plating fades with time and wear, white gold should be replated every six months to a year to maintain its pure white appearance.
Platinum vs white gold price
Platinum is typically more expensive than white gold.
When it comes to engagement rings, New York City jeweler Frank Darling reports a platinum engagement ring costs about $300 more on average than a white gold engagement ring of similar style.
This video may help you choose between white gold and platinum:
Sterling silver vs white gold: What’s the difference, which is worth more?
What are the benefits of white gold vs platinum?
If you’re shopping for a white gold vs. platinum piece, here are some things to keep in mind:
Platinum vs white gold engagement ring: Why use platinum instead of white gold?
While a platinum engagement ring will likely cost a few hundred dollars more upfront, a white gold engagement ring may cost more in the long run when you consider the cost of regularly replating its surface.
Is it worth buying a platinum ring?
Because it requires less maintenance than white gold, buying a platinum ring might be worth it if you can afford the higher upfront cost.
Is platinum better than white gold?
Neither platinum nor white gold is “better” than the other. Platinum is less prone to breakage, while white gold plated in rhodium is more scratch resistant than platinum.
Which one you choose largely depends on your budget, since platinum generally costs more than white gold — though it has a less stable resale value.
18k white gold vs platinum
18k white gold is made of 75% pure gold and is closer in price to platinum than 14k white gold. These two identical engagement ring settings from Blue Nile — one in 18k white gold and the other in platinum — have an original price difference of $150.
14k white gold vs platinum
14k white gold is made of 58.3% pure gold, which makes it less expensive than 18k gold — though it’s also more resistant to scratching and bending because of its higher concentration of other metals. This 14k white gold setting from Blue Nile is about $250 less than its identical platinum setting above:
Bottom line: Know the differences between platinum and white gold before you buy or sell jewelry
When you’re comparison shopping platinum and white gold jewelry, it’s important to understand their differences before you buy.
Platinum generally costs more upfront but may be less expensive in the long run, while white gold is more resistant to scratching but not as strong as platinum. Gold is also typically a better investment because of its stable resale value.
When you’re selling white gold or platinum pieces, you should always sell to a reputable precious metals buyer.
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CashforGoldUSA buys white gold and platinum — as well as other metals like silver, palladium, and gold in all its forms (raw gold, gold bullion, gold scrap, gold jewelry, pearls, gold coins, etc).
Get an offer for your white gold and platinum from CashforGoldUSA >>
Generally speaking, platinum is more valuable than white gold, though its resale value is less stable, and fewer shops are willing to buy it back.
Platinum is a dense and malleable precious metal with a silvery-white appearance.
White gold is an alloy of pure gold combined with other metals like silver, nickel, palladium, or zinc to dull its yellow color. White gold is often plated in rhodium to make it appear pure white.
While a platinum engagement ring will likely cost a few hundred dollars more upfront, a white gold engagement ring may cost more in the long run when you consider the cost of regularly replating its surface.
Because it requires less maintenance than white gold, buying a platinum ring might be worth it if you can afford the higher upfront cost.
Neither platinum nor white gold is “better” than the other. Platinum is less prone to breakage, while white gold plated in rhodium is more scratch resistant than platinum.
