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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Is platinum a better choice than white gold?

 

I bought a white gold promise ring in Feb/2000 and it has gone yellow. We have taken it back to the jewelers and they have sent it in for a rhodium plating. I am currently purchasing on layaway, a 14K white gold engagement ring. I'm having second thoughts about the white gold. Is it possible to have the jeweler send the ring back to the company and have the white gold replaced with platinum? If so what kind of price difference am I looking at? Would it be a wise decision to convert to platinum? The promise ring was bought at a "chain" store, the engagement ring is being purchased at a privately owned jewelers, will this make a difference?

Kevin Nieviadomy
- Bienfait, Sk, Canada

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There are many threads on this site about white gold, Kevin, and an FAQ on rhodium plating and white gold if you'd like to read more. But to briefly summarize them as a whole, I think you should be looking for a white gold ring that uses palladium-based white gold rather than nickel-based white gold (because it is whiter), and then you should insist on a warranty on the rhodium plating.

Not only is platinum about 50 percent more costly per ounce than gold, it is also heavier than gold. And platinum is usually used nearly pure, whereas your white gold is only 14/24ths precious metal. So platinum is a good deal more expensive than gold. Maybe 3X?

Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey