White gold or platinum-which one is best?

Both precious metals are popular for fine jewelry. Both look very similar. There are important differences to consider in making your choice. White gold is a mixture of pure yellow gold with other metals such as nickel that give it hardness and a whitish color. It must then be plated with rhodium to give it a bright white luster, and may eventually need re-plating. Platinum is used in almost pure form, is very dense and a bit softer than gold alloys so it scratches a bit more easily but can always be repolished. Platinum is intrinsically white and does not require plating. For engagement rings many people prefer platinum for its purity and durability despite the fact that it is more expensive than white gold. For fashion jewelry that gets more occasional wear, most prefer white gold, especially in earrings and larger pieces that will become very heavy and expensive in platinum.

For more information on precious metals please see our page with an overview of common jewelry alloys.