Deciding on the right metal for your engagement ring is just as important as choosing the diamond it will hold. There are three factors to consider when evaluating your options.

• Durability

• Appearance

• Cost

Between White Gold and Platinum, there are pros/cons to both.

 
Vanessa: "My original engagement ring is White Gold and my anniversary upgrade is Platinum. If I were to make another ring for myself, I would choose Platinum again simply because I don't like the hassle of rhodium plating (and that's coming from someone who literally has the plating system nearby, Lol).  That being said, Platinum is softer, so she just needs to make sure she doesn't go rock climbing, lift heavy boxes while wearing it, etc."

The majority of our $20K+ rings are ordered in Platinum unless she is a little more active with her hands and doesn't prefer to take her ring off for those activities (or if we're using a colored metal such as yellow or rose, of course).

PLATINUM

Platinum is considered to be the finest, and purest metal for jewelry. Advances in metalsmithing during 1900-1915, referred to as the “Edwardian” jewelry time period, made it possible for Platinum to used for jewelry making. The strength of this metal allowed for the airy intricate details we still love today.

Its density and durability is what also allowed these pieces to survive for the century that they have. Platinum boasts many benefits when compared to other metals, however these benefits come with a higher price given its rarity and density.

Pros

• Much more durable compared to Gold; Heirloom quality
• Although platinum can bend, it will not break as easily as gold. This provides more secure prongs to hold the diamonds
• Naturally white, it will never fade or need to be rhodium plated
• When Platinum is polished, layers are not stripped away
• Naturally Hypoallergenic

Cons

• Platinum is more expensive than Gold because of a few reasons. First it is 95% pure, therefore making it more costly than Gold. Also, Platinum is more labor intensive to work with. It requires higher temperatures for malleability and more polishing steps to bring out a bright shine.

Summary of Platinum

If you’re looking for increased durability, security, and a long-lasting appearance of white metal, Platinum is the best choice available.

With a Platinum ring you can be confident it will stay beautiful for generations to come.

GOLD

Gold has been used in jewelry as far back as 3000-4000 B.C., with the first known gold wedding rings emerging during the Middle Ages. Gold is one of the most common choices of metal for jewelry given its lower cost, range of colors, and durability.

24k pure gold is generally too soft to be used for "every day" jewelry like rings, therefore it is mixed with metal alloys such as silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to increase its durability. Most often rings come in 18 Karat (75% gold), 14 Karat (58.3% gold), and 10 Karat (42% gold).

Gold jewelry comes in yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold.

Pros

• More affordable than Platinum.
• Comes in a variety of colors
• Durable

Cons

• Less durable than Platinum, gold wears away over time
• White Gold has to be rhodium plated to maintain its white brilliance

Summary

Gold is a versatile metal with its many colors and ease of malleability. This metal is another good choice for engagement rings, but requires some maintenance and care overtime in comparison to Platinum.

Whichever metal you choose, you can be confident that your ring setting will be meticulously crafted at Vanessa Nicole Jewels. We do not believe in lightweight, hollow, porous settings. Our settings are held to the highest of standards and have been created with every day durability in mind.

We want you to wear your ring every day and ENJOY it! 

As always, Vanessa Nicole Jewels is more than happy to explain the benefits of each metal in more detail if you have additional questions.

Ready to Design the Ring of Your Dreams?

Vanessa Nicole is an award-winning designer, master diamond setter and author of the bestselling book The Perfect Custom Engagement Ring. She creates stunning custom antique engagement rings for clients all over the globe.