Platinum and white gold are visually very similar and are used in very similar types of ring settings, making it hard for the average person with an untrained eye to tell the difference between platinum halo engagement rings and white gold halo engagement rings. Here are some of the key differences and identifying traits between white gold and platinum halo engagement rings, styles in two beautiful but very different precious metals.
Platinum halo engagement rings will always show platinum’s natural pale whitish grey color. Platinum halo engagement rings will always be made with other alloy metals, but platinum halo engagement rings will not contain as high a percentage of alloy material as white or yellow gold. Platinum halo engagement rings are at least 95% pure platinum, whereas white gold or yellow gold jewelry is about 60% pure gold if it is 14 karat and 75% pure gold if it is 18 karat. Platinum halo engagement rings also have a much higher density than rings made with any type of gold, making it always twice as heavy, and it is stronger. Both metals are rare, but platinum is rarest metal used in jewelry and one of the rarest on Earth, so its price is significantly higher.
White gold, regardless of where or from whom you buy it, is simply natural yellow gold alloyed with pale metals like platinum, palladium, and nickel to lighten its color, and white gold jewelry is almost always electroplated with rhodium to give it its bright white shine. This is a standard process used by all makers of fine jewelry. Over time the rhodium will wear off and expose the gold’s more yellowish natural color and will need to be reapplied. Platinum halo engagement rings, on the other hand, do not need to be plated or tinted in alloys because platinum is naturally white.
Platinum halo engagement rings are harder and stronger than the gold version too, so platinum halo engagement rings are very popular as sturdier counterparts to ladies wedding bands and engagement rings in white gold. That way ladies can have the delicate, finely tooled and detailed halo engagement rings of their dreams to match simpler white gold wedding bands and mens wedding rings in color but not ding or break. Platinum halo engagement rings are also a good choice because they are so low maintenance. Along with not having the rhodium plating wear problem of white gold halo engagement rings, platinum halo engagement rings are harder to scratch than gold and they will not tarnish. If your platinum halo engagement rings start to look dark or discolored, they are not tarnished or permanently damaged, they are just dirty! Platinum halo engagement rings do pick up dirt, oils from skin, cosmetics, food, and work, and other basic grime that can accumulate on anything, but all that’s necessary is a simple soap and water buffing.