Wedding ring advice

[darkshades]

Hi everyone,

So I'm hoping some of you have some expertise in this area and can help me out. I've been looking into engagement rings and wedding bands and have found plenty of info on choosing the right diamond. However, I can't decide on a metal for the rings. It seems like white gold and platinum are the two most popular choices. I'm wondering if anyone knows what some of the differences are in regard to maintenance and wear for these and if one is "better" than the other in your opinion. If you have any personal experiences with any of these kinds of rings, please share them...it would make things a lot easier! Thanks in advance!

 

[sho'nuff]

either choice is fine. white gold will hold its shine alot longer, but platinum is stronger and lighter. i know a few people who have platinum wedding bands and they look terrible even after a year. mine is still shiny cuz it's white gold.

congratulations

 

[Bhowie]

Platinum develops a nice patina. FTW

White gold has to be replated. FTL

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by Bhowie

Platinum develops a nice patina. FTW

White gold has to be replated. FTL

replated? why? it should be solid gold.

 

[magogian12345]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

replated? why? it should be solid gold.

No, it isn't. The gold is plated with rhodium to give it its white color. Rhodium wears away over time.

OTOH, platinum rings are typically 95% or more platinum.

 

[magogian12345]

Platinum actually will wear much better than white gold among other advantages. The only real downside to platinum is its cost.

 

[Bhowie]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

replated? why? it should be solid gold.

http://www.finishing.com/faqs/whitegold.html

12 karat white gold would be half gold and half other metals, including palladium and/or nickel. Nickel is much cheaper than palladium, so it is widely used in white gold jewelry in the U.S.; but so many people are allergic to nickel that it is forbidden in jewelry in Europe, and palladium would be used there instead.

 

[magogian12345]

I say this as someone who just spent a fair amount of time in picking and choosing an engagement ring, of which I just received last week.

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by magogian12345

No, it isn't. The gold is plated with rhodium to give it its white color. Rhodium wears away over time.

Originally Posted by Bhowie

i think i agree with bhowie, that the white gold is still solid but it is just a mix of gold and another metal. because my white gold (actually two tone) band is still white even after 7 years of abuse. center strip is white, outer edge is yellow gold.

 

[Bhowie]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

i think i agree with bhowie, that the white gold is still solid but it is just a mix of gold and another metal. because my white gold (actually two tone) band is still white even after 7 years of abuse. center strip is white, outer edge is yellow gold.

Read the full text of my link. The ring is plated in rhodium or some other metal.

 

[magogian12345]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

i think i agree with bhowie, that the white gold is still solid but it is just a mix of gold and another metal. because my white gold (actually two tone) band is still white even after 7 years of abuse. center strip is white, outer edge is yellow gold.

It isn't about "agreeing." (not sure if you are saying you disagree with me or not) From wiki, "Almost all white gold jewelry is rhodium plated since gold alloyed with palladium or nickel never comes out true white, but tinted brown, therefore requiring a thin layer of rhodium to mask the tinted shade and make it true white."

 

[alliswell]

Get 22K gold. It's a classic look, and it'll encourage you to get a gold watch. Also find a woman who doesn't like diamonds

 

[TheFoo]

White gold is most often plated to make it whiter, but it's still kind of white without the plating.

 

[magogian12345]

Originally Posted by alliswell

Get 22K gold. It's a classic look, and it'll encourage you to get a gold watch. Also find a woman who doesn't like diamonds

The problem with high "k" count white gold is that it is soft. This can be a big problem for an engagement ring, especially if you have smaller diamonds in a setting. Most jewelers will recommend a lower "K" count for an engagement ring.

 

[darkshades]

Wow! Thanks for all the feedback! so from what I've gathered so far, white gold needs to be replated cuz it's not naturally white (and I'm assuming platinum is since no one's mentioned that it needs to be replated to keep its color). as far as a high K gold, I don't want a soft metal that's going to lose the diamond...since someone mentioned plat. is stronger, would that probably make it the safer bet for holding diamonds?