We explain the costs of gold vs platinum wedding and engagement rings.
When it comes to buying an engagement ring or wedding band for that special someone, there are many things to consider. Most customers have a ton of questions, from simple queries like “How much should an engagement ring cost?,” to more complex problems such as “How to wear engagement rings & wedding bands,” to specific questions like “How long does it take to get my wedding band or engagement ring?”
One of the most common things our customers ask about is the simple differences in gold and platinum when used in an engagement ring. Let’s shine some light on these differences.
The cost of gold vs. platinum wedding and engagement rings.
Simply put, platinum costs more than gold or any other metal.
However, platinum is the recommended metal for mounting diamonds for numerous reasons. It is 95% white metal, meaning it’s reflective, hypoallergenic, and more dense than other metals and therefore stronger.
Gold is a great choice as it’s slightly cheaper, and is still a very strong metal. Regardless of whether you choose white, yellow, or rose gold, the cost will be the same, assuming you are looking at the same purity, as measured in karats.
The cost of gold.
Regardless of which type of gold you choose, the higher you go in gold content (14, 18, 22, or 24 karats), the more expensive the ring will be.
The other thing to consider is that the purer the gold used in the ring, the softer the metal. For example, a 14-karat ring has 58% gold plus other alloys. An 18-karat ring, which has 75% gold plus other alloys, is softer. Of the three golds, white gold is the strongest.
Long-term considerations with platinum & gold rings.
It is important to know that down the road, white gold will lose its whiteness and become yellow with wear. Therefore, you may need to have your ring rhodium-plated to restore its whiteness and sheen. This will be an added cost later on.
So, when shopping for an engagement ring, try to consider platinum first. Despite the higher upfront cost, it will be a lower long-term cost because it requires less maintenance compared with a gold ring.
What about other metals for engagement rings?
A lot of people ask about silver for an engagement ring. Simply put, silver is rarely used in engagement rings. You hardly ever see a silver engagement ring any more unless it’s antique or art deco. Silver engagement rings were common many years ago, but silver is a softer metal and jewelers won’t recommend it for an engagement ring with stones.
Another common metal is palladium, which is in the platinum family. Palladium is something that we mainly recommend for men’s bands or plain bands for ladies. It is a little darker than platinum and a bit softer, as well.
There are other options for engagement rings. There is no set rule for one metal or another, but most engagement rings are made of either gold or platinum.
To learn more about engagement ring costs, feel free to visit either of our New Jersey jewelry store locations in Morristown or New Providence to see for yourself and talk to any of our expert jewelers.
If you’d like to talk to someone directly about engagement rings, you can contact us online anytime by emailing us directly at info@braunschweiger.com, or simply fill out our contact form. We’ll answer your questions quickly.