What is the REAL difference between white gold and platinum?
Price and care. Platinum is more expensive. It is heavier, wears very well, and will always be white. When I say “wears well” I mean that it doesn’t wear down over time. However, it is quite soft so it does scratch easily and becomes dull faster than white gold. There is no such thing as natural white gold-it’s all yellow gold that is alloyed with white metal (usually nickel) and then plated with white metal (usually rhodium). It is less expensive than platinum, more resistant to bending and easier to polish. However, because it is plated, the plating must be occasionally replaced to maintain the bright white appearance. Both are excellent choices, and in most cases it boils down to preference. Back to top… • 14 karat gold, 18k, and 24k gold-what’s the difference? Purity. Pure gold is 24 karat gold. It’s the heaviest-but too soft to be practical for most jewelry applications. 18k gold is 18 parts gold, 6 parts alloy (some other metal). Heavier than 14k gold, and a bit softer. 14k gol
