Engagement rings and wedding bands have traditionally been made of gold for many years. Both white gold and platinum appear the same, with a silver metallic look that shines much better than yellow gold. However there are some major differences between the two.
When white gold rings are made, they are usually coated with another metal, rhodium, to give it its silvery shine. Without rhodium, white gold rings have an off-white color that is slightly yellow in color without the shine of a yellow gold. Since the rhodium coating can wear off, white gold rings need to be serviced with new coatings periodically.
Although more expensive, platinum makes an ideal substitution to white gold. Unlike white gold rings, which are made of only 75 percent or less precious metal, platinum rings are usually 95 percent pure. Platinum is also stronger than gold and because it naturally gives off a silvery shine, it is unnecessary to plate it with rhodium and will keep its brilliance forever.
