Post # 1
Member
68 posts
Worker bee
I’m in the process of getting my ring made and I’m having so much trouble deciding what metal to use! Hoping for some good advice. Here is my thought process so far:
– I really want a hypoallergenic metal. I’ve read a lot of stories of people who developed an allergy to their white gold ring after several years of wearing it. If that happened to me, I would be crushed if I have to replace my ring, so I’d rather not worry about it.
– My jeweller offered to make the ring in an 18K palladium white gold alloy which would be hypoallergenic, at an extra charge of $400.
– Initially, I didn’t feel like paying a premium for platinum ($700 extra compared to a 14K white gold). I was worried about the “dull grey patina” I read about, and I like the bright white shininess of rhodium plating. I do like the idea of platinum being so low-maintenance though (not needing to be re-dipped). Anyways, then I realized, if I am already going to be paying an extra $400 for 18K white gold, I might as well add an additional $300 for the platinum right? The fact that the 18K ring will have to be re-dipped every so often would further minimize the price difference between 18K white gold and platinum.
– So, now I’m leaning towards platinum. My jeweller said they can rhodium-plate the platinum as well to get that nice shiny look. But then I’ve read people saying plating platinum is totally unnecessary. If I do decide on platinum, should I plate it or not? (No extra charge for it.) I assume that I might not need to ever re-dip it since even if the plating wears off over time, it will still be white underneath. But would a “worn-off” rhodium plating look worse than if I just had platinum on its own?
Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with these metals!
Post # 2
Member
1701 posts
Bumble bee
For me, it would be platinum (950/Ir, less scratch-resistant than 950/Ru and 900/Ir) but I like the patina and lack of maintenance.
White metal, high shine, hypo allergic and no plating…that is the holy grail of ring metals.
Palladium 950 (not palladium white gold). This is a platinum family of metal, but is much more scratch resistant than platinum (but less than gold). Palladium will scratch (mostly large ones will show) and the area under your finger will patina. But the top will be shinier than platinum.
Platinum (even the preferred alloys of 90/10iridium and 95/5ruthenium), becasue it is squishy, will develep a fine series of scratches over time – but can be re-polished every year without loss of metal where gold will lose metal. A patina. Palladium is harder, so it only shows the deeper scratches on the surface (akin to gold). Pallaidum can have issues with porocity if not handled properly and not all jewelers can deal with it.
Also, palladium is the greyest of the white metals, but being polished tends to make it look warmer due to reflection of you skin color. See this thread for metal color chart from John Pollard (https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/calling-yssie-white-gold-experts-my-head-is-done-in.175144/)
The below pics from PS (not my rings) show a ring with about 5 months of wear on them.
Post # 3
Member
406 posts
Helper bee
I think that rhodium is less gray than platinum, so you would notice a difference in color once it wears off. It would have to be replated to maintain the look. I guess it comes down to how much you like the look of patina and how willing you are to have it replated as needed. My rings are platinum and I started finding the patina attractive after about a year of wear. I don’t think it was seasoned enough before that. Lol
Post # 4
Member
2352 posts
Buzzing bee
I HATE my white gold engagement ring. I piss and moan about it all the time. Now, granted fiancee and I both agree that we should have done more research but the fact that I have to dip it so damn often is just a waste to me. I have a platinum band both are antiques. One will be my wedding band, one I just couldn’t pass up. Love em both. Wear one now and LOVE IT!
Post # 5
Member
7 posts
Newbee
We had the same debate. Have you picked your setting that can play a lot into it too.
We went with platinum. My original was white gold and my body chemistry eats the plating off, so I’d spend the time to have it dipped (and money) only to have it look yellow again in about a month. Have you had issues with metals in the past? I cannot wear gold in my piercings but never had an issue with my ring or necklaces, but I was worried about allergies as well. I looked very seriously into palladium, but like I was hesitant with it because of the few jewelers that work with it at this point. Ultimately what made me choose platinum was the reliability of it. It is the top choice for prongs and after losing a stone from my white gold ring (finding it, having it reset, and losing it again) I was in the market for something that wasn’t going to have anything fall out. The weight is a bonus, I love how substantial it feels (I heard people talk about that, but waved it off, now that I have one I love it.)
Post # 6
Member
68 posts
Worker bee
Wow, seems like almost everyone is loving platinum! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Also glitterysala the pictures are very helpful!
I definitely considered palladium too but it doesn’t seem like my jeweller does pure palladium rings (only the white gold palladium alloy).
One more question: most people voted for unplated platinum, is there a reason why plating platinum would be a bad idea?
Post # 7
Member
68 posts
Worker bee
Redheadedninja: we did pick out the setting already, it is a thin three-stone setting. How would that affect the metal choice?
Post # 8
Member
2667 posts
Sugar bee
cjk88 : rhodium dipping isn’t really NECESSARY for white gold, it’s more of a preference thing. The yellowishness some people can notice in white gold comes from the fact that gold is yellow to begin with right? And the higher the karat of gold the softer the metal is and also the more likely it would be to show a yellow hue simply because it contains more yellow metal. So based on that I would say your best bet to get the best price, a tough metal and an enduring white color, though it wouldn’t be your jewelers preference as he/she is a business person trying to make money and you weren’t even offered this option, would be to ask for 10k white gold.
Post # 9
Member
7 posts
Newbee
cjk88 : if you have a setting with a lot of exposed metal it’ll make a difference on how much of the yellowing (white gold) or patina (platinum) you can see. I have a pave setting and doubt I’d be able to see either unless I was looking at the bottom or sides, places no one else will see. But my white gold ring had a lot of exposed metal, channel set, and you could see it very easily.
Post # 10
Member
36 posts
Newbee
cjk88 : I had my ring made in palladium because I’m allergic to gold and it was much cheaper than platinum. My ring looks silver and is very shiny. It doesn’t look different from white gold from what I can tell. If you’re worried about skin reactions then I definitely suggest platinum or palladium. And it’s nice that o dingy have to have my ring dipped or anything and it’s a very strong metal. However to have my ring made in palladium my jeweler had to send the design to someone who specialized in palladium.
Post # 11
Member
68 posts
Worker bee
Redheadedninja : oh right, I see what you mean. Yes, because mine is going to be a three-stone ring not much of the band will be showing from the “top” view, so I guess it’s less important.
Seems like a lot of people really like palladium! I wish my jeweller would do palladium, maybe I will ask them again…it seems difficult to find jewellers that will work with palladium though. Too bad. 🙁