Platinum is the most expensive ring metal and it’s extremely popular for engagement and wedding rings.
It’s likely because the pros and cons of platinum rings are much more favorable than other ring metals.
Once you know what type of ring you’ll be getting when you choose platinum you’ll be desperate for one too.
Pros And Cons Of Platinum Rings
Platinum is a popular metal for engagement rings, wedding bands, and anniversary gifts. A platinum ring’s pros include its purity, durability, and beautiful white color. Platinum ring cons include its weight and cost.
Benefits of platinum rings
- It’s a very pure alloy
- It’s extremely durable
- A hypoallergenic metal
- Color complements gemstones
- It’s the rarest precious metal
Platinum is a very pure alloy
For platinum to bear the ‘platinum’ stamp it needs to be at least 95 percent pure. Pure platinum rings need to contain 950 parts per 1,000 and will be called:
- 950Pt
- 950
- Plat
- Platinum
It is also made from 5% cobalt, ruthenium, or iridium. If you find platinum rings with a 900Pt stamp they’re only 90% pure and will cost a lot less money.
If you compare it to gold a 14K gold ring only contains 58% gold. You can get purer gold jewelry (18K equals 75% gold) but it’s going to be much softer.
Platinum is extremely durable
A simple 6-inch cube of platinum weighs a massive 165 pounds, which is one of the reasons why its durability is off the charts.
Platinum is so durable it’s worth every penny because it offers so many benefits. Here are a few reasons why the durability of platinum is its biggest advantage:
- Doesn’t wear down and lose metal
- Holds gemstones in place securely
- Doesn’t discolor and tarnish
- It’s a low maintenance metal
Platinum doesn’t wear down and lose metal
Platinum isn’t going to wear down over time like gold so you don’t have to worry about it corroding away. If you have a thin platinum band it’s not going to fade away.
It’s going to hold onto metal when you scratch your ring too. When you scratch platinum rings it only displaces the metal, which means it’s pushed to the side.
When you scratch gold it falls off as it’s ripped away. If you buy a platinum ring, it’s going to weigh the same 50 years from now as it does today.
Don’t be scared to invest money in the ring even though jewelry isn’t a great investment, because you’ll be able to pass it down as a family heirloom.
Platinum holds gemstones in place securely
When you wear a platinum ring the prongs won’t wear down over the years. It’s something you will have to worry about when you’re wearing gold rings.
This is a huge problem when it comes to engagement rings and other expensive jewelry. You want platinum rings with diamonds and other precious gemstones to be strong.
If you want to get your platinum ring resized it’s nice to know the setting is less likely to be damaged because some people lose gemstones after the process.
Platinum doesn’t discolor and tarnish
Platinum is a beautiful white color that doesn’t need rhodium plating to retain its whiteness. White gold isn’t naturally white, but do you know how it’s made?
Gold has to be combined with copper, silver, nickel, and zinc to create a white look. It’s why gold and white gold can turn yellow and make your finger look green.
Thanks to the purity of platinum it has a unique natural white color that doesn’t tarnish, although it does dull slightly over the years.
Platinum is a low maintenance metal
You spend more money in the beginning when you buy a platinum ring, but it’s going to save you more in the long run. Platinum is a low-maintenance metal you can forget about.
Once you start wearing the ring you won’t need to worry about breaking or bending it. You don’t need to worry about rhodium plating affecting the color.
You might need to get a platinum ring polished now and again if you like it to look shiny, but nothing will affect the integrity of the ring.
I think the matte finish it develops over time compliments the sparkly gemstones, so it’s more of a benefit than a hindrance.
Platinum rings are hypoallergenic
The purity of platinum means it’s a hypoallergenic metal too. Platinum rings are the top choice for anyone who has sensitive skin.
Even after years of use you can develop an allergy to some metals and it will affect your skin, but you’ll be safe when you wear platinum rings.
There have been some positive patch-test reactions to platinum but it’s too rare to worry about. Keep in mind, this only applies to 950Pt platinum.
If you have platinum-plated jewelry it could still cause allergic reactions. This happens when the thin layer of platinum scratches away exposing the metals underneath.
White gold has a large mixture of metals inside it and any one of them could cause allergic reactions, so it’s not a great choice for those with sensitive skin.
There is a good reason why platinum is used in medicine so often. If it’s used in the medical industry because it’s so hypoallergenic you can trust the metal.
Platinum complements gemstones
You want a ring band to look good but it’s not the most important part of some rings. The setting and stones are a lot more important.
If you have a dazzling engagement ring with a diamond it needs to take center stage. The neutral white color of platinum ring bands helps with this.
Even if you don’t have gemstones in your ring the white look is extremely stylish. The natural patina look is classy and it can look shiny again after a polish.
Platinum is the rarest precious metal
Did you know it takes 8 weeks + 10 tons of ore to make one ounce of platinum? It’s the rarest precious metal on earth.
One of the reasons why we wear jewelry is because it makes us feel good. What could feel better than wearing something so rare?
It’s 30 times rarer than gold which is why it costs so much, but if you can afford it there is no debate when it comes to platinum vs white gold.
Have you ever heard of El Dorado, a lost city of gold, and Spaniard’s adventures in the New World? Gold was desired more than anything else because it was thought to be so rare.
Spaniards found a strange white metal and threw it into rivers hoping it would mature into a shiny yellow gold we love today because they didn’t know its value.
If you poured all the platinum on earth into a giant Olympic-sized swimming pool it would sit level with your ankles, but gold would fill 3 entire pools.
Disadvantages of platinum rings
- It’s heavier than gold and silver
- It’s very expensive
- Develops a matte appearance
- It’s harder to resize
Platinum is heavier than gold and silver
It’s good that platinum is so heavy because it makes it so durable, but you’ll have to carry the extra weight around on your finger.
Here are the differences in the weight of platinum and gold rings when each one has identical specifications except the metal:
- Platinum is 60% heavier than 14K gold
- Platinum is 35% heavier than 18K gold
A platinum ring will be a lot more noticeable when you’re wearing a ring with a wide band. It’s not too bad when you’re wearing a thin band.
No matter which band you choose a platinum ring is never going to be ideal for someone who doesn’t want to feel it on their finger although you’ll get used to it.
Platinum is very expensive
Platinum rings are expensive compared to gold rings because the metal is:
- Heavier
- Rarer
- Purer
They only mine 190 tons of platinum per year vs 3,300 tons of gold so it’s more expensive per ounce. When combined with the fact it’s 95% pure it’s easy to see why it’s so costly.
On the plus side, we’ve talked about how it’s low maintenance and how it’s going to last you the rest of your life.
Platinum develops a matte appearance
Even though platinum is stronger and more durable than gold your ring is going to be a bit softer. So it tends to scratch more easily than gold.
When something scratches easily it’s going to be a disadvantage, but platinum does have its upsides. The metal in platinum gets displaced when it’s scratched instead of being lost.
And more surprisingly it ends up with a matte appearance called a patina finish. It makes the jewelry look like an antique vs shiny and new.
The matte appearance occurs faster in platinum vs gold because it doesn’t have rhodium plating. It’s going to happen to all ring bands eventually.
If you want your ring band to be shine again take it to the jeweler for a polish. All the displaced platinum will end up back where it started.
Platinum is harder to resize
Are your rings suddenly feeling tight for some reason? Normally it’s okay but you might need to get your ring resized.
If you discover your ring is too small for your finger it can cause problems. Resizing a platinum ring isn’t as easy as resizing a gold ring.
It’s more difficult to resize platinum rings due to the properties of the metal. Here are a couple of big differences to explain why it’s harder:
- Removing the stones
- Using a laser machine
Much more heat needs to be applied to platinum and it’s a great conductor of heat, so if every single gemstone isn’t removed they’ll be damaged.
The amount of heat a jeweler needs to apply can’t be reached with a normal solder, so they’ll need to use a special laser machine some jewelers won’t own.
If you need to reduce the size of your ring choose sizing beads over traditional resizing because it’s easier and will cause fewer problems.
Questions + Answers
Does platinum turn your finger green?
Skin turning green is a normal reaction from the copper in your ring, which is why it happens a lot when you’re wearing gold and white gold jewelry.
It’s not going to happen when you’re wearing platinum rings because a 950Pl ring doesn’t contain copper. If your skin is turning green something else is wrong.
Maybe you have a platinum-plated ring and the coating is compromised. If you come into contact with the metals underneath the platinum plating it could cause a reaction.
Why is my platinum ring turning yellow?
A ring can eventually turn yellow because of the use consuming the rhodium coat letting the natural color of gold emerge, so it happens to gold rings.
You better check you have a platinum ring because it’s possibly white gold. There isn’t another reason because pure platinum rings don’t turn yellow.
Why does my platinum ring scratch so easily?
Platinum is a durable metal but it’s a bit soft. The metal is a 4 to 4.5 on the MOHs scale of hardness which goes up to 10. Diamond is ten on the scale for comparison.
If you don’t look after platinum rings correctly they are going to get scratched. Luckily it’s not going to do anything to the metal other than giving it a matte appearance.
How can I make my platinum ring shiny?
Why does my platinum ring look grey? Once it’s been scratched a lot the patina finish will look grey. Lots of people like it because diamonds look shinier.
But if you want a platinum ring band to look shiny again visit a jeweler. Once they’ve polished the band it will look shiny and brand new again.
Is platinum bad for your health?
It’s safe to wear a platinum ring so you don’t need to worry about your health. 95% pure platinum rings are hypoallergenic and great for people with skin conditions.
If you’ve experienced problems with white gold in the past, you’ll be pleased to know you’ll be able to wear the same white color without skin issues if you choose platinum.
How long do platinum rings last?
Platinum plating lasts around 3 years which is why it’s so cheap. 950Pl platinum is expensive because it will last you forever.
As long as you don’t get your rings resized too many times you’ll be able to pass it down to your kids or grandkids because it’s so durable.
Can you resize platinum rings?
Resizing a platinum ring is a perfectly safe and reliable solution if it’s too big or small. You can resize a ring without damaging or devaluing it.
Just make sure you take it to a professional jeweler with the correct equipment because they’ll need a laser. Once it’s resized you won’t know by looking at it.
Is platinum better than gold?
When it comes to platinum vs white gold it’s a personal preference. Platinum is more durable than gold and it’s going to last longer.
But gold is cheaper which is important when you’re trying to save money, plus it weighs less and can feel more comfortable on your finger.
The best platinum wedding bands are probably better than the best gold ones, but you’ll get a few people who think the exact opposite.
Do platinum rings wear down?
Even affordable platinum rings aren’t going to wear down like other metals. Platinum will wear away at a much slower rate although it’s still a metal so it won’t last millennia.
The metal isn’t going to disappear so your band looks thinner and you lose gemstones because the prongs malfunction. It will just scratch easily and look a little duller.
Can platinum rings be worn every day?
Can I wear platinum rings every day? Platinum does not wear away and holds precious stones securely. It also has a high melting point and it won’t look deformed like gold.
So it’s possible to wear your ring every day although you will need to be careful. It might be worth taking it off depending on your profession.
Why are platinum rings bad?
Platinum is difficult to work with because it’s less malleable. The cost of labor is more expensive because jewelers need special equipment for the metal.
It scratches easier than gold because it doesn’t have rhodium plating, so you’ll need to get it polished to make it shiny. It’s heavy and expensive too.
What are the disadvantages of platinum aside from the things we’ve looked at? I think it’s easy to work out whether a platinum ring is good or bad.
Pros And Cons Of Platinum Rings
If you’re thinking about getting an engagement ring, wedding band, or anniversary gift platinum rings are a great choice. The durability and purity of platinum are massive pros. I know the weight and costs are cons but it’s worth it for such a big purchase.