Plating
Rhodium Plated
(White Gold only)
White Gold rings are composed of gold, alloys, and a rhodium plating which gives it a white look that’s very similar to Platinum. The same Karat of Gold (14 or 18K) in white and yellow gold have the same gold content and purity, but the alloys in White Gold (and the rhodium plating) make it appear white, while the alloys in yellow gold preserve the yellow color.
Over time the rhodium plating in White Gold will wear off and fade to a yellowish tinge. Once you re-polish and re-plate the White Gold ring, it will look white again. Platinum, which is naturally white, will not fade to yellow.
Platinum is the most expensive of the precious metals, due to stunning appearance and superior durability.
While Gold and Platinum can be close in price per gram, Platinum is more dense and so more of it is required to make a ring. Additionally, Platinum rings are usually 95% pure Platinum, while 14K gold is only 58.5% gold (18K gold is 75% gold). Hence, Platinum rings are more expensive.
Though both Gold and Platinum are strong and durable precious metals, Platinum is the stronger and more durable of the two. For example, the prongs holding the center stone of a Platinum engagement ring are less likely to break than those of a Gold engagement ring.
Since Platinum is more dense than Gold, the same ring will be slightly heavier in Platinum. For engagement rings the heavier feel is minute enough that it won’t affect comfort. Large bands, where there is substantial metal, is where there will be a notable difference in weight.
All of ILA’s precious metals are recycled, which means we reclaim precious metal already in circulation, refine it, and then create all of our designs from the pure metal. This ensures no new mines were dug to make any of our jewelry.
