Platinum Vs White Gold; Why is My White Gold Ring Turning Yellow?

Many women complain that their white gold jewelry is turning yellow. They dont understand why this is happening and theyre confused.

I am the author of a platinum brochure that helps clear up some of the confusion. In it, I delve into the history of platinum as well as answer some of the most popular questions concerning platinum vs. gold. For example:

Q: What is the difference between white gold and platinum?

A: There is a tremendous difference between the two metals and it has to do primarily with purity. White gold is a fabricated color. In order to obtain the white look of white gold, pure gold is diluted with white metal(s), such as nickel. However, this resulting metal is still not a true white and must be plated in platinum to achieve the look of platinum. Over time, this plating wears away and a yellowish tint emerges. This yellowish hue is not tarnish; it is the true color of white gold. To restore the white and bright finish, the metal must again be plated. Platinum, on the other hand, is 99% pure and will always remain naturally white.

Heres another question that often comes up.

Q: Why does platinum cost more than white gold?

A: The market value for platinum per ounce is much higher than gold. One reason is that platinum is much more rare than gold. In fact, it is 60 times rarer. It takes ten tons of ore and eight weeks to produce just one once of platinum. But its worth it.

There is an additional factor to the price disparity. While platinum requires less ongoing maintenance than that of silver or gold, platinum does require very special attention when fabricating a quality piece of jewelry. Today, there are few jewelers who can work well with platinum. It requires special tools, special techniques and highly trained individuals.

Platinum is the metal of kings. Its pure and its dense. Did you know that a six inch cube weighs an incredible 165 pounds? Ive always advised my customers to purchase platinum when they could afford it.

Gerard Bianco was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He has been designing and creating jewelry for over 40 years. He owns and displays his creations at Porte 4 Fine Jewelry in Portland, Maine. (http://porte4.com) He is also the award winning author of the new mystery/thriller, The Deal Master, which is available at Borders Books. His web site is: http://www.gerardfbianco.com1 Aarp Health Insurance