Gold versus Platinum Wedding Bands - Prices

[fireant911]

My wife just recently lost her wedding band. After searching throughout our home and her work, she finally accepted the fact that it is gone... We went shopping yesterday for a replacement wedding band and looked at gold and platinum bands. The jeweler informed us that platinum was much higher priced - we he showed us the price, the platinum was about four times higher (presumably for the same karat). We went to a second jeweler and received the same story. Years ago, I used to follow the precious metal market and platinum was always higher than gold... but not by much. I checked the prices of these metals yesterday after getting home and saw that gold was $1667.60/ounce whereas platinum was $1,683.00/ounce. Why is there such a huge difference in price between these two metals for a ring when the actual price difference is less than 1%?

[matt f]

One of the reasons may be more labor involved when working with platinum.

[Nostril Cheese]

I am so happy my wife didnt want a wedding ring.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by fireant911

My wife just recently lost her wedding band. After searching throughout our home and her work, she finally accepted the fact that it is gone... We went shopping yesterday for a replacement wedding band and looked at gold and platinum bands. The jeweler informed us that platinum was much higher priced - we he showed us the price, the platinum was about four times higher (presumably for the same karat). We went to a second jeweler and received the same story. Years ago, I used to follow the precious metal market and platinum was always higher than gold... but not by much. I checked the prices of these metals yesterday after getting home and saw that gold was $1667.60/ounce whereas platinum was $1,683.00/ounce. Why is there such a huge difference in price between these two metals for a ring when the actual price difference is less than 1%?

Platinum is also more dense, but about 10%, so you need more material. It is also harder to work with. Melting point of Platinum is 60% higher than of gold. (3214.9 °F vs. 1947.52 °F). And Historically, Platinum has been more expensive, so I think the jewelers are pricing platinum at twice that of gold.

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by matt f

One of the reasons may be more labor involved when working with platinum.

And perhaps a store would sell so few platinum bands, not much incentive to stock them. I'd think they's be special order.
I've had thousands of gold bands come through the pawn shop but never a platinum one. Very few plat rings of any kind.
I don't suppose your wife wants a used one; some people think it's unlucky.
Jim

[look 171]

different working properties, and market hype. More demand for the latest (it really became popular is the US about 20 years ago.) As far as cost difference, not much.

Personally I like platinum.

Is this a cast ring or completely hand made? Hand made is a lost art are and there are only a hand full of people that do it now. I am talking about people that can make a grape vine out of gold without a machine except to polish or use the ultrasonic cleaner as a final cleaning step. My father is one of those guys and I am lucky enough to work for him at an early age. Pricing maybe huge depending how the ring is made. Hope that help.

[John Rogers]

About 6 years ago my wife took one of my titanium valves that had gotten bent badly and had her jeweler form it into a wedding ring with an opening that has a diamond in it. Due to the working of the metal it came out black? It does get lots of comments and questions.

[Drdogface]

Never mind the band...it's the wife that costs the money...especially when they leave.

[Jferr006]

My engagement ring is platinum and my band is white gold. I can't tell a difference in the metal except that my engagement ring is really heavy as compared to a similar white gold band.

[peppy]

The price of gold has closed in on platinum, so the big difference is still a platinum ring is 95% platinum and a 14K gold ring is about 58% gold (10K gold is about 41% gold).

My wife's engagement and wedding band are platinum, but mine is white gold. If I remember the gold ring for me was under $150 and the platinum was around $1,300. This was in 2004 and before the big hike in gold prices.

[red-beard]

White gold alloys gold with other metals which are much less dense. There are many forumations of white gold.

[72doug2,2S]

Both the wife and I have platinum. Tiffany & Co were really into it when I purchased her engagement ring. So, it sounds like Plat isn't that much more now?

[UconnTim97]

My wife's engagement ring is platinum. It is always back at the jeweler to be set back to round and polished. The ring is really soft.
I ended up getting her a white gold one for everyday use and she wears the platinum one on special occasions, etc.
Get the gold ring. It will be much more durable in the long run.

[red-beard]

a very good read

Arden Jewelers - White Gold and Platinum Differences and Clarification

[Por_sha911]

White gold will yellow over time. Platinum will remain "whiter" when it has a rhodium finish.

[look 171]

white gold should always be rhodium. Other that, they will yellow a bit, but so would platinum. They just yellow differently as they get scratch or wear a little over time. Polishing isn't enough with whitegold.

[Schrup]

My wifes ring is platinum. I lost my white gold band & replaced it with a tungsten ring. I love it, still looks brand new two years later.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by Schrup

My wifes ring is platinum. I lost my white gold band & replaced it with a tungsten ring. I love it, still looks brand new two years later.

The guy that holds many of the patents on the tungsten rings custom made my wife's and my wedding rings plus a couple more pieces. Mine has a platinum face on 18k and the stones are set in the platinum.

Many custom jewlers can smelt/refine their own gold but, it's significantly more difficult with the platinum as has been said due to the temps involved. That alone drives some of the premium.

[Justin@Athens]

Tungsten...ebay $20

[scottmandue]

I wear a titanium wedding band, silver, non toxic, light, and a fraction of the cost of white gold.