White gold and platinum look the same, and many people ask what the difference is.
Here’s a brief explanation of the difference between the two metals – as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Not everybody knows it, but white gold doesn’t exist naturally.
It’s made from yellow gold mixed with white metal alloys like palladium or silver, and then it’s given a beautiful coating with a rare, silvery-white metal called rhodium. This final rhodium finish gives white gold its luminous sheen.
The reason why white gold is combined with alloys is because gold, as a metal, is extremely soft. If pure gold was used on its own in jewellery, it would bend out of shape very quickly. For this reason, both yellow gold and white gold have to be mixed with harder alloy metals, to make them more rigid and durable in jewellery.
You may have heard the term “carat”, abbreviated with the letter ‘K’. This measurement is used to describe the purity of gold. The measurement is on a scale of 24, where “24 carat” (or 24K) represents pure gold. 9K gold is therefore 37.5% pure gold and 18K gold is 75% pure gold. The rest is a mixture of alloy metals used to harden the gold.
Our white gold engagement rings are made with either 18K or 9K white gold, to suit your budget. All our gold jewellery items above 1 gram in weight are hallmarked in the UK. This means their gold carat weight is officially certified by the UK Government.
Rest assured, we do not use nickel as an alloy in any of our jewellery
Platinum is a naturally occurring white metal. It is rarer than gold, and much heavier and harder.
Platinum is a naturally occurring white metal. It is rarer than gold, and much heavier and harder. Because of its hardness it can be used in a purer form than gold, usually at about 95%. Platinum is consequently much more expensive than gold.
Many people believe platinum is scratch proof, but it can mark. The surface scratching of platinum jewellery is called “the patina of age” and is viewed as something desirable. The patina shows an item of jewellery is much loved and used, and gives it an heirloom feel.
The main advantage of white gold over platinum is that it is much more affordable.
However, you may need to recoat your white gold item in rhodium once or even twice a year, because wear and tear rubs away the outer coating and the yellow gold underneath becomes visible.
Recoating white gold jewellery with rhodium is not expensive, and it can be done quickly at most jewellers. But it does mean that you’ll need to maintain your jewellery regularly – over the years this cost can build up. In the case of engagement rings, you may also need to be without your ring for a few days, while it’s being recoated.
Platinum jewellery is initially more expensive than white gold. However, it can be argued that platinum is more cost effective in the long run because it does not need to be recoated.
We want you to feel completely confident when you shop with us. That’s why we offer FREE 30-day returns for refunds and 60-day exchanges across the UK and Northern Ireland.
If you’ve ordered a ring smaller than a size J or larger than a size Q, don’t worry — these are custom sizes, but we’re still happy to offer a free exchange or resizing if the fit isn’t quite right.
Changed your mind? No problem — you can cancel your order anytime before it’s been dispatched.
Just reach out to our friendly team via Live Chat, by email at customerservice@thediamondstore.com, or give us a call on 0345 084 1200 (or +44 345 084 1200 if calling from outside the UK). Please have your order number handy to help us assist you as quickly as possible.
Please note that for rings smaller than size J or larger than size Q, the width may vary slightly (up to 10%) due to the crafting process. If you need any adjustments, we’re happy to help.
If your item arrives damaged or defective, we’ll make it right — fast. We’ll either repair or replace it at no cost to you, or provide a refund once it’s been assessed by our head jeweller.
Our standard returns policy is 30 days to return, and 60 days to exchange.
We stand by the quality of our jewellery. That’s why all our pieces come with a 5-year warranty against defects in materials or craftsmanship. Every item is also fully hallmarked according to UK legislation, confirming its authenticity and origin.
Once we’ve received and inspected your returned jewellery, we’ll process your refund right away and email you to confirm. Depending on your bank or payment provider, it may take 3 to 5 working days to show up on your statement.
We’ll always refund you via the same method you used to make your purchase — whether that was credit or debit card, PayPal, Pay4Later Finance, bank transfer, or another option.
To avoid delays, make sure to include the returns label print-out with your parcel. This helps us identify your return quickly.
We’re proud to say that all our diamonds are conflict-free and fully compliant with United Nations regulations. When you buy from us, you’re choosing ethical beauty.
We’re here whenever you need us.
📧 Email us: customerservice@thediamondstore.com or returns@thediamondstore.co.uk
📞 Call us: 0345 084 1200 (UK) or +44 345 084 1200 (International)
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