When it comes time to shop around for an engagement ring, there are plenty of choices to be made, and one of the most important is that of the metal you use for your ring. Whether it’s gold or platinum engagement rings that catch your eye, you need to be sure that your ring is what fits your loved one and is one that will hold up over the years. You may find that your jeweler recommends platinum engagement rings, and you might assume that it’s just because of the high price these rings command. And while it’s true that platinum engagement rings tend to cost more than gold ones, there are some good reasons why. Let’s look at the benefits that platinum engagement rings have:
Strength
One of the main advantages to platinum engagement rings is that they are made of a stronger metal than gold engagement rings. In fact, platinum is considered to be the strongest of the precious metals. Although gold certainly does hold up well over the years, people change and rings do sometimes need to be resized. If you want to prepare for this, platinum engagement rings are less likely to be brittle or to crack during resizing.
Color
Platinum engagement rings are a sort of cold gray-white in color, which makes it a great compliment to precious stones of any color, helping to highlight the beauty of the stones without detracting from it at all. This color is a natural property of platinum, and so it lasts as long as the jewelry does.
In contrast, white gold rings, which have similar coloration, often still have a yellowish tint if the gold is not pure enough. Also, white gold rings are often coated with rhodium to improve coloration, and this coating will have to be reapplied every so often in the ring’s lifetime, adding to the overall cost. So, though the initial cost of platinum engagement rings are greater, you will have less maintenance to do to keep the ring’s natural color.
Rarity
Since the introduction of this metal for jewelry by Cartier in the 1890s, platinum jewelry has been considered the ultimate in jewelry since the metal is so much more rare than gold, which also accounts for the higher costs. So, for those who are looking to get a ring that is both elegant and will allow your future spouse to be the envy of all her friends and family, platinum engagement rings are the best option you can go for. Even if you don’t worry about the prestige involved in owning such a ring, the strength and beautiful color of platinum engagement rings make them a great buy.
