Our rings come with a choice of metals, including gold, silver, titanium and platinum. The latter is often overlooked as a choice for engagement or wedding rings, but there are many very good reasons for choosing it.
Platinum is a very special metal indeed. If gold is seen as precious because of its combination of rarity and colour, platinum is actually 30 times as rare.
That is not the only outstanding feature of platinum:
- It is extremely durable
- It has a very high melting point (1,772 degrees C)
- Like gold, it does not corrode
These qualities make it a highly in-demand material for various industrial processes. Thankfully, although platinum is very rare, related metals like palladium and rhodium are found in substantial quantities alongside it wherever it is mined.
Like gold, the most abundant sources are found in South Africa, although platinum is also mined in Russia and the Americas.
Why is Platinum A Great Alternative To Gold As Jewellery?
A curious fact sometimes mentioned about platinum is that it can be turned into gold, solving the riddle of alchemy.
This can also be achieved with mercury, but the snag is that this involves either adding an extra proton to the 78 in a platinum atom or taking one from the 80 in mercury to make gold with 79. This process requires a nuclear reaction, not exactly cost-effective or convenient!
The composition and atomic structure of platinum is one matter, but its potential use in wedding rings for men is another. Forget alchemy: Platinum can be better than gold.
In the first instance, its great durability and corrosion resistance make it a very good choice on a practical level. Indeed, platinum rings are valued for the fact that they are much less prone to damage than gold.
Platinum is also hypoallergenic and its density means it can feel bulky even when a relatively small volume of metal is being used.
The colour of platinum might initially be thought of as a downside. After all, it is not so dissimilar to metals such as silver. However, a closer look will note that it is actually a whiter shade than silver and this is not dissimilar to white gold.
Is Platinum A Better Option Than White Gold?
Why, some might ask, would you choose platinum over white gold? The reason lies in the comparative properties.
Firstly, all gold you will see in any form, other than gold bullion bars, is an alloy. The karat system measures the level of purity, with 100 per cent pure marked as 24 karats, while typical ‘yellow gold’ jewellery is between 14 and 18 Kt.
In yellow gold, the dominant colour is maintained while other metals like zinc, silver and copper are added, hardening the metal so it is more robust. Rose gold has more copper in it, while white gold includes palladium and nickel.
Although palladium may be closely related to platinum, there is a qualitative difference between white gold and platinum, as the former can change colour over time, with a yellow tinge coming through. By contrast, platinum will maintain its colour.
This is clearly very important when considering rings, since a major reason for having a platinum wedding or engagement ring is that it will last for life. A white gold ring that changes colour may not quite match up.
If you are comparing the two options, the pros and cons are as follows:
- Platinum retains its silver-white colour better
- You may prefer white gold if you like a slight tinge of yellow or even a pinkish colour if the alloy contains a lot of copper
- White gold is cheaper
- White gold is more prone to scratching and damage, although platinum is not invulnerable to this
- The hypoallergenic qualities of platinum make it better for people with sensitive skin.
Does Platinum Match Up Well With Diamonds?
The use of platinum in wedding rings is, therefore, based on the qualities of the metal, while this must be balanced with the higher cost of using this, the rarest of the precious metals.
Unless you have a very large budget, this can mitigate against getting a lady’s engagement or wedding ring with added gems, although the colour does produce a very good match with diamonds.
Of course, there will be plenty of moneyed celebrities for whom such a match proves irresistible. For example, the Mercury Prize winner Raye recently sported a platinum, 18 kt gold and diamond necklace during her concert at the Royal Albert Hall the next day.
According to Rocks, this item was worth a cool £97,000, which is fine for celebrities at the peak of their powers, but a bit of a stretch for most people, to say the very least.
However, while platinum with diamonds is not in most people’s budget, platinum on its own is comparatively affordable, which means it may appeal as a high-quality option for men, especially those with a decent budget but no wish to be too ostentatious.
The benefit of such a ring can be found not just in its natural practical qualities or aesthetics, but in the potential for the ring to be modelled and cast in an artistic way.
Could An Engraved Platinum Men’s Wedding Ring Suit You?
Rings are moulded and cast using the lost-wax casting method, with the metal melted at a very high temperature, poured into the mould and then set. The standard next step is cleaning and polishing and, sometimes, the setting of stones.
However, another step can involve engraving and this is one way a gem-free ring can stand out. As with any ring with an inscription, this can include a range of different engravings:
- Your initials or those of both the couple
- A nickname
- A poem or favourite catchphrase
- A religious text
- A famous quote
These are just some examples of words you could have engraved into the ring. Alternatively, you may have various symbols and patterns, or a combination of all of these.
Because platinum is so durable, these elements will stand the test of time with little chance of scratching and no possibility of corrosion.
Platinum is indeed far rarer than gold, but it is also a very special metal that might just provide the best option for a man’s wedding ring.
