Platinum Engagement Rings
Platinum engagement rings are the timeless symbol of love. This precious metal is the rarest of metals and is designed to be passed on for many generations. It is an expression of devotion with its strength and durability to last a lifetime of wear. The beautiful bright white color of platinum enhances the sparkle and brilliance of diamonds by not casting its own color into gemstones. It is preferred by jewelry designers for its distinctive properties which never tarnish or fade overtime. Engagement ring settings that are custom created in platinum are 95% pure and are a statement of individuality. Platinum is exclusive and desired by those who know its rarity. Selecting platinum is the perfect choice in a custom Knox engagement ring.
What is Platinum?
Platinum is the 78th element on the periodic table and is a member of the platinum group of elements. Platinum's intrinsic value puts it in the precious metals family due to it's rarity and importance in industry. Platinum is resistant to both oxidation and corrosion and is also a member of the noble metal family. The natural color of pure Platinum is a silvery-white and the metal is malleable, ductile, and dense. It's name literally means "little silver" in Spanish and was discovered by Spaniards who were mining for gold in Columbia.
Why use Platinum for engagement rings?
There are many reasons to choose Platinum for your engagement ring and for her. Platinum's color, durability, and strength all lend to it being the best metal for your engagement ring. Platinum is also hypoallergenic and won't affect those with Nickel allergies. Why settle for anything less for an heirloom quality piece?
Platinum is naturally white and does not require rhodium plating like white gold. It is resistant to corrosion and will not tarnish, so you don't have to worry about constantly maintaining it's appearance. It is very strong and ductile while also being very malleable. These properties make Platinum the preferred metal for our master jewelers to work with. Lastly, Platinum is extremely durable and will not wear away as fast as gold jewelry. A Platinum setting is the best for the small chevron prongs used to hold a princess cut. This is the why it is so renowned for use in high end jewelry pieces. Platinum will hold up to a lifetime of wear and protect your valuable gemstones.
Why is Platinum more expensive?
While Platinum is typically the most expensive metal in the precious metal markets, it's spot price is not the major reason why it is more expensive than white gold.
The density of Platinum adds a sizable amount of cost to your platinum engagement ring. Say you have two rings, both are the exact same size and both have the exact same dimensions. One of the rings is made in Platinum and the other is 14k White Gold. If the cost of Platinum and Gold were the same in the market, which one would cost more? Answer, the Platinum one. Since Platinum is 60% more dense than 14k White Gold, the cost of the Platinum setting is 60% more given that it is 60% heavier. While the density of Platinum is the major factor in the price difference of a Platinum engagement ring, it is not the only one.
The alloy we use in our Platinum engagement rings is 95% pure; 95% Platinum alloyed with 5% Ruthenium. White gold uses either 58% Gold in the 14k quality or 75% Gold in the 18k quality. If you had two identical rings, one Platinum and the other White Gold, and all things were equal besides purity, the Platinum one would cost more given the difference in pure precious metal.
What about Platinum versus White Gold?
If the added expense of Platinum fits in your budget, then you should definitely make the upgrade. Platinum is much more resistant to wear than White Gold, leaving more metal holding on to your valuable stones longer. Platinum is naturally white and does not require rhodium plating like White Gold. Platinum is the ideal metal for your engagement ring and our jewelers craft masterpieces each and everyday from it. Read more about Platinum versus White Gold here.