picking a ring - platinum or white gold?

Ou wedding bands don't match either, I wanted something plain unless I had to take my engagement ring off so that I could still wear my wedding.  my DH has two one is very plain white gold band he wears to work and the other is a sterling silver band which he calls his "fancy ring"

I wear my grandmother's engagement ring that my mother passed on to me after she wore it for years after her mother died. It is very sentimental.

It is white gold and has held up fantastically over the decades. Both women never took it off and neither do I.  Unfortunately, a stone fall out earlier this year and I was devasted so I had all the prongs re-tipped a few months ago. I am very disappointed because the quality of white gold is not the same and it has yellowed in just a few months... _{and the shoddy craftsmanship not to mention the cruddy replacement diamond they used and I had them replace again... yes, I am not happy.}  I plan to have it done again by an antiques specialist.

If it is a possibility, look into better quality white gold. It isn't all bad.

If it is a possibility, look into better quality white gold. It isn't all bad.

Does this mean that modern white gold isn't as good as older white gold? Has the quality changed over the years? I'd be looking at estate jewellery, rather than new stuff, so maybe I could get away with white gold. Any thoughts?

if you do a little google you will see how white gold is made. I think it is about the purities of the materials and how it is used in the production  of the ring.

My sis in law developed a nickel allergy from her engagement ring just after the wedding. later she found out her ring was plated with white gold not solid white gold.

My sis in law developed a nickel allergy from her engagement ring just after the wedding. later she found out her ring was plated with white gold not solid white gold.

That's happened to me more than once - not with an engagement ring, as I've never been engaged before, but with other pieces of jewelry.  I have one solid white gold ring - my uni class ring - and as the higher the gold content, the softer the metal, it's completely changed shape in the six years that I've been wearing it regularly.

I always thought I wanted vey plain rings but I saw some "antique" ones and I just fell in love with the style. 

I've been looking at antique style now, too, and realized that all the rings and jewelry I buy (in sterling silver), is always antique-look. I love it! I had forgotten you posted this pic, but I had gone to the Web site you listed on your earlier post. And your ring is one of the ones I had put in my wish list! I also have three others from the antique section.

I go to look at rings in a store tomorrow, so hopefully that will help me determine if I want an antique-look band or a plain band. I also want to decide between a solitare or a three-stone ring (one of about a .50 carat in the middle, and a .25 carat stone on either side, with the side stones in either diamond or sapphire). So much to decide! I think I'll have a pretty good idea which one is "my" ring as soon as I try them on.

Does this mean that modern white gold isn't as good as older white gold? Has the quality changed over the years? I'd be looking at estate jewellery, rather than new stuff, so maybe I could get away with white gold. Any thoughts?

Can you find much estate jewelry that's platinum anyway? If you end up really wanting platinum, you'd probably be better off working directly with a jeweler (not through one of the high street shops) and having one designed in the older style you prefer. Our friends are former jewelry designers and engravers for Garrards (the Crown jewelers). They designed our rings and engraved them, but had them made by another jeweler. All at a very reduced price compared to the high street.

Here's a pic, but I'll try to get one that is a better close-up later.


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Can you find much estate jewelry that's platinum anyway? If you end up really wanting platinum, you'd probably be better off working directly with a jeweler (not through one of the high street shops) and having one designed in the older style you prefer.

Most of the 1920s and '30s rings I've looked at are platinum, so definitely no problem there! I have this thing about not wanting a new ring -- I prefer something with a little history to it -- so I think I'll be sticking to the estate jewellery plan! New things always look too shiny to me. Thanks, though! 

I myself am not a fan of either platinum or white gold, I like yellow gold myself. But thats just my preference though. My DH & I have matching gold & diamond wedding rings. My engagement ring has the stones on top & the wedding rings have the stones set in.

Chary- I thought like you, and was looking for an antique ring from the 20s/30s. I would suggest that you also look at the various auction company catalogues online to see what they have in upcoming sales. You would be very suprised at the great deals that you can get there, as diamonds have a relatively low resale value. You can get a lot more for your money, and compete directly with the dealers who mark them up before selling them in their shops. You just have to factor in that many auction houses add a buyer's premium on top of the auction price. I looked into that option, but in the end we ended up getting a ring from a dealer in the diamond district in NY who specialises in art deco style settings, and we had him set it with an old diamond from the 30s (I love how the old cuts reflect light).

My rings are platinum. Being in the diamond district, we got fantastic prices on all of our rings. I highly recommend going there if you are in New York and looking around.

Chary- I thought like you, and was looking for an antique ring from the 20s/30s. I would suggest that you also look at the various auction company catalogues online to see what they have in upcoming sales. You would be very suprised at the great deals that you can get there,

Great advice, Kate! I'm not near London (or any city) at all, but when the time comes, I think a trip might be in order! 

And I do agree with you about the older cuts. They're so lovely!

(I love how the old cuts reflect light).

that's is what attracted me to my grandmother's ring from such an early age!! it gets compliments all the time!

i love this website... unusual designs:

http://www.hkjewellery.co.uk

wow...those are really pretty. i like quite a few of those!

This is a great site for antique-style rings:

www.circa1930s.com