Platinum engagement rings represent your enduring love. Their durable setting beautifully supports your diamond or gemstone of choice. A platinum wedding band can also complete your wedding ring stack. Whether you love delicate jewelry or bold metals, platinum engagement rings add elegance to any ring finger.

An engagement ring has symbolized love for about as long as human civilization has existed. Engagement rings come in a variety of materials, including rubber, plastic, wood, or even woven grass. However, metal has long been the preferred material for constructing engagement rings. The more precious the metal, the more valuable the ring. This is why platinum engagement rings are an enduring style.

Engagement rings often incorporate valuable metals into their designs. Yellow gold is a popular choice, as are white gold and rose gold. Titanium, zirconium, and tungsten are also sought-after for their strength and durability. Platinum, however, provides the perfect balance of beauty and longevity.

What Is Platinum?

Platinum is one of the most valuable metals on earth; it’s about 30 times rarer than gold. Platinum is a ‘transition metal,’ meaning it bonds very easily with other metals. Transition metals also have an exceptional density and a very high melting point. Despite these characteristics, platinum is also malleable, making it well-suited for fine jewelry.

Platinum has a naturally white, reflective appearance. Platinum retains its shine through minimal maintenance and is highly resistant to tarnishing and corrosion. All of these things make a platinum engagement ring ideal for you or your partner.

History of Platinum Engagement Rings

Artists have used platinum for millennia. Some of the earliest examples date back approximately 4,000 years to ancient Egypt. However, platinum didn’t become widely used in engagement rings until the 1800s. Jewelers believed that platinum was “unmeltable,” making it very difficult to work with in most circumstances. 

In 1895, Edmond Fouche and Charles Picard created a specialized oxyhydrogen torch to heat the metal to 3215° F — platinum’s melting point. After this advancement, platinum became a popular metal among jewelers.

During World War I and World War II, the United States government labeled platinum a ‘strategic mineral,’ severely limiting its accessibility to the consumer market. It wasn’t until around the 1950s that platinum rings became popular again, particularly platinum engagement rings.

Platinum engagement rings offer a unique alternative to traditional yellow gold and white gold precious metals in engagement rings. Unique precious metals and a lab-grown center diamond make the perfect ingredients for your own engagement ring. When paired with white diamonds of any carat weight as your center stone, a platinum engagement ring can truly shine.

White Gold, Yellow Gold, and Rose Gold vs. Platinum Engagement Rings

Different couples have different expectations and desires when it comes to selecting an engagement ring. When you pick an engagement ring for you or your partner, it’s important to consider which of the precious metals will create your perfect ring. Visually, platinum is most similar to white gold. But how is platinum different from white gold? 

Why Are Platinum Engagement Rings More Expensive?

Platinum engagement rings are more expensive than white-gold engagement rings of similar quality. But gram for gram, pure platinum, and pure white gold are very similar in price. 

The difference here is that platinum engagement rings need more purity than white gold. Platinum’s density requires more pure platinum metal when constructing a ring. The result is a more resilient ring that you would get using rose gold, yellow gold, or white gold.

Additionally, the higher melting temperature of platinum means that crafting platinum jewelry is a more complicated and expensive process. Taken together, these factors contribute to a higher overall cost when you make platinum engagement rings at a metal shop.

Should You Choose White Gold or Platinum?

White gold engagement rings tend to yellow over time, losing some of their luster. This is because white gold isn’t actually white; it has to be mixed with other white metals. White gold engagement rings are usually plated in rhodium to offset their natural yellow hue. Over time, the rhodium plating will wear off, meaning you and your partner will have to take the ring to a jeweler to restore its rhodium plating.

Platinum is naturally white in color, so it will not fade significantly. Like most fine jewelry, you or your partner may wish to have your platinum rings polished from time to time.  If you want a strong ring with low maintenance, platinum engagement rings may be the way to go.

While both platinum and white gold look spectacular when coupled with diamonds, they don’t necessarily look great with each other. This is because platinum has a more gray tone and white gold appears silvery. This color difference may become very noticeable, for example, if you wear a bridal set that includes a platinum diamond ring paired with a white gold wedding band. On the other hand, the ring’s setting, style, and the size or shape of the stone may make those differences less obvious.

Shopping for Platinum Engagement Rings

There are many advantages to choosing a platinum engagement ring. The purity of the metal can represent the purity of your love. Its durability also stands as a metaphor for the strong bond that you and your partner share.

Platinum is entirely hypoallergenic so it won’t irritate the skin if you or your partner are allergic to the metals in gold alloys. This makes platinum engagement rings the perfect choice if you have sensitive skin.

Best Platinum Engagement Ring Styles

Platinum engagement rings suit essentially any style or diamond arrangement. Popular platinum engagement ring styles include diamond solitaire, diamond halo, three-stone design, and vintage and classic engagement rings.

Every platinum engagement ring is unique and has different features. Some rings feature white diamonds as their center stone while others favor colored diamonds. Here are some of the top things you should consider as you search for the platinum diamond ring of your dreams.

Choose Precious Metals That Match Your Skin Tone

Although the difference is subtle, certain metals take on a slightly different hue when set against different skin tones. If you’re interested in purchasing a platinum engagement ring, it makes sense to first see what the ring will look like on the hand.

Sparkle

While diamonds look good with practically every metal, they pair exceptionally well with platinum. Platinum’s natural white shine plays beautifully with the diamond’s sparkle. Consider selecting a diamond with maximum fire and brilliance to get the most out of this unique quality.

Diamond Origin

Platinum diamond rings are the perfect pairing of precious metal and eye-catching stone. But before you finalize your diamond choice, consider first where the diamond comes from. Diamonds mined from the ground create a significant negative impact on the environment. Mined diamonds have a long history of exploitation and unfair working conditions.

Alternatively, lab grown diamonds are a 100% ethical and responsible choice. Mined diamonds and lab grown diamonds are chemically and visually identical. Lab grown diamonds are ethically sourced and produce less waste than mined diamonds. They also have a much shorter supply chain. By choosing lab grown, you’ll be able to find a beautiful, high-quality stone for your platinum engagement ring.

When you shop with Clean Origin, you’ll be able to browse our selection of ethically sourced lab grown diamonds. You can also connect with one of our diamond experts during a free virtual appointment, where we’ll answer any questions you have about the ring-buying process. At Clean Origin, you can design the dream ring that you and your partner will cherish for a lifetime.