Does anyone know of an easy way to distinguish white gold from
platinum? or is it time for me to purchase some test kits. I thought
platinum was much more durable, however I have a ring stamped 18k
and plat which needs retipping. The ring does not appear to be that
old, but the white prongs are severly worn.
Thanks for any help!
Sharon
The quickest way to separate white gold and platinum without an acid
test kit is to heat the piece just a bit on the shank using an
oxidizing flame and no firecoat. White gold will almost immediately
start oxidizing and turning black, platinum will be unaffected. It’s
not necessary to really get it hot, you should actually still be able
to hold it by the top in your fingers.
Another way to tell is to put it to a polishing wheel. Scratches in
white gold will be removed pretty quickly, platinum again will be
almost unaffected until you really start to lean into it.
Just because something is stamped doesn’t mean that’s what it really
is. All you need are a hammer and a $10 stamp and you too can turn a
white gold ring into platinum!
Dave Phelps
After years of working with both platinum and gold, you can tell the
difference by the heft of the ring. Platinum seems inordinately
heavy. I can also tell by running a small file across a surface.
Platinum feels “gummy”. It’s very possible the ring you have was
re-tipped with 18K white gold prongs. That’s very common because you
can’t re-tip with platinum, at least not with a torch, or with a
stone in place.
Kevin
If you use Iodine Tincture you will get these results
14kw = yellow
Platinum = Clear
14ky = Greenish / Yellow
Palladium = Reddish / Black
You might find this helpful…
Andy “The Tool Guy” Kroungold
Attempting to oxidise the metal, to differentiate between platinum
and white gold will work in most cases, but should you have an
unusual alloy of platinum, that might not be the case - the 50 parts
in 1000 can cause all sorts of variations. Likewise, it is
theoretically possible to have a white gold alloy that doesn’t
oxidise - fine gold doesn’t oxidise, so it’s only the copper and
other alloying metals that oxidise. If you can destructively test
the metal, platinum should get extremely hot before it melts, and
glow with an intense white light (wear UV eye protection). But again,
unusual alloys might have unusual effects on the working
temperature.If you live or work near your scrap merchant, you might
try asking them to XRF it for you, next time you take your scrap to
them
Jamie Hall
http://primitive.ganoksin.com
With our Mizar gold testers, we select “test white gold,” and
platinum will register as 24K.
If you use Iodine Tincture you will get these results Andy- is there
a specific concentration of iodine tincture or is off the shelf
sufficient -
Goo
I checked with are R&D department here is what was used
CVS. It is 2% Iodine 2.4% Sodium Iodine Alcohol 47%.
Andy “The Tool Guy” Kroungold