Cobalt Chrome vs Platinum and White Gold
Trying to choose between cobalt chrome, platinum, or white gold? Each of this beautiful metals look similar, but have some key differences. In this guide, we'll cover how these ring metals compare. From cost, durability, re-sizing, and more, we'll give you everythijng you need to know! Plus we'll provided you some of our favorite places to score huge savings on wedding bands!
Let's go!
The Rundown
Here is the quick rundown on these metals.
Cobalt Chrome
- Considered to be hypoallergenic
- Weight is close to gold but harder and more durable
- Scratch-resistant
- Least expensive of the three
- Can be minimally re-sized
Platnium
- Considered to be hypoallergenic
- Heavier in weight compared to Gold and Cobalt
- Not scratch-resistant
- Can be re-sized
- Most expenisve due to high-density precious metal
White Gold
- Contains nickel so not considered hypoallergenic
- Retains value very well - better than any other metal
- Easily re-sized
- Can bend and scratch
Best Place To Shop White Gold: bluenile.com
Best Place To Shop Platinum: bluenile.com
Best Place To Shop Colbalt: manlybands.com
Now let's dive a bit deeper into these two metals.
Durability and Strength
Durability and Strength can be broken down into two categories - literal strength. As in, how likely is this ring to break, crack, dent, or damage. And scratch resistance.
All three of these metals should last a lifetime and more. Unlike metals such as Tungsten, these metals should not crack or break when dropped or otherwise treated harshly. However, while these metals are strong, they are "soft".
Gold is one of the "softest" metals out there and can be prone to dents and scratches. Platinum is a bit harder, but still can scratch and bend. Is this a problem? Well that depends. If you have a profession where you are constantly working with your hands, like a mechanic - then Cobalt might be your best bet. As this will be the hardest metal of the three.
However, for most people daily life shouldn't rough up your ring to the point of being worried about having one of these metals in your wedding band.
Resizing
One big pro to all three of these metals is that they can be easily re-sized. Cobalt Chrome can sometimes only be sized .5 - 1 size up or down due to it's hardness. But White Gold and Platinum can typically be re-sized up to two sizes.
Allergy Proneness
If you are prone to skin allergies, or know that you have a nickel allergy, then you might want to avoid white gold. Because gold is so soft, other metals are often added to increase it's durability. This can in some cases cause skin irritation to those with sensitive skin.
Platinum and Cobalt Chrome are hyoallergenic metals and would be better suited for someone with sensitive skin.
Weight
One of the biggest differences between these three metals is there weights. Cobalt Chrome is one of the lightest ring metals available. Platinum, is one of the heaviest. Gold is also heavy, but a touch lighter than Platinum.
You actually will be able to tell the difference when wearing a cobalt ring vs a platinum. The weight is noticable. So if you prefer to "feel" your ring on your hand, Platinum will be best suited. If you prefer to not feel your ring, then Cobalt Chrome will be closer to what you want. White Gold is also on the heavier side.
Keep in mind, although White Gold and Platinum are heavier metals, it's not like having a brick on your hand. It's just slightly more noticable during every day wear!
Price
Cobalt, Gold, and Platinum are three of the rarest, most luxurious metals on earth. So the prices for one of these bands will be higher than alternative metals like Tungsten or Titanium. But what you are getting is quality, luxury, and retention of value over time.
Platinum is typically the most expensive of the three. Why is platinum more expensive than golf? Well fun fact, platinum is up to 30 times rarer than gold!
For a platnium ring, you can expect to pay between $800 - $2,000
For a white gold ring, you can expect to pay between $400 - $1,500.
And lastly, Cobalt Chrome. You can expect to pay between $400 - $1,200. Although it is much easier to find a Cobalt Chrome band at the bottom of this range than white gold.
Conclusion
All in all, you can't go wrong with either of these metals. If price is no concern, then we prefer Platinum. Platinum is hypoallergenic, more scratch-resistant than gold, and very luxurious. But it's also the most expensive.
If price is a big concern, then Cobalt Chrome is your go-to. You get the most scratch resistance, the lightest weight, and the look of White Gold and Platinum.
And if your somewhere in between, go with White Gold! Gold is gold, and it will always be "in". So it's a great choice!
