Which Metal Is More Durable for Daily-wear Rings

When choosing a ring for daily wear, durability is a key factor: the metal must resist scratching, thinning, deformation, and loss of gemstones over time. Here’s how gold and platinum compare.

Platinum

• Platinum is often described as “more durable overall” for daily wear. Its high density and purity mean that when it is scratched, the metal tends to displace rather than be lost, which preserves structure over time.
• Because of its density and purity, platinum rings tend to maintain their volume and setting integrity longer, which is beneficial for securing gemstones.
• However, platinum is not necessarily harder than all gold alloys — it may show surface scratches, and its mass may make it heavier on the finger. 

Gold

• Gold in lower karats (for example 14K, 10K) is harder than higher-karat (18K/22K) gold because of the higher proportion of alloying metals; this can improve scratch resistance somewhat.
• But high-karat gold (e.g., 22K) is relatively soft and can thin out over many years of wear, especially in ring shanks and prongs.
• White gold requires rhodium plating (for the white finish) and that plating can wear away; if not maintained, the underlying metal may show and durability may be affected. 

Verdict
For daily-wear rings, especially those with gemstones (like engagement rings or wedding bands), platinum is generally the better choice for long-term durability and stone security. Gold remains a very good choice (especially 14K or 18K) if one is aware of the maintenance and potential long-term wear considerations.