Is My Ring Platinum or White Gold?
They look almost identical — but platinum and white gold are very different metals, with very different values. Here are five quick ways to tell which one your ring is, right now, with the ring in your hand.
Not Sure What Your Ring Is — or What It's Worth?
Send us a photo of your ring and its hallmark and we'll tell you whether it's platinum or white gold, and what it's worth — free, with no obligation. Our specialists reply within one working day.
It's one of the most common questions we're asked, and almost nobody knows the answer with confidence: is this ring platinum or white gold? They can look identical across a room — both are bright, white, precious. But platinum is rarer, denser and more valuable, and telling them apart changes what your ring is worth. The good news is you can usually settle it yourself in under a minute.
At Mozeris Fine Antiques we identify and value both metals every week. Here are the five checks we use, in the order we use them — starting with the one that gives a definite answer.
1. Check the hallmark (the definite answer)
The fastest, surest test is the stamp inside the band. In the UK, platinum and gold are hallmarked differently — and not just with different numbers, but in different shapes:
Platinum marks
Look for 950 (or 900, 850, 999), often with PLAT or PT. The fineness number sits in a five-sided (pentagon) shape. Older pieces may just say "PLAT".
White gold marks
Look for gold fineness numbers — 750 (18ct), 585 (14ct) or 375 (9ct) — in an oval shape. White gold is simply gold alloyed white and usually rhodium-plated.
If you can read the mark, you have your answer. Our companion guide to platinum hallmarks explained decodes every platinum stamp in detail, and gold hallmarks explained covers the gold side.
No Hallmark? Use These Four Tells
If the mark is worn, foreign or absent, these physical signs build a confident answer:
- Weight — Platinum is noticeably denser. A platinum ring feels heavier than an identical white gold one.
- Colour — Platinum is a naturally cooler, slightly greyish white. Bright "mirror" white often means rhodium-plated white gold.
- Yellowing — If you see any warm or yellow tinge, especially at worn edges, it's white gold whose plating is thinning. Platinum never turns yellow.
- Wear pattern — Platinum displaces rather than losing metal (it develops a patina); white gold plating wears through.
Neither metal is magnetic, so a magnet only rules out base metal — it won't separate platinum from white gold.
Why it matters — and why it's worth checking
Platinum is rarer and denser than gold, and is hallmarked at 95% purity (950) versus 75% for 18ct white gold — so a platinum ring usually carries significantly more intrinsic value than a white gold one of the same size. Many people sell a platinum ring believing it's "just white gold", and lose out. Equally, white gold is very much worth selling in its own right — the point is simply to know which you have.
If you're thinking of selling — a wedding ring after a divorce, an inherited piece, or simply jewellery you no longer wear — it pays to confirm the metal first. See our sell your platinum jewellery page for platinum, or sell your gold jewellery for white gold. If your ring is set with diamonds, our guide on how to know if your diamond is real may also help.
Let Us Confirm It For You — Free
Send a clear photo of your ring and the hallmark inside the band. We'll confirm platinum or white gold and give you an honest, no-obligation valuation.
⚠️ Strictly by appointment only — no walk-ins at either showroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Platinum vs white gold — the questions people ask most.
Is platinum heavier than white gold?
Yes. Platinum is denser than gold, so a platinum ring feels noticeably heavier than an identical white gold one. If you can compare two similar rings, the heavier one is almost certainly platinum.
Does platinum turn yellow like white gold?
No. Platinum is naturally white all the way through and never turns yellow. White gold is yellow gold alloyed white and plated with rhodium; as that plating wears, a warm or yellowish tinge shows through — a reliable sign it's white gold, not platinum.
How can I tell platinum from white gold without a hallmark?
Use the physical tells: platinum is heavier, a cooler greyish-white, and never yellows, while white gold is brighter (from rhodium plating) and warms at worn edges. For certainty, a jeweller can perform a density or touchstone test.
What does a "950" stamp mean?
950 means platinum that is 95% pure — the UK standard for fine platinum jewellery. It's often shown with "PLAT" or "PT" and sits in a five-sided hallmark shape. Gold marks (750, 585, 375) sit in an oval shape instead.
Is platinum worth more than white gold?
Usually, yes. Platinum is rarer and denser and is hallmarked at 95% purity, so a platinum ring generally carries more intrinsic metal value than a white gold ring of similar size. The surest way to know your ring's worth is a free valuation.
Send Us Your Ring Photographs
Attach photos of the ring and the hallmark inside the band. We'll respond within one working day.