Cost of a platinum wedding ring
Estimation of the price of metal and labor for a platinum ring.
A platinum wedding ring is often presented as 'the choice for life'. The reality of costs and advantages deserves rational analysis to help decide between white or yellow gold.
Metal cost of a 950 platinum wedding ring (6g weight): 6 × 0.950 × 31.20 = CHF 177.84. For an 18k yellow gold wedding ring (6g): 6 × 0.750 × 82.50 = CHF 371.25. Yes — 18k gold costs more in metal than platinum for the same weight.
But craftsmanship costs more: Platinum requires dedicated high-temperature equipment, more manufacturing time, and rare specific expertise. A simple platinum wedding band is charged CHF 900–1,800 in Switzerland, against CHF 400–900 for a gold equivalent.
Lifespan: Over 20–30 years of daily wear, a platinum wedding ring will only show a few superficial scratches that slightly dull the luster and can be repolished. In 18k gold, the ring loses 0.1–0.3g per year by friction — after 20 years, it can be 15% thinner than at the start.
Resale Value: Platinum and 18k gold both resell easily at goldsmiths and melters. Repurchase value is proportional to weight × purity × spot of the day. Platinum has no particular 'symbolic value' for resellers — it will be melted and resold as industrial metal at spot. Gold benefits from a more active buyback market and slightly better prices.