They are different elemental metals. Platimum is rarer and harder, but who wears out wedding rings these days?

get white gold. White gold is just gold dipped to look like platinum but being that platinum is softer and it scratches a lot easier and is more money to take in and get repaired...to dip gold is about $15-25

Because of its high melting point, few jewelers can repair platinum by welding. That's the main difference other than price. (I like it myself, for any jewelry)

white gold is regular gold which has been plated with Rhodium. which is very rare and very expensive. (more expensive than platinum which is why it is plated on gold). Platinum is a different element. it is harder and rarer than gold

I've read a ton about this, and this seems the most straight-foward answer: Unless you have a severe allergic reaction to either metal-the choice is mostly preferential. Both metals have strengths and weaknesses, however there are a few variables to be considered when making your decision. First, it’s important to understand that while virtually all Platinum Jewelry is 95% Platinum, Gold comes in a variety of mixtures. The most common are 10k (41.7% gold), 14k (58.3% gold), and 18k (75% gold). 24k (100% gold) is too soft to use for jewelry. Also, all Gold is yellow. There is no such thing as natural white Gold. Gold is made to look white by alloying (mixing) it with white metals, then plating it with Rhodium (in the Platinum family). The main difference between Platinum and white Gold is price. Pure Platinum costs roughly twice as much as pure Gold. And because there is a higher percentage of Platinum used (95% versus 75% for 18k gold) in making jewelry, the same design can cost more than twice as much in Platinum than it does in Gold. So, beyond price-what is the real difference between white Gold and Platinum? Preference! Both metals have different benefits, and determining which set of benefits is most attractive to you is largely preferential. So, here is a breakdown of the real differences: Platinum wears better than Gold. When you scratch it, you’re actually just rearranging the metal as opposed to removing it. You can wear a Platinum ring for 80 years, and it won’t wear out. You may have to repair a Gold ring to add material where it has worn off over time. BUT, Platinum is softer. This means that it will bend and scratch easier than white Gold. And because it’s softer, Platinum will lose its polish and appear dull faster than white Gold. You’re more likely to bend the Platinum prongs holding a diamond than if they were made of white Gold. However, you will need to have your white Gold prongs re-tipped over time as they are more likely to wear down than Platinum prongs- TOUCHE! Platinum is naturally white, while white Gold will need to be Rhodium plated every few years to maintain it’s bright white appearance. BUT, because white Gold is harder, it will maintain that shiny polished look longer than Platinum will. THRUST-PARRY As you can see, there is no clear cut winner in this contest. Personally, I give the edge to white Gold-but only because affordability is one of my main priorities. If your priority is longevity without wear, you might select Platinum. If maintaining a shiny polish is more important than maintaining a bright white color, Gold may be the way to go. http://www.alaskajewelry.com/jewelry_blog/archives/26 So, though platinum may wear better than gold it is most certainly NOT softer than gold. That is incorrect!

white gold isn't dipped to make it white, it's an alloy of gold and nickel that's coated in rhodium which does wear off after a while and has to be re-done. It isn't any more expensive than ordinary yellow gold. Red or rose gold is rare, and I was very lucky to get hold of some to make 2 wedding bands. 'course, the rarest is the Welsh gold,, which is reserved for British Royalty! ;P

Why gold is an alloy, while platinum is a completely different metal. See this article for a good explanation: http://www.goldintomoney.com/precious-metals/how-to-read-gold-karats-and-understand-gold-color

don't be so cheap. how much metal is in a ring anyway? miniscule amount.