Is White Gold More Expensive Than Gold? Today's Platinum Price Analysis and Investment Opportunities

Rare Metals in the World: From Gold to Platinum

For centuries, precious elements such as gold, silver, and platinum have played an important role in the investment portfolios of financial providers. These metals not only carry material value but also represent financial safety during turbulent times. However, many investors still confuse concepts like white gold and platinum, or are unclear about what makes platinum more special compared to other precious metals.

What Is Platinum? Physical and Industrial Characteristics

Basic Definition and Properties

Platinum (Platinum) is one of the rarest elements on Earth, with a distribution density of only about 0.005mg/kg in the crust. In pure form, it has a shiny gray-white color, high ductility, and easy to thin.

Key features of platinum include:

• Chemical stability: Not oxidized at any temperature, insoluble in common acids
• Good electrical conductivity: Widely used in industry
• High durability: Less corroded compared to other metals

Global Supply and Mining Output

Over 80% of the world’s platinum is mined from South Africa through nickel and copper deposits, with an annual volume of only a few hundred tons. This output is 15 times less than gold and 100 times less than silver, making platinum one of the most shortage-prone industrial metals after silver.

Besides South Africa, other countries like Russia and Zimbabwe also supply a portion of the output, but in significantly smaller proportions.

Wide Industrial Applications

Platinum is commonly used in:

• Automotive industry (accounting for over 50% of demand): Manufacturing catalytic converters
• Medical field: Producing equipment, tools, and chemotherapy drugs
• Chemical and electrical industries: Various applications
• High-end jewelry: Especially wedding rings and noble items

Comparing Today’s Platinum Price with Gold and White Gold

Current Market Prices Globally

As of now:

• Gold price: around $2,340/ounce
• Today’s platinum price: around $1,061/ounce
• 18k white gold price: around $1,747/ounce

It can be seen that although platinum is rarer than gold, today’s platinum price is about 55% lower than gold. This is a change from history, when from 2012 onwards, gold started to be priced higher than platinum.

Why Is Platinum Price in Vietnam Higher Than Globally?

In Vietnam, platinum is not publicly listed by weight or as openly as gold, but only sold as jewelry (such as rings, necklaces, bracelets…). A men’s platinum wedding ring of 19.625 grams is listed at 14.99 million VND (equivalent to 76.38 million VND per ounce or 63.35 million VND per ounce), which is 3 times higher than the global platinum price.

This discrepancy stems from:

• The price being for jewelry that has been crafted, not pure platinum
• Profit margins of jewelry brands
• Lack of transparent pricing information in the domestic market

Therefore, investors who prefer platinum often choose online investment channels like CFD to trade today’s platinum price without owning the physical metal.

Historical Price Movements of Platinum Over 20 Years

Record High Price

• 20-year high: $2,276/ounce in 2008
• 20-year low: $593/ounce in 2020
• Overall increase: +234 USD, approximately 28.32%

Major Volatility Phases

1970s-1980s: Platinum traded between $100-$200/ounce, gradually gaining recognition from investors since the early 80s.

2008 - Historic Peak: Platinum reached $2,270/ounce due to weak dollar and concerns over supply disruptions from South Africa. However, the US financial crisis caused a sharp decline to $774/oz in November of that year.

2010-2015: Platinum recovered, fluctuating between $1,400-$1,600/oz as a precious metal alternative to gold in jewelry manufacturing.

2015-2023: Platinum continued to struggle due to rising US Federal Reserve interest rates, similar to gold trends.

From late 2023 to now: Platinum prices rose again as the Fed signaled rate cuts in 2024-2025, along with supply shortages caused by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Price Forecast for Platinum in 2024-2025

According to forecast organizations:

• LongForecast: Expected $1,064/oz in December 2024 and $1,085/oz at the end of 2025
• CoinPriceForecast: Expected $1,061/oz at the end of 2024 and $1,170/oz at the end of 2025
• Wallet Investor: Expected $859/oz in 12 months and $844/oz at the end of 2025

Gold vs. Platinum: The Price Race of Two Precious Metals

Price Fluctuation History in Tandem

From the 1980s to 2015, gold and platinum prices almost always moved together, with platinum often higher than gold until 2012. At that time, platinum was recognized as the most premium precious metal.

Changes Since 2012

Since 2012, the situation reversed. Gold has been favored by investors for reasons such as:

• Monetary nature: Gold is recognized as having exchange value equivalent to money, serving as a global store of value
• Safe haven: During periods of instability (US-China trade wars, COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine conflict), gold has become a “safe haven” with capital flowing in
• Psychological value: Gold carries intangible value as a symbol of wealth and financial security

Meanwhile, platinum depends more on industrial supply-demand (especially the automotive industry), making its price influenced by economic cycles rather than being a “safe haven” like gold.

White Gold: An Intermediate Solution

White gold was widely developed after platinum became too expensive. It is an alloy containing 70-75% pure gold combined with other metals, then coated with Rhodium to create a white-ivory color.

Price comparison for a 2mm ring:

• White gold 14k: $240
• White gold 18k: $580
• Platinum: $820

Platinum is about 41% higher than 18k white gold, and about 3.5 times higher than 14k white gold.

Effective Ways to Invest in Platinum

1. ETF (Exchange-Traded Funds)

These are passive investment funds tracking the price of platinum or other precious metals. Some popular platinum ETFs:

• PPLT (ETFS Platinum Physical Shares ETF)
• PLTM (First Trust ISE Global Platinum Index ETF)
• PTM (E-TRACS UBS Long Platinum ETN)

2. Futures Contracts (Futures)

Futures contracts allow investors to trade platinum based on expected prices without owning the physical metal. Major exchanges include:

• COMEX, NYMEX, TOCOM, MOEX

3. Mining Stocks

Investing in platinum mining companies:

• Anglo American Platinum (ANGPY)
• Impala Platinum (IMPUY)
• Sibanye Stillwater (SSW)

4. CFD - Contracts for Difference (Most Popular Method)

CFD (Contracts for Difference) is a derivative investment allowing trading today’s platinum price without physical storage. Advantages:

• Cost savings on storage
• High leverage ratio
• Can trade both (long) and (short)
• Low initial capital

Benefits of Investing in Platinum Today

1. Hedge Against Inflation and Economic Instability

Platinum is 15 times rarer than gold. After gold and silver, it is also considered a safe haven during economic instability, though not as much as gold.

2. High Volatility with Potential Profit

Although the platinum market has less liquidity than gold, its high price volatility can bring greater profits for brave investors.

3. Strong Industrial Applications

60% of platinum demand comes from industry. With the trend of green hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles, demand for platinum in electrolysis equipment production will increase significantly.

4. Palladium Substitution Potential

Palladium is widely used in the automotive industry, but its recent price has doubled platinum (peaking over $3,300/oz in March 2022). Manufacturers are seeking to replace palladium with platinum alloys, creating opportunities for increased demand.

5. Limited Supply

According to the World Platinum Investment Council, current platinum supply is tight with risks of disruption due to sanctions and geopolitical conflicts.

Clear Distinction: Gold, White Gold, and Platinum

Who Is Rarer: Gold or Platinum?

Regarding Production and Stockpile

Platinum is clearly rarer than gold considering the low annual output, more difficult extraction, and limited natural reserves.

Regarding Price

Although platinum is rarer, since 2015, gold has always been priced higher. This reflects market perception of value rather than physical scarcity.

Regarding Liquidity and Investor Appeal

Gold still dominates because it is not only a precious metal but also a form of currency, a global value measure. Gold is the preferred asset for investors during geopolitical crises or global crises, with higher trust than platinum.

Conclusion: Invest in Gold or Platinum?

Both gold and platinum are valuable precious metals worth investing in, each with its own advantages:

• Gold is suitable for long-term asset protection during instability
• Platinum is suitable for traders seeking high profit opportunities from price volatility, especially with increasing industrial factors (auto, green hydrogen).

In the current economic context with many variables, short-term investing may be the right choice for traders aiming for quick returns, combined with flexible portfolio adjustments according to market trends.