Matte finish on white metals

[Mjay]

I’m dreaming up a new piece. Most of my jewelry is yellow gold and rose gold so I’m thinking of a white metal for this piece. I absolutely love matte finishes. Ive had a few matte finish 18k yellow pieces and I always baby them because of the matte finish. I don’t even stack my 18k matte pieces anymore because bands seem to quickly wear the finish. Would any of the white metals be more durable than others in matte finish? i.e. maybe 14k white vs 18k? Platinum? Palladium white gold? I desperately want a more durable matte finish so I can stack.

 

[glitterata]

My wedding band was shiny platinum when DH put it on my finger two decades ago. I've never had it polished (yes, I clean it often, both off my finger and when I wash my hands), and now it has a pleasant matte finish. I'm hoping my new sapphire ring, which is platinum with a shiny finish, will match it after a decade or two.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Stacking will not stop the band outsid parts from loosing their mattness - only the parts that rub.
If anything stacking should protect the matt finish.

 

[Cerulean]

I had a white gold signet ring that was matte. Within the first few days, it had a big, shiny streak right across it, and other little scratches. I think matte finishes just wear very easily and quickly. Little scratches that are disguised by polish, show very conspicuously with matte.

I had it repolished with a high polish finish and it’s never looked as poorly as it did after a few days when it was matte. I love matte finish too - I just don’t know that it’s terribly practical.

@glitterata is referring to a “patina” - platinum in particular gets a lovely, worn look over time. It turns into a soft texture, not unlike a matte finish. It can take years of daily wear but I think it’s gorgeous.

 

[Mjay]

I had a white gold signet ring that was matte. Within the first few days, it had a big, shiny streak right across it, and other little scratches. I think matte finishes just wear very easily and quickly. Little scratches that are disguised by polish, show very conspicuously with matte.

I had it repolished with a high polish finish and it’s never looked as poorly as it did after a few days when it was matte. I love matte finish too - I just don’t know that it’s terribly practical.

@glitterata is referring to a “patina” - platinum in particular gets a lovely, worn look over time. It turns into a soft texture, not unlike a matte finish. It can take years of daily wear but I think it’s gorgeous.

Thank you. Was your piece 18k or 14k? I’m trying to talk myself out of doing the matte finish again but I love it so much. I do have shiny wear marks on my 18k gold pieces that drive me nuts. I wonder how platinum would wear with a matte finish since the matte finish is sorta a patina look to begin with.

 

[Cerulean]

Thank you. Was your piece 18k or 14k? I’m trying to talk myself out of doing the matte finish again but I love it so much. I do have shiny wear marks on my 18k gold pieces that drive me nuts. I wonder how platinum would wear with a matte finish since the matte finish is sorta a patina look to begin with.

My ring was 14k. It also didn’t have rhodium plating.

I honestly am not sure that the metal
or alloy would matter, I’m guessing.