Is platinum 950 or precious inlay harder wearing?

Precious inlay, at Mohs 8.5 against 4.5. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.

Platinum 950, at 21.4 g/cm³ against 7.2. That is 3 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.

No. Platinum 950 can be resized by any jeweller. Precious inlay cannot, so we replace it free for life instead.

Platinum 950, starting at £995 against £345. That is about 188% more before any stone or inlay.

Yes, both, at the Birmingham Assay Office.

Comparison

Platinum 950 or Precious inlay?

Precious inlay is meaningfully harder, so if your hands take a beating the choice is largely made for you.

	Platinum 950	Precious inlay
Surface hardness	Mohs 4.5	Mohs 8.5
Density	21.4 g/cm³	7.2 g/cm³
Resizable	Yes	Replaced free
Hallmarked	Yes	Yes
Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes
Price from	£995	£345

What the difference actually feels like

Platinum 950 is 3 times the weight of precious inlay for the same ring. On paper that is a number; on the hand it is the difference between a ring you forget about and one you are aware of every time you move. Neither is better. It is worth knowing which you want before you spend anything.

Precious inlay sits at Mohs 8.5 against 4.5. Ordinary household dust carries quartz at Mohs 7, which is the line that matters: below it a ring collects fine scratches from nothing more than daily life. That is not a marginal difference between these two, it is the main one.

Platinum 950 can be resized and precious inlay cannot. Fingers change over decades, so this matters more than it seems at the point of buying. Our answer either way is that we cover it: a resize on one, a free replacement on the other, for as long as you own the ring.

The straight answer

Choose platinum 950 if a white metal that stays white, or if sensitive skin.

Choose precious inlay if wanting gold without a gold budget, or if mixing metals with a partner's ring.

Still torn? The metal chooser asks six questions and picks one, and it will tell you if neither of these is right.

In both materials

Rings to look at

Plain

Flat court, platinum

Platinum 950, and you will feel every gram of it.

From £1150 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 mm

Truly unique

Emerald bezel

An emerald, in a protective rim, and only in a rim.

From £2295 2 mm

Multi toned

Gold line, titanium

Solid gold inlaid down the centre of brushed titanium.

From £550 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 mm

Common questions

Is platinum 950 or precious inlay harder wearing?: Precious inlay, at Mohs 8.5 against 4.5. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.
Which is heavier?: Platinum 950, at 21.4 g/cm³ against 7.2. That is 3 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.
Can both be resized?: No. Platinum 950 can be resized by any jeweller. Precious inlay cannot, so we replace it free for life instead.
Which costs more?: Platinum 950, starting at £995 against £345. That is about 188% more before any stone or inlay.
Are both hallmarked?: Yes, both, at the Birmingham Assay Office.