Horological Meandering

The watch business is just fun to watch. Yes, I am aware that platinum is slightly harder to work with than gold, however, it is no longer a more expensive metal. In fact, the $200 spread between the two is quite large! Will we see platinum be perceived a... 

Am always under the impression that platinium is harder to fashion than gold. Fact or Fiction ? And if so, have I listed an excuse for the premium ?

The density of platinum exceeds gold. So the same watch case manufactured out of platinum will weigh more then its gold counterpart. Since price is denoted in troy ounces it will therefore cost more. That is one factor that affects the difference in price... 

here with some excellent inputs: CLICK ME! To sum up: raw material costs (which includes the greater purity of Platinum (95%) vs. Gold (75%) machining costs 'marketing costs' (that is what captures the status of the precious material) Thanks, Magnus

Best. Vte

Gold still costs less in a watch, so buy gold.

...but of course, as others have already posted, it's also more difficult and considerably more costly to machine. Platinum will also wear better than gold due to it's hardness, which makes it less susceptible to damage from use. That's an added benefit i... 

Means generally more than 30% more platinum by weight than gold for the same case. Add the significantly higher machining costs and you see the economics.

Yes, platinum may be more dense, but an ounce is and ounce and platinum is priced in the same troy ounces as gold. Bottom line, buying the same amount of platinum costs less right now. The machining is a bit more difficult, but with a $200 difference in m... 

Like in a watch case there will be more platinum by weight. Platinum will be 21.45 grams per cubic cm and gold will be 19.3 grams for the same volume. This of course would be if we were talking 100% platinum and 24k gold. Factor in the big difference in a... 

...it has greater tensile strength, so it wears much better than gold. And although it will scratch slightly easier, its tensile strength allows it to be polished more without wearing down the case, which means a sharp edge will stay sharp even with repea... 

World platinum production is ~6% of gold production. The earth has far greater (proven) gold reserves than platinum reserves, so it is our declining faith in fiat currency and economic conditions around the world that drives the value of gold rather than ...