
Long before we were told that we’d soon be seeing Cloud Dancer—Pantone’s Color of the Year—everywhere, the pendulum was already starting to swing toward the cool, elegant neutrality of a “lofty white” that “acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world.” At least in terms of precious metals…
You may have noticed that JCK editors have been hinting at a metal color vibe shift for a few years now, one that is nudging popular taste toward the modern, minimalist appeal of high-luster white metals.
Often we were talking about the fresh, futuristic appeal of silver—especially in bold, sculptural applications.
But when it comes to engagement rings, the most elegant and elevated of wear-every-days, and glamorous statement pieces, platinum sits at the top of the white-metal hierarchy.
Not that the old-world splendor of yellow gold is losing its appeal but, as Gem + Jewel editor-in-chief Emili Vesilind noted in this trend story I wrote for 1stDibs last summer, “We always want what’s new—and white metals feel really fresh now.”
In November, JCK’s editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky interviewed Jenny Luker, president of Platinum Guild International (PGI) USA, who was urging retailers and designers to explore the possibilities of platinum in response to market shifts. Earlier that fall, gold had broken the $4,000-per-ounce barrier, an event that prompted Luker to emphasize a unique proposition for retailers looking to make their final holiday buys: “If it’s yellow, it’s yellow, but if it’s white, it should be platinum,” she said. In other words, the moment was calling for a pivot away from white gold to make platinum jewelry the priority.
To reinforce this call to action, PGI later released a holiday gift guide, which features a breadth of options by top designers, including under-$2,000 pendants and cocktail rings set with enormous green tourmalines.

Looking ahead, the possibilities for platinum inventory remain enticing—especially beyond the bridal category. Not just because the price of gold is standing firm in the sky-high zone but because many consumers are open to exploring alternative precious metals that offer strong value and durability.
There have also been conversations around the idea of platinum jewelry as a compellingly portable, wearable investment.
And there’s a growing demand for the enduring glamour of vintage platinum-and-diamond brooches, while Belle Epoque era jewels have been well represented on the auction circuit.

All this to say, come 2026, platinum promises to open the door to new sales opportunities. To put a festive holiday-season visual on this probability, check out more favorites from the PGI gift guide below.








Top: Cocktail ring in platinum with cushion-cut green Afghan tourmaline, $59,000; Featherstone Design
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