Platinum is denser than gold, and a men's band is usually wider than a woman's, so that density adds up. A broad platinum ring feels solid and permanent, which many men like in a piece they never plan to take off. If you would rather forget you are wearing a ring, try a gold band of equal width and compare.
It is easy to feel. Pick up two bands of matching size, one of each metal, and the gap is obvious in the palm before you even put either on.
When platinum is scratched, the metal moves rather than wearing away. Over months of wear those fine marks merge into a soft, slightly matte sheen called a patina. Plenty of men like it: the band looks lived in, the way a good leather watch strap does. If you would rather the wear never show, pick a brushed platinum finish from the start, because its soft sheen and the patina blend together.
Because scratches shift platinum instead of removing it, the band keeps its substance even after years of knocks against desks, tools and car doors.
Both look white, but they get there differently. White gold is coated in rhodium, which wears and needs renewing, and a band that sees heavy use shows that wear sooner. Platinum keeps its white color all the way through, so there is nothing to replate, and it suits most sensitive skin; the gold version is the lighter of the two on the hand.
So the choice is simple. Pick platinum for low upkeep and a weighty feel, or the gold option for a lighter ring with a rhodium finish that wears and can be replated. If you are still undecided, ask whether you want a ring you never need to think about: if so, go with platinum.
This metal is hypoallergenic for most people, which makes it a sensible choice for men who have reacted to other metals or who plan to wear the band around the clock. If you have a diagnosed metal allergy, check with your doctor before buying any ring.
If your partner's ring is platinum too, look at platinum engagement rings to see how the two will pair, and browse men's jewelry for pieces in that cool tone.