Ultimate Guide To White Gold: Interesting Facts about this Metal

White gold is a beautiful choice for those seeking a timeless, classic piece that will go well with their other jewellery items. It is the perfect neutral metal setting for those wanting to add gemstones to it, like diamonds to turn it into an engagement ring.

White gold is a precious metal that is far more affordable for most than platinum, and it’s far more durable than jewellery made of silver. In fact, when it comes to white gold vs silver, white gold is the clear winner for most.

What Is White Gold?

The metal, white gold, is a combination of the unmistakable pure yellow gold which is then mixed with other metals that will give it the characteristic white sheen it’s known for. This becomes its own very special colour of gold.

By mixing gold with other alloys, it is given durability and strength since yellow gold is quite a soft metal and is not good on its own for larger items in jewellery making. The resulting metal after mixing gold with alloys is the silver-white hue of white gold which is now far stronger and more rigid than pure gold.

How Is White Gold Made?

White gold is made by mixing yellow gold together with an alloy to create the final product. These metals in the alloy family are usually some combination of silver, nickel, or palladium.

The final mixture is then usually given a coating of rhodium – which comes from the same family as platinum. This final product is the one most people associate with white gold, since it has taken on the silvery white colour of the other, stronger, metals.

The rhodium coating is what imparts the most lustre to the jewellery and if you find that your white gold jewellry has gotten a bit dull over time, you can request that your jeweller add an additional rhodium coating to make it shine once again.

Is White Gold Real Gold?

For those wondering, yes, white gold vs yellow gold shows that white gold is indeed a type of real gold, since it contains a large amount of pure yellow gold within it. It is not, however, only made up of gold.

For those who suffer from a nickel allergy, which is a rash that develops on a person when they come into contact with the metal nickel, they may need to choose a type of white gold without nickel within it.

If this isn’t possible then the rhodium coating on the white gold should prevent the allergy from appearing until it wears off over time, in which case, a replating of rhodium will be required. You can tell the amount of real gold used within your jewellery item by the number of karats that are within it.

What Are The Different Types Of White Gold?

White gold has different purity levels, which is why there are several different types of it around. The usual range of purity is called karats, and are shown on jewellery using the letter K, which will show how many karats are within it, such as 9 or 18.

For example, any jewellery that contains 9K will contain 37.5% pure yellow gold, while 18K will have 75% pure gold. The higher the karat present, the more gold it contains within it. A good range to aim for if you’re after white gold that will tarnish at a slower rate, but not cost a fortune is 14K white gold, which contains 58.3% gold.

What Is Special About White Gold?

White gold is less expensive than platinum is, and was created as a more affordable, as well as more malleable option for it. It’s special since it can give jewellery the look of platinum, but unlike platinum, can be cast and woven into intricate, delicate jewellery shapes quite easily. Pairing white gold with precious stones and gemstones like aquamarine will allow your gemstone to truly shine.

Is White Gold Expensive?

White gold is a relatively inexpensive option for most when compared to jewellery like platinum. It offers a classic, timeless look that is more durable than silver for most.

Is White Gold Worth More Than Gold?

White gold is usually priced around the same as gold, however, it may also be ever so slightly more expensive due to durability and the number of processes the metal goes through in order to render the final product.

While gold is a precious commodity, white gold not only offers customisation in jewellery, but it’s also far less likely to break or be damaged when compared to pure gold.

What Are Some Popular Jewellery Styles For White Gold?

White gold jewellery is completely customisable. Popular styles include classic princess-cut engagement rings, simple studs in varying shapes such as hearts or triangles, as well as thin-stranded bracelets and necklaces that hold delicate gemstones.

How Do You Tell If White Gold Is Real?

In the United Kingdom, all gold jewellery will come with a hallmark which will state the full amount of precious metals that are contained within it.

You can recognise this hallmark by examining your jewellery piece to find the small symbol and look up its valued gold breakdown. In countries such as the United Kingdom, any jewellery that is over one gram in weight must by law be hallmarked. In every other country, however, the karat amount of gold will suffice to show how much gold is within your item of white gold.

Is White Gold Shinier Than Silver?

In most instances, due to the rhodium plating of the white gold jewellery, the answer is yes. White gold is usually far shinier than silver jewellery is and retains its sheen for far longer. With this said, the rhodium coating can wear off, which will result in a duller shine over a long period of time.

Why Does White Gold Turn Yellow?

White gold is mixed with other metals and given a final rhodium coating. When this outer coating starts to wear down over time, it is likely due to the environment, the skin’s PH level, the number of chemicals it’s exposed to, etc. Then, the original pure yellow colour of gold will start to reveal itself. This is entirely normal and nothing to worry about. To restore the classic white gold shine to it, you’ll need to take the piece to your jeweller and ask them to coat it once more with rhodium.

How To Clean White Gold

For those wondering exactly how to clean white gold, it should be said that no harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners should ever be used with this precious piece of jewellery. Instead, the jewellery should be softly buffed every once in a while, with a cotton or microfibre cloth to clean off any dirt or chemicals which could have been building up upon it. A soak in soapy water will also suffice should the jewellery item get sticky.

Is White Gold Or Platinum Better?

When it comes to comparing white gold vs platinum, both are excellent precious metal choices. However, white gold has the benefit of being able to be shaped into more intricate jewellery pieces. If you don’t have a large budget, white gold also takes preference since it’s less expensive than platinum is.

Now that you know everything there is to know about white gold, you should feel far more confident heading out to choose a classic, timeless piece of jewellery that you’ll appreciate for years to come.