All about White Gold

White gold is just as pure as its yellow counterparts, but it begs the question then, why is my white gold turning yellow? Well, technically, it’s not! There is no such thing as white gold. Gold is just that, regardless of what hue it appears once fashioned for its end use. Gold in its most natural form is red yellow in colour. Pure gold (24K) is also very soft, so it is often mixed with other metals to increase its strength and durability. These other metals are what tend to change the hues of gold.

White gold is mixed with white metal alloys, such as zinc, nickel, manganese, silver, platinum or palladium to create this whitish hue. However, this does not account for the beautiful, sparkly white gold you typically get when you purchase white gold jewellery.

After the gold is mixed with the appropriate white metals for the end use and to get as close to a white colour as possible (typically closer to a pale brown or yellow colour), the jewellery is then dipped into rhodium for a layer of polished, white protection. Rhodium is a very precious metal and is typically not used for making jewellery; however, its dazzling white, mirror-like shine makes it perfect for plating.

This plating not only offers a more durable finish but a bright white finish that complements your diamonds and precious gemstones. So, while white gold looks great when it is new, its rhodium plating wears off with time, revealing the lower yellowish layer of white gold. White gold was created as a substitute for the more expensive platinum, which offered the gleaming white complement to your gems-and to some skin tones, but at a cost. Even with the need to re-plate your white gold jewellery every couple of years, it is still seen as the more cost effective option, because when platinum scratches and becomes dull, the layers of platinum are polished away with the years of use, whereas white gold can just be re-dipped, retaining the original composition of the actual gold piece.

So, although we don’t recommend you try to scour the West Coast for nuggets of white gold, we do recommend you come visit us to see the many different uses of rhodium and white gold in our vast selection of jewellery and even in our watches and accessories.

White gold is a beautiful, precious metal. It has the same appearance as platinum and silver, but has a more affordable price than platinum and is much more hard-wearing than silver. It is the perfect choice for those who prefer a white, silvery appearance over yellow gold. Its neutral colour and durability makes it the perfect setting for all gemstones. It looks beautiful and classic, suited to all outfits and events.

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