The Beauty of White Gold

White Gold jewelry – we have all seen it, we have heard all about it. At first glance, it may seem like your typical silver or platinum pieces, but it is actually so much more than that.

This is a type of gold which is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal. This metal is usually nickel, manganese, palladium, or a combination of these. Like various types of gold, such as yellow gold, the value and purity of this type of gold is measured in karats.

The properties of white gold depend on the kind of metal and the alloy proportions utilized. Since it can be combined with a wide range of white metals, this type of gold is flexible in terms of the pieces that can be crafted with it. For example, gold combined with white nickel are perfect in fashioning pins and rings because of their hardness and strength. Meanwhile gold-palladium alloys, which are soft and supple, could be made to set gemstones in. Commonly, white gold jewelry is created in 14K (58.3% pure gold) or 18K (75% pure gold). Gold is usually mixed with various metals to create an alloy which is stronger than pure gold.  A pure 24K ring may sound better, but it is actually softer than a jewelry mixed with other metal.  However, it is important to note that the common white gold alloy formulation consists of 90 wt.% gold and 10 wt.% nickel. To increase ductility, a fraction of copper is added to the equation.

The label “white gold” is commonly used to pertain to gold alloys with a whitish hue. As such, white encompasses a spectrum of colors that covers pale yellow to pale rose. Goldsmiths conceal these off-white tints through rhodium plating to create a resemblance to platinum, giving it a luxurious and tasteful look.

In purchasing jewelry pieces, particularly in picking engagement or wedding bands, most people would select platinum as their first choice. This is common since everybody desires that classy, yet elegantly simple aesthetics. However, as a rarer metal, platinum is significantly more expensive than gold. Moreover, white gold is easier and cheaper to maintain as it merely requires a simple recoating from time to time, unlike platinum which needs cleaning and polishing more frequently to stay smooth and shiny. Thus, to achieve that sophisticated look for a tighter budget, white gold is the way to go.

Check out our collection of classy and beautiful white gold jewelry!

Like and follow Adam’s Jewelers on Facebook.