White Gold Jewelry
Let’s say you decide to pay a visit to Manhattan’s jewelry stores, and you come across some gorgeous white gold jewelry, whether it be pendants, rings, or earrings. You’re tempted to buy, but you don’t know much about white gold. Keep reading for a quick primer on what white gold is, what type of jewelry is made with it, and how to take care of it. We like to say that an informed customer is able to make better choices, so here goes.
First off, it’s important to point out that white gold’s popularity has increased tremendously over the past couple of years, especially because of its versatility and the fact that it has great brilliance. White gold actually is an alloy of gold mixed with at least one white metal, usually nickel or palladium. Like traditional yellow gold, its purity is counted in carats. It’s used for different kinds of jewelry, because specific alloy combinations are better suited for specific types of jewelry: for example, while a nickel alloy is hard and strong, and therefore good for rings and pins, gold-palladium alloys are soft, pliable and good for white gold gemstone settings, sometimes with other metals mixed in for weight and durability.
Almost all white gold jewelry is rhodium-plated since gold alloyed with palladium or nickel never comes out true white. White gold in its natural state is actually a light grey color which is why many white gold engagement rings are coated with rhodium plating as it is extremely hard and very white. So even if the jewelry is made out of a strong kind of gold, it will eventually fade and wear off. For this reason, it’s recommended to have this coating replaced every 1 to 5 years or so to maintain the brilliance of the gold. Proper handling and cleaning of white gold jewelry is also important if you want to prolong its brilliance and beauty for a long time. Here are some essential white gold care tips:
- On one hand, gold jewelry pieces are naturally yellow because there are no alloys mixed with it. White gold, on the other hand, is plated with a thin layer of rhodium, a white and durable metal, and should be reapplied once or twice a year to be able to maintain the beauty and luminescence of the jewelry, especially those worn frequently.
- When cleaning white gold, it is important that you use a cleaning product that is specifically designed for white gold to avoid severe damage of the jewelry. If you want to be absolutely safe when cleaning white gold, you can use soap, water, and a soft and dull toothbrush to clean even the nicks and cranny of the piece.
- You should remove any white gold jewelry when swimming or working with all kinds of chemicals, especially when you’re doing some cleaning around the house. Though they are brilliant and durable, white gold can easily wear out when exposed to harsh chemicals, causing the jewelry to pit and discolor.
It is interesting to note that white gold for engagement ring and wedding jewelry was originally developed in the 1920’s as a substitute for platinum. Nowadays, they are jewelry metals in their own right and currently very fashionable and desirable.
