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People often wonder what white gold is, and how it differs from other gold, and if it is gold at all. White gold is an alloy of natural gold, with some other metals mixed in that give it the white color. Platinum is often used to set diamonds and other white gems. However, it is expensive and hence white gold is a suitable substitute that was developed for this purpose in the 1920s.

Today, white gold is a metal used to make jewelry in its own right, and is extremely popular with young people. Most under the thirties do not care to wear gold in its natural tones and prefer silver or white gold when it comes to making a fashion statement. Many brides prefer white gold bridal jewelry to other traditional jewelry, and consider it to look good with the brides’ traditional white gowns, and glittering diamond or other gemstones.

White gold can be fashioned into earrings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces. It can contain up to twenty carats of pure gold, though the common range is between ten and seventeen carats. The malleability of the alloy depends on what goes into it, and how the jewelry can be designed is governed by its contents. The price of white gold too depends of the metal alloyed with it and its proportion.

What Makes White Gold White?

Gold that is alloyed with white metal gets bleached to a lighter color. This final color depends on the other metal that has been used. The most common metals used are silver, palladium, or nickel. All of them make the gold look white to differing extents, and the degrees of harness also vary.

Nickel is the cheapest metal used in the white gold alloy. Unfortunately, some people develop an allergy to nickel. Palladium is more expensive, but safer to use in jewelry. Nickel gives a colder white color to the gold, while palladium gives a warmer tone. Nickel also makes a harder alloy that is difficult to shape, while palladium alloy is much softer. Silver gold alloys also make a good basis for jewelry.

White gold is often plated with rhodium to give it a really white sheen. This is not a permanent process, and the jewelry can often become dull or cream in color. This is nothing to worry about, as it can be re-plated with rhodium to get back its original white sheen. Lovers of white jewelry can delight in this new lease of life for their favorite pieces.