[RushabhS]

24-karat gold is 100% pure gold and pure gold is yellow in nature. In fact, gold and copper are the only metals that have natural colors. All other metals are white or grey in color.

In jewelry, there are various colors of gold including yellow gold, white gold, rose (pink) gold, and even blue gold. How does one make gold in colors other than yellow?

Remember that 24-karat gold can come only in yellow. However, when you decrease the purity of gold to 18-karat (75% pure gold), the remaining 6 karats has to be taken up by other metals that gives hardness, strength, and color to the gold. The combination of the pure gold and other metals is a gold alloy. There are numerous gold alloys that can be produced but the most common metals in gold alloys are: copper, silver, nickel, palladium, and platinum.

The table below lists the gold alloys that produce the colors you see in jewelry. Note that the word, "Silver" is interchangeable with nickel, palladium, and platinum which all have similar grey/silver color. Most commercial gold alloys are based on gold-nickel-silver-zinc alloys with copper often added to improve malleability. This copper addition, of course, affects color, and so such white gold alloys are not a good white color - more a slight yellow/ brown tint, particularly if nickel content is also low. As a consequence, such white gold jewelry is normally electroplated with rhodium (a platinum metal) which is tarnish resistant and imparts a good white colour.



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[pohto9]

This is very helpful information. My fiance just bought me a mother's ring with the children's birthstones and names engraved on it. When I saw the price he paid I wondered what could have made it cost so much. When the ring finally arrived, it was white gold. I really don't see a benefit to having white gold over silver. No one will be able to tell that my ring is white gold instead of silver, and I can't justify the extra cost for something that would have looked the same had he paid for silver instead. Is there a benefit to having white gold over silver jewelry?

[kimplovely]

For me personally, I love white gold over silver. Not only do I know the quality of the gold, which for me looks and last longer without needing a cleaning, especially for everyday wear and tear. I always opt for sometype of gold and white or platinum is the way to go now.

[ssalapek]

"No one will be able to tell that my ring is white gold instead of silver, and I can't justify the extra cost for something that would have looked the same had he paid for silver instead."

Actually there is a big difference between white gold and silver. I love my white gold and it wont tarnish like the silver does. So I think it's a better idea to spend the extra money on the white gold than silver, unless you dont mind your ring tarnished.

[briana-d]

i think white gold looks alot prettier, it wears better and longer

[mcelhakd]

White gold usually has an alloy of nickel, which is a particularly white metal. This overpowers the yellow enough that the jewelry gold is white.
Most people can wear white gold without any problems but there is about 14% of the population that has a nickel sensitivity
http://www.kmtr.com/content/expert/jewelry_story.aspx?content_id=8621AD7C-DC67-4126-9EA1-E0ED53586447

So beware if you're special someone is one of those 14%

[frdswife23]

"14% of the population has a nickel sensitivity" I am one of those and I have to be real careful when purchasing jewelry, sometimes it says nickel free, but it's not.

[DayDreamer]

I didn't really get the table, but it was a nice read. I never stopped to think about how is the white gold made.

[hollaholla]

I have always leaned towards white gold my whole life

[dontpanic]

I think the point of the post was that "white gold" is a misnomer, or merely just a market term. White gold looks the way it does because it is COATED with rhodium.

As far as silver vs white gold.... I dont think white gold is good value. The rhodium plating will at some point wear off. Silver is cheaper and has a naturally white luster. The gold alloy is still stronger than silver though. Silver nicks more easily than gold. So, for everyday wear of important rings, such as wedding rings, gold or better is prefered. Now and then rings, why not just buy silver?