White gold

white gold 

The need to innovate in jewelry and to reinforce the hardness of gold have resulted in the mixture of  pure gold with other metals. These chemical alloys hide the characteristic yellow color of gold, among other things. This is how white gold was born, which is made up of 75% fine gold and 25% other metals such as copper, silver, palladium or zinc . In some European countries, the use of nickel alloys has been prohibited because it caused allergies to some sensitive people. After manufacturing the alloy, it proceeds to give it a rhodium bath, a process called plating, the precious metal is covered with a thin layer of rhodium, a rare metal that belongs to the platinum group.  

The quality of the  plating depends on the thickness of the rhodium layer applied. To carry it out, the electrolysis technique is usually used. This process allows to reinforce the whiteness and brilliance of the gold. In addition, the composition of white gold is rich in palladium; the more palladium you have, the whiter your tone will be.    

 White gold is also called gray gold in some countries. Regarding the amount of gold that white gold contains, it is usually a layer of 20% fine gold and the remaining 80% silver. However, be careful, we anticipate that it depends a lot on the manufacturer of the gold alloy. In the past, white gold, which was also called "electrum" was only made up of pure gold and silver. And, we will also note, for your jewelery knowledge, that white gold does not necessarily include precious materials, it can also be the result of an alliance of mercury and palladium.

The use of white gold in jewelry

White gold is in full swing in jewelry. It symbolizes the refinement and elegance of the pieces that are made with it. It differs from yellow gold, both in its composition and in its price. Often worn alone, or in conjunction with precious stones such as diamonds, white gold is poetic and captivating. The expert jewelers have put passion, innovation, creativity and a lot of mastery when it comes to creating new designs in white gold.

As for the value of white gold, it depends on the amount of pure gold it contains. Its aesthetic appearance also provides added value to the piece, especially in the case of jewelry. But make sure that its beautiful appearance does not mislead you. Compared to yellow gold, white gold is usually more expensive. According to the regulations, white gold cannot be sold as such, if it does not contain  at least 37.5% fine gold .

And finally, white gold jewelry needs a rhodium plating at least once a year, so it is important to  know how to care for and clean white gold jewelry well and thus always preserve its precious sparkle.