White gold, what’s the point?

[Huromjuicemaker]

it’s pretty much indistinguishable from steel or silver so why pay for it in jewelry and watches?

First time I ever heard of “replating” white gold, not sure what it means but my white gold wedding and engagement rings look exactly the same as they did on my finger when we bought them 25 years ago!

It’s just a plated alloy though, I’ve always thought white gold was a bit of a rip off, it’s just a mix of nickel and zinc with a rhodium coating.

24 carat gold is beautiful- a rich, warm colour, absolutely the antithesis of tacky.

White gold generally comes in 9ct (9 parts of 24 pure gold) or 18ct (18 parts of 24 pure gold)
Yellow gold can be 9ct, 18ct, 22ct or 24ct (pure gold) but obviously white gold isn't available in the higher purity.

White gold is commonly alloyed with palladium to give the White colour.

It's thought that diamonds show up whiter in "White" (or silver) colour metal so often the part with diamonds in is white even if the rest of the ring or jewellery is yellow gold. Whether you wear yellow gold, white gold or platinum is personally preference I don't deem yellow gold tacky, sometimes it suits people's skin tone better.

white gold is harder than silver, and doesn't tarnish although it can need replating after time.

Platinum is a denser metal (than gold) and keeps it's whiteness and is actually a lot cheaper (per gram) that White gold currently. Because its a very pure metal its less allergenic than white gold.

Palladium is slightly harder to work with and is also expensive ( it used to be a cheaper option)

I have a coolish skin tone but both white and yellow gold look fine on me. I like rose gold too.

It's completely different. It has a different shine

Jeweller here!

If your WG ring is warmer this may mean the rhodium playing is wearing away and the underlining gold is peering through. If you like it that's awesome if not then re rhodium at a local jewellers 😊

White Gold doesn't exist. It's yellow gold mixed in with whiter metals however it's impossible to turn white (it's more of a straw colour) hence having a rhodium plating ontop. Which needs to be replated throughout life. Simple things such as creams, washing hands and the sun effect how long the rhodium lasts. It's true WG is stronger then silver however it doesn't 'look better' then silver with diamonds. Both look exactly the same. It is true though that YG can effect the colour of diamonds sometimes, always best to get a diamond set in a platinum or white setting to avoid this.

Platinum is the most durable metal along with palladium (palladium is ever so slightly darker) both these metals are expensive because they are rarer, stronger and pure white metals in comparison to WG. If you scratch silver metal you can polish it, you can't with WG. If you scratch platinum (it wouldn't scratch just cause more of a dent) you can also polish that out. In my personal opinion I love white metals aesthetics but if it where me, I'd either go silver or platinum. Massive price difference but both don't require as much upkeep as WG. Hope this helps! 😊

It's not a mix of nickel and zinc

Can't where gold in my ears as I'm allergic and I like being matchy matchy so my wedding ring, engagement ring and eternity rings are white gold the rest is sliver

I'm a jeweller as well, (hello 👋) and we usually recommend Platinum because it's cheaper than white gold, as well as being hard wearing and keeping it's whiteness.

Those stating they’re allergic to silver, you most likely have a nickel allergy, so it will be the nickel used in the silver causing your allergy. Nickel is often mixed, even in expensive metals like white gold etc.

I have to be really careful with jewellery as I have a nickel allergy. When I first had my ears pierced they must have used cheap costume studs (early 80’s). Awful itchy, painful lobes, my mum bought me 9ct gold studs afterwards and eventually they healed.

I still wear costume jewellery but religiously make sure I remove it before bed, otherwise I get the telltale itchy rash.

Sorry to derail the thread slightly. 😆

So you might still be able to wear silver. Always worth asking the jeweller about nickel content.

Very interesting..
I love the wonderful pure gold Torques and other Celtic jewellery that is in museums - such a soft, warm rich glow to it.

A cabinet maker has a hand made 'custom' platinum wedding ring- I actually thought it was pewter til he told me as it's not a shiny ring, but extremely heavy.

I’m allergic to silver but hate the yellow gold look so I love white gold/platinum even though it does just look like silver.

I am currently wearing my white gold wedding ring next to a silver ring (temporary substitute for my white gold engagement ring) and they look exactly the same colour. In fact the silver is slightly brighter (although this may be because it's newer)

Yellow gold isn't tacky - I have no idea what some of you are on!

Yes there may be some tacky items in yellow gold but yellow gold is a classic surely?

I have jewellery in all different metals, white gold, platinum, yellow gold, silver. All have their place.

You don’t need to plate white gold, I think it’s nicer without, and quite different to silver when not plated, it’s a pale gold colour. I got a white gold engagement ring- liked the colour with an emerald, and had no idea it was plated. When looking for wedding rings the jeweller explained the plating and how they preferred not to use it. I was able to get it stripped off my engagement ring and it doesn’t need maintenance.

Surely it’s colour preference and knowing quality is there.

I don't like yellow gold so my engagement and wedding rings are white gold. They are nearly 40 years old and have never needed replating

I do mostly wear silver but it does tarnish

I find gold quite an unattractive colour so went for white gold. I can’t afford platinum.

each to their own I guess.

@Anonmousse

Aww I love your wave 👋 nice to meet you!!

Honestly I've never heard of getting platinum cheaper then WG however I'd definitely shop at yours if that's the case!

Thank you for your input! Hope you're having an awesome day!!

I think the reason people say that is that some people have chunky 9 carat yellow gold rings and look down on white gold. It's a certain type in my experience, the ones l who need to be seen to be "wealthy".

I have diamonds and sapphires with white gold which I think looks perfect together my friend had same engagement ring but with rubies and diamonds in yellow gold and that worked too.

My wedding ring is white gold and over 20 years old. Wear it everyday and still looks the same as when I got it.
Has never been replated.

I really like yellow gold.

I'm surprised by those saying it's dated, maybe 20 years ago when every engagement ring was a white gold princess cut diamond and classic gold was out of fashion, but I don't think jewellery that can last a life time needs to follow trends.

My engagement ring is white gold with diamonds. I love it. Does need a clean though !!

It’s gold mixed with a variety of other metals, which can often include those metals - it doesn’t exist as an entity in its own right, see @needhelpgivelove post :)