White gold changing colour

[CzeshireCat]

My colleague at work told me that white gold can change colour over time to yellow. I was a bit stunned at this. Is it true? (Hope it's not, he usually knows (or thinks he does) everything)
(we're programmers btw)

[Feydakin]

Very true.. Gold is yellow in it's natural state.. To make it white different alloys are added, nickel was very common and now you see all sorts of while metals used, to make the yellow gold look white.. Like any color mixing, white + any color will always have a tint of the original color..

Once made, white jewelry is commonly plated with another white metal such as Rhodium to give the ring a super white appearance.. Unfortunately, that plating wears off over time and you begin to see a natural yellow tint appear.. The good thing is that you can take those rings back to the jeweler and for a modest fee have them polished and replated to look like new again..

Steve

[Bearman]

Very true.. Gold is yellow in it's natural state.. To make it white different alloys are added, nickel was very common and now you see all sorts of while metals used, to make the yellow gold look white.. Like any color mixing, white + any color will always have a tint of the original color..

Once made, white jewelry is commonly plated with another white metal such as Rhodium to give the ring a super white appearance.. Unfortunately, that plating wears off over time and you begin to see a natural yellow tint appear.. The good thing is that you can take those rings back to the jeweler and for a modest fee have them polished and replated to look like new again..

Steve

Many manufacturers are advertising white gold now that won't turn yellowish.
Haven't seen any yet but sounds good.

[Feydakin]

I've seen those as well.. But haven't had a chance to play with it either so I'm reserving comment until then.. I'm curious as to how they did it without it showing wear..

[Princess]

I've always thought that plating a ring was a bad thing. Are all white gold rings plated with rhoidium? How thick is the plating and how soon untill it wears off? Isn't there white gold rings that are white gold all the way thru?

[Joselyn]

I've always thought that plating a ring was a bad thing. Are all white gold rings plated with rhoidium? How thick is the plating and how soon untill it wears off? Isn't there white gold rings that are white gold all the way thru?

Plating isn't always bad. There are many people who normally wear yellow gold and want to try white out..so we Rhodium plate their jewelry. On the other hand, there are people who plate junk and try to pass it off as quality karat jewelry...it all goes back to trusting who you're buying from.

As far as white gold being plated, every piece we make in white gold automatically gets rhodium as a finishing touch. The time it takes to wear away is different for everyone due to how hard you are on your jewelry, your body chemistry, and what you do with your hands (detergents/lotions/etc.). I'm not sure the actual thickness of the plating, but on average people have to replate their jewlery every year or so. Also, the tops of your rings don't get as much wear, so the plating lasts longer. Lots of people have white gold rings that you can see the yellowish tinge on the back, but still looks bright and white on the top. Don't forget, these rings are absolutely 14kt white gold through and through, they're just given a finish that makes them even whiter than normal.

[CzeshireCat]

I recently bought a used 18K white gold ring set with a pink sapphire and can see a faint gold colour appearing on one side of the shank. Maybe the original owner had been wearing a ring on the adjoining finger.
It's a contemporary design, looks good quality and the seller claimed it cost the uk equivalent of $650 originally. So I'm considering having it refinished.
I wanted to know about the faint gold colouring.
If one cut through this ring, would the mix of gold plus white metal still make the ring look like yellow gold? Being a growing cynic and despite the presence of hallmarking, I'm concerned that it may not be as described.
There is the comfort of the weight, the ring weighs over 8g but the "volume" of the metal is not great. Ive noticed previously when comparing 9K to 18K gold items I own, that 18K is quite heavy compared to a similarly sized 9K item.
I don't know about metal weights but what are the ratios of masses of common jewellery metals compared to each other eg silver:gold 9k:gold 18K

[lemel_man]

I wanted to know about the faint gold colouring.
If one cut through this ring, would the mix of gold plus white metal still make the ring look like yellow gold? Being a growing cynic and despite the presence of hallmarking, I'm concerned that it may not be as described.
There is the comfort of the weight, the ring weighs over 8g but the "volume" of the metal is not great. Ive noticed previously when comparing 9K to 18K gold items I own, that 18K is quite heavy compared to a similarly sized 9K item.
I don't know about metal weights but what are the ratios of masses of common jewellery metals compared to each other eg silver:gold 9k:gold 18K
There are various white gold alloys, with some whiter than others. All, though, are noticably whiter than yellow gold. As has already been said, it is common practise to plate white gold with a dead white metal; usually rhodium. When the plating wears away the underlying white gold looks slightly yellow in comparison, but is doesn't get more yellow the deeper you go. It stays at that shade all the way through; that's its natuaral colour. Many people like the natural colour of white gold, and not all jewellers plate the gold - I don't.

If you have the exact same item in sterling silver, gold, and platinum, and it weighs 1gm in silver, then it will weigh approximately the following in the other metals...
Sterling silver 1.00.
9ct gold....... 1.09
14ct............ 1.26
18ct yel....... 1.50
18ct wh....... 1.57
22ct............ 1.73
pure gold...... 1.87
pure plat...... 2.09

I hope this answers your query.

[SugarRa]

I own two 14K White Gold rings both of which started turning yellow within one month. When I contacted the jewelry store from which they were purchased they explained that this is expected. They recommended that I have them rhodium plated as needed for $20 per ring. That means that every month I will have to pay $40 or $480 per year. Why is the plating on my rings so short lived and is there another option?

[Gregory Diamond]

All White gold is made with yellow gold so it has a yellowish look to it. The common practice is to rhodium plate it.

It should last at least a year, if it is not they are probably using dirty Rhodium or just don't know what they are doing.

Let me know what city and state you are in I can refer you to a reputable jeweler in your area that can help you out.


Greg

[SugarRa]

[QUOTE=Gregory Diamond]All White gold is made with yellow gold so it has a yellowish look to it. The common practice is to rhodium plate it.

It should last at least a year, if it is not they are probably using dirty Rhodium or just don't know what they are doing.

Let me know what city and state you are in I can refer you to a reputable jeweler in your area that can help you out.

SugarRa - I live in Syracuse, New York.

[Gregory Diamond]

Closest I know is

Dufore's Jewelry
94 W. 2nd St.
Oswego, NY 13126
315-343-3340


Nice people..


Greg