What is white gold? And why are there different shades of white gold?
What is white gold?
White gold has become a very popular choice for wedding rings and for good reason, it has a beautiful natural off-white colour.
The white gold colour is achieved by mixing pure gold with other metals.
This mix is called an alloy.
The karat of the gold will tell you how much pure gold is in the mix.
The different colours of gold are determined by the amount of pure gold in the mix AND which other metals are mixed with the gold.
Pure gold is 24 karats. Anything less than 24k is mixed with other metals.
So for example, 14k white gold and 14k yellow gold both have 14 parts out of 24 of pure gold.
What makes the 14k white gold whiter and the 14k yellow gold yellower depends on the other metals in the mix. 14k white gold will be mixed with white metals, such as nickel so that the resulting alloy is whiter. Whereas 14k yellow gold will be mixed with metals such as silver or zinc so that the gold colour remains it is only a little lighter in colour.
14k white gold will be "more white" than 18k white gold because the 14k white gold has a higher percentage of other materials than the 18k white gold. The 18k white gold has more pure gold and therefore looks a little more yellow.
This is why some white gold can look a little yellowish, it depends on the quantity of pure yellow gold in the mix.
If you are looking for a very white colour, like platinum, you can opt for a rhodium plating. The rhodium plating is a thin layer over the gold and offers a more metallic white colour.
I personally love the natural look of the white gold. But I offer rhodium plating on all my white gold jewellery if you prefer a more whiter finish.
The final look and colour of the jewellery will also depend on the polish and finish. A more matte finish will look more natural and slightly more yellowish. Whereas a more polished look will have a more shiny and brighter/whiter look. This can be one of the reasons you may feel that your white gold is turning more yellow over time. Because with time the initial polish will become more dull and the natural yellow colour will be more visible. In this case you can always opt to have your jewellery polished or plated.
Whether you are looking for a unique white gold wedding ring or a special white gold gemstone bracelet I would be honoured to create a special handmade piece of jewellery for you in a beautiful white gold. All my jewellery can be made in white gold, so even if you don't see the option in the item, please do not hesitate to contact me to ask for the item to be made in white gold.