White Gold Vs Silver: What You Need To Know
At first glance, it’s hard for the untrained eye to tell the difference between white gold and sterling silver. They’re both silver in color, but the two metals are quite different beyond their initial appearances.
Here’s what you need to know when you’re on the hunt for silver-hued jewelry.
Taking Care Of Your White Gold Items
If a white gold heirloom, like a ring or a bracelet, is passed down to you, chances are high that it has a rhodium coating. If its a commonly worn item and has been around for a very long time, you will notice the rhodium starting to erode, revealing the base gold color beneath.
Eventually, all white gold alloys will start to reveal yellow undertones, especially in everyday items. Many factors can contribute to the speed at which this happens. For instance, in the age of COVID-19, your ring will more often come into contact with alcohol via hand sanitizers and other cleaning products.
Your skins pH level, how much you sweat, and the amount of pollution your white gold endures all contribute to the speed at which it yellows. This can, however, be fixed with rhodium recoatinga process that shouldnt cost more than $50 at your local jeweler.
White Gold Vs Yellow Gold: Which Is Better
The decision over whether to choose white gold or yellow gold comes down to personal preference. Some of the factors you should consider before deciding are your skin tone, the current fashion trends, whether you have sensitive skin, and if you have an active lifestyle. In the end, both types of metal are excellent in their own respects.
For more information about our offerings, or if youre looking to buy or sell gold, reach out to the team at Michaels Jewelers today!
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What Is Yellow Gold Made From
Pure, 24 karat gold is not appropriate for crafting into everyday jewellery because it is too soft. To make 18 K gold, 75% pure gold is mixed with 25% other white metals. These are known as alloys. Blending the pure gold with white metals results in a softer, creamier yellow as opposed to the buttery, brassy colour of 24 karat gold.
Is Yellow Gold More Expensive Than White Gold
There is no price value discrepancy between the gold in white and yellow gold jewellery, as long as it is hallmarked at the same karat weight. So for instance, 18K white gold and 18K yellow gold will contain the same percentage of gold. However, white gold jewellery can be slightly more expensive than yellow gold jewellery owing to the manufacturing process it undergoes while getting mixed and coated.
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Why Would You Choose White Gold
In our current times, you should choose white gold if you prefer a lighter engagement ring, as the metal is less dense than platinum. This would be quite useful if your preferred style is quite bold or your band quite thick or if your gemstone is quite large and you are looking to reduce the overall weight of your ring.
White gold is also a good choice for those who prefer a shinier look. If you maintain your white gold engagement ring by re-plating every three years or when needed, then your engagement ring should keep its shine and lustre.
Up until 2020, white gold was more affordable than platinum. However now, due to the rise in price of gold and palladium, platinum is now the more affordable option.
Why Choose Rose Gold
If durability is important to you when it comes to choosing between yellow gold, white gold or rose gold, then rose gold makes a strong case for being chosen.
Despite appearances, rose gold is actually considered the most durable and scratch-resistant of all the gold colours. This is due to the relative toughness and robustness of copper, which forms the heart of the alloy alongside pure gold.
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Rose Gold Is Highly Suited To Vintage Style Jewellery
This colour is the essence of romance, of Old World glamour, and of a distinctly vintage charm. It puts the viewer and the wearer in mind of sepia-coloured photographs, and of faded opulence and the golden age of the silver screen.
As such, its not uncommon to see rose gold rings fashioned into vintage-inspired designs, and coupled with retro diamond shapes, such as Asscher, which heighten this particular style idiom.
Is There A Difference In Durability
Not really. In general, 18k golds are softer than 14k, because they include more actual gold, which is soft. But both varieties of white gold are “dipped” in a rhodium plating, which gives them both nearly equal durability.
But its worth noting that it’s important to get your white gold ring re-dipped every so often to preserve its beauty and durability, no matter which option you select. So technically, 14k white gold is stronger. But the difference isn’t substantial.
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Which Type Of Gold Should You Choose
Again, it depends on your personal preference. If you have an active lifestyle, youre better off with 14K gold. However, if youre concerned about durability and favor purity more, go for 18K. You should also pay attention to other factors such as color, vibrance, and skin sensitivity when choosing the type of gold to buy.
The Purity Of The Gold You Buy Affects Its Value
Differences in value generally correspond with the percentage of pure gold in the jewelry. This is commonly measured in “karat” .
24 karat gold is 100% pure. 18 karat gold is 75% pure, while 14 karat gold is 58.3% pure. These ratios are ideal for jewelry, and most commonly used.
The ultimate color of the gold is determined by the metals combined with the gold to form an alloy, and the ratio of those metals. Common metals mixed with gold include copper, silver, nickel, palladium, and zinc. A metal “plating” may also be applied to enhance the color.
Jewelry can also be made combining two or three different gold colors. These jewelry items are sometimes called two-tone, three-tone or multi-colored gold. Press to see a beautiful two-tone engagement ring.
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Yellow Gold Vs White Gold: Which Is More Durable
Durability relates to the blend of alloys used to create both yellow gold and white gold. Because they are both mixed with alloys, they are each relatively durable. That said, white gold has a slight edge because the metals used in the alloy are a bit stronger.
See, gold is so soft that it needs a high percentage of alloy metals to protect it from damage over time. The karatage of the gold will ultimately dictate its durability. Still, white gold has rhodium plating that equips it with an added layer of protection.
On the other hand, yellow gold is more susceptible to scratching because it doesn’t have a shield. In other words, its not rhodium plated. While rhodium plating protects white gold, it requires re-plating over time. This adds extra costs to your white gold jewelry, which leads us to our next point:
Which Looks Better With My Skin Tone
When buying jewelry, it’s important to consider what metals compliment your skin tone. For example, one metal might glow gorgeously from your skin and be too harsh for someone else’s. Prime example? Yellow gold complements warm and dark-toned skin. Yet against cool or pale skin tones, yellow makes the skin look faint and washed out. The best way to decide which metal looks best on you is to go and try both on. When in doubt, the best thing to do is to see something in person. In fact, this can make all the difference!
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What Is The History Of Yellow Gold
When you look at white gold vs yellow gold, the history of yellow gold goes back as far as 4000 B.C. with the earliest examples coming out from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Gold jewellery was worn by men and women. It was highly desirable as a symbol of wealth as well as power.
Gold jewellery was a rare luxury and was frequently inlaid with brightly coloured stones. Gold continued to be coveted as an embellishment in every single corner of the world during subsequent history, with remarkable examples of yellow gold jewellery from every major ancient through modern civilisation packing museums around the world.
It was found that mixing pure gold with other metals made it stronger, more robust pieces of jewellery that were also less expensive. Yellow gold ruled supreme until white gold was invented in the 19th century. White gold didnt really become generally popular until the 1920s when it was targeted as a platinum substitute. Platinum was required for military machinery in the war effort and white gold has remained popular ever since.
Platinum Vs White Gold
The two main differences between platinum and white gold are the composition and price. White gold consists more of a mixture of durable metals like nickel, zinc and copper while platinum is more pure with 95-98% platinum composition. More platinum is needed to make a ring though, causing the price to be 40-50% more.
While the key differences between these two precious metals are composition and price, they look nearly identical to the naked eye.
For example, compare these two complete rings from James Allens inspiration gallery. Can you tell the difference between this white gold setting from James Allen and this platinum ring also from James Allen? I just tested this with 20 people and not a single person could pick out which was more expensive.
To help you learn more about the differences between platinum and white gold, weve outlined the main things you should know regarding cost, composition, color and care.
See some examples in recently purchased diamond engagement rings from our highest-rated retailers:
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White Gold Vs Yellow Gold: How Different Are They
When it comes to the world of valuable jewelry, both white and yellow gold dominate. Peoples preferences make a difference in the arena, as there is no such thing as one is better than the other. It all boils down to what color the wearer thinks suits their skin tone best.
Did you know that there is no real difference between an 18K yellow gold ring and an 18K white gold ring in terms of value? Just like any piece of jewelry, you must look at the karat number to know how much of the item is made of pure gold. Obviously, the higher the karats, the more valuable the piece of gold is.
However, 24K gold is not recommended for use in the crafting of jewelry items including engagement rings. The reason for this is due to the fact that gold is a soft metal, making its purest form very delicate. This means it is not robust enough for jewelry items.
The main differences between white and yellow gold have barely anything to do with value. Turn your brain on and get ready to become knowledgeable in this sphere:
1. The metal mixture
On a side note, it is worth noting that white gold is usually plated with rhodium, a metal that gives the piece of jewelry shine and more durability.
2. Their popularity over timeThe use of gold in jewelry dates back centuries some even say it goes all the way back to 4000 B.C. The invention of white gold is not as historic as one would assume. It was invented in the 19th century and then became a hit among jewelers and wearers alike in the 1920s.
Pros And Cons Of White Gold
The advantages of white gold are:
White gold is a lower cost alternative to platinum with a similar appearance. Neutral color enables good matching with different color gemstones/diamonds. Hard rhodium coating offers good protection against wear and tear. White gold is stronger than yellow gold due to the harder alloyed metals.
The disadvantages of white gold are:
May cause skin irritation if you are hypoallergenic to nickel. Require more maintenance as rhodium needs to be recoated periodically. Ring resizing or servicing would require an additional plating step and a higher expense.
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Which Is Right For Me
The truth is that choosing between yellow gold vs. white gold is an individual choice. The qualities you love about yellow gold might be the very reason why someone else doesn’t like it. The two are similar in durability, price, and popularity, which means choosing one is completely personal. When in doubt, try both and go with your heart. Who says you have to choose one? Mixing metals is on-trend, especially with stacking bridal rings and bands.
Sometimes you just have to rely on that old-fashioned gut feeling of seeing something and knowing that you have to have it! Ready to shop?
How To Pick The Right Rose Gold For You
Still not sure which type of rose gold is right for your diamond engagement ring? Let our expert gemologists help. Just fill out a few simple questions and theyll pick out a few options that fit your needs and budget. From there, you can use With Claritys home preview program to test out rings before you decide.
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White Gold Or Yellow Gold: Which One Should You Purchase
Written by AnnabelleApril 15, 2020
While gold in its natural state is a bright, sunny yellow, human ingenuity has created white gold and rose gold by combining gold with other metals. When purchasing jewelry, you might be wondering if you should get an item in white gold or yellow gold when given the option. Weve provided you with the pros and cons here.
The Most Obvious Difference Is The Color
Yellow, white and rose gold have the same percentage of pure gold, therefore, they have the same monetary value.
Most of the time the choice of color is dependent on trends and personal taste.
However, in some cases, it is wise to match the color of the gold to the color of the center stone. For example, using white gold when the diamond has yellowish color can accentuate the diamond’s imperfection, whereas using yellow gold will hide it.
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What Is The Difference Between Yellow And White Gold
The key difference between white gold and yellow gold comes down to its elemental composition. White gold uses a base of pure gold and blends it with alloy components including platinum, silver, manganese or palladium to provide that flawless and irresistibly contemporary colouration.
Even then, a white gold alloy mix will look slightly yellow. So additionally, white gold is coated in rhodium, a tough and beautiful precious metal, to give it a beautiful white lustre.
White Gold Vs Yellow Gold Durability
Because white gold and yellow gold are alloys, they are more durable and harder than gold in its pure form. However, due to the metals used in the white gold alloys, white gold tends to be slightly harder and more durable than yellow gold.
Because gold is very soft, the higher the percentage of gold in the alloy, the more susceptible it is to damage. Yellow gold is prone to scratches and may also lose shape as opposed to white gold. The rhodium plating in white gold is tough and adds an extra coating of strength to the metal. While you can have your yellow gold polished to remove the scratches and scuffs, bear in mind that this also polishes away some of your gold. Over time, your yellow gold item wears thin.
White gold may be harder, but is also prone to scratches. Over time, the rhodium plating begins to wear off and may even flake off, exposing the yellowish-whitish metal beneath. However, because it is the rhodium coating that is getting scratched and worn, you can simply have the piece re-plated restoring its luster and outer layer. Consider, however, that this is an ongoing cost necessary to keep your white gold jewelry lustrous.
If you have an active lifestyle, white gold is more likely to take the wear and tear better than a yellow gold piece. Of course, this only applies to pieces of jewelry that are exposed, such as rings. For earrings or pendants, it hardly makes a difference.
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White Gold Vs Yellow Gold: A Complete Comparison
At various points in history, choosing between white gold vs. yellow gold would be a no-brainer. Yet in todays hodgepodge of style trends, both metals are in massive demand. Rightfully so! Gold is not a singular variation of yellow metal anymore theres white gold,rose gold, and even black gold!
If you are feeling torn between white gold and yellow gold, how will you decide which to buy? Thats where we come in! Both have their pros and cons, so lets explore each of these beautiful jewelry metals to find which is right for you .
Your Budget And Lifestyle
The alloy metals used for each gold colour vary. For example, the main alloy in rose gold is copper and the main alloy in white gold is platinum. This has an impact on each gold colours price and durability:
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