White Gold: Composition and Uses

What is White Gold?

• White gold is an alloy created by combining yellow gold with white metals like nickel, palladium, and silver.
• Its composition typically consists of around 75% yellow gold and 25% other metals to give it a white appearance and enhance durability.
• Jewelers often coat white gold jewelry with rhodium for added whiteness, durability, and resistance to wear.
• White gold is considered real due to it being an alloy of pure yellow gold and other metals like nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and zinc.
• It is a popular choice for jewelry because of its durability, versatility, and graceful appearance.
• White gold jewelry is available in 9k, 10k, 14k, and 18k gold variations.
• Jewelry items include rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches, and chains, sold online.
• There is fake white gold jewelry, with a lower percentage of yellow gold than legally required.
• Fake white gold appears significantly whiter than genuine white gold due to a lower percentage of yellow gold in the alloy.

Nickel Content in White Gold

• White gold contains nickel alloyed with yellow gold and zinc.
• White gold is generally hypoallergenic, but it depends on the metals alloyed with yellow gold.
• Symptoms of nickel allergy include itching, redness, swelling, or a rash where the white gold touches the skin.
• Zinc is also commonly alloyed with yellow gold in white gold jewelry.

Magnetic Properties of White Gold

• White gold is not magnetic.
• Yellow gold isn't magnetic, and most metals in white gold alloys are also non-magnetic.
• The amount of nickel in white gold is typically insufficient to create a strong magnetic effect.

Tarnishing and Rusting of White Gold

• White gold doesn’t tarnish, but it loses its sheen and luster over time.
• Regular wear and tear can cause white gold to fade to a natural pale yellow color.
• Discoloration happens as the rhodium plating wears away, revealing the natural alloy underneath.
• The color change typically occurs in patches as the rhodium coating falls and flakes off.
• White gold doesn’t rust because it doesn't contain iron.
• Discoloration due to rhodium coating wear is not rusting and can be easily fixed by a jeweler.

Converting White Gold to Yellow Gold

• White gold can be turned into yellow gold by a professional jeweler.
• The process involves melting the white gold, removing the rhodium plating and non-gold alloys.
• The gold is then re-alloyed with different metals to enhance the yellow color and durability.
• Finally, the jewelry is solidified and reshaped.

Natural or Man-Made

• White gold is not natural.
• It is a man-made alloy of yellow gold and white metals like nickel, silver, palladium, platinum, zinc, and rhodium.

Advantages and Disadvantages of White Gold

• Advantages: Resembles platinum and silver but is more affordable and durable, suits silvery-colored jewelry preferences, and complements all skin tones, outfits, and events.
• Disadvantages: Requires re-coating to maintain its silvery-white color due to rhodium fading and may cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to nickel.

White Gold in Gold IRA Accounts

• White gold cannot be included in a gold IRA account.
• Only IRA-eligible precious metal bars and coins, like authentic gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, are allowed.
• There are no white gold bars and coins that are eligible for inclusion.