White Gold - one of the most popular metals around when it comes to jewelry. Yet white gold does not, in reality, exist. Gold, in its purest form, is yellow and very soft - too soft to use in most jewelry pieces.
When pure gold is combined with other metals the result is known as an alloy. Alloys are stronger and longer wearing so they can be worked into designs that will not easily lose their shape. To make an alloy, gold is mixed with one or more metals.
These metals include copper, nickel, silver, zinc, and palladium. The metals nickel, zinc or palladium are used to turn yellow gold into jewelry white gold. These metals bleach the gold to a whitish color. Palladium has the most effect, however it is more expensive than gold - it is also creates a much harder alloy - often too hard to easily work into fine jewelry.
By using different combination's of those metals you can control the strength and whiteness of the finished product. Rings for example need to be strong and most people who prefer jewelry white gold like the platinum look. To achieve this palladium and silver are often used, sometimes with other metals.
This could be in the proportions of 75% gold, 4% silver, 4% copper and 17% palladium. This would create jewelry white gold that is 18 carat, hard wearing with a platinum style look
Actually, jewelry white gold was produced in the 1920's to satisfy a market that could not afford platinum. White gold looked and felt like platinum yet it was almost half the price.
These days you can find cheaper versions of jewelry white gold - often palmed off as the more expensive alloys. They can range in color from a dull grey through to a pale yellow. To give white look to this cheaper white gold, it is plated with rhodium. This creates a highly polished platinum looking jewelry white gold.
After a few years the rhodium plating wears off leaving the true color of the cheap alloy showing. What looked like a classy platinum piece of jewelry will look a tarnished piece of silver.
Jewelry white gold, like platinum, is actually grey when made. It is the rhodium that provides the white finish. Modern grades of white gold are better suited to jewelry making than platinum due to its easier workability. Platinum is a tough metal to shape in comparison to jewelry white gold.
Jewelry white gold is popular amongst trendy young professionals. It provides all the richness of platinum at a much lower cost. For a rich experience in fine gold jewelry - consider quality jewelry white gold.
When pure gold is combined with other metals the result is known as an alloy. Alloys are stronger and longer wearing so they can be worked into designs that will not easily lose their shape. To make an alloy, gold is mixed with one or more metals.
These metals include copper, nickel, silver, zinc, and palladium. The metals nickel, zinc or palladium are used to turn yellow gold into jewelry white gold. These metals bleach the gold to a whitish color. Palladium has the most effect, however it is more expensive than gold - it is also creates a much harder alloy - often too hard to easily work into fine jewelry.
By using different combination's of those metals you can control the strength and whiteness of the finished product. Rings for example need to be strong and most people who prefer jewelry white gold like the platinum look. To achieve this palladium and silver are often used, sometimes with other metals.
This could be in the proportions of 75% gold, 4% silver, 4% copper and 17% palladium. This would create jewelry white gold that is 18 carat, hard wearing with a platinum style look
Actually, jewelry white gold was produced in the 1920's to satisfy a market that could not afford platinum. White gold looked and felt like platinum yet it was almost half the price.
These days you can find cheaper versions of jewelry white gold - often palmed off as the more expensive alloys. They can range in color from a dull grey through to a pale yellow. To give white look to this cheaper white gold, it is plated with rhodium. This creates a highly polished platinum looking jewelry white gold.
After a few years the rhodium plating wears off leaving the true color of the cheap alloy showing. What looked like a classy platinum piece of jewelry will look a tarnished piece of silver.
Jewelry white gold, like platinum, is actually grey when made. It is the rhodium that provides the white finish. Modern grades of white gold are better suited to jewelry making than platinum due to its easier workability. Platinum is a tough metal to shape in comparison to jewelry white gold.
Jewelry white gold is popular amongst trendy young professionals. It provides all the richness of platinum at a much lower cost. For a rich experience in fine gold jewelry - consider quality jewelry white gold.
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Better than platinum, white gold is one of the most popular metals when it comes to jewelry. If you are looking for jewelry white gold, we have found the best places to buywhite gold jewelry online.
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