19K White Gold - a super alloy??

[iota]

I''m curious whether anyone knows more about 19K white gold. I live in Western Canada and a lot of the jewellers around here seem to offer it. Some of the high end stores here don''t carry anything BUT 19K white gold. I don''t see it mentioned on this board though.

It''s bright and shiny white. The jewellers tell me it''s NOT rhodium plated - whatever mixture they use creates that whiteness. Unlike platinum, it''s scratch resistant. They also said it''s extremely hard. In fact, it''s so hard that it can get tricky to work with. The rings look beautiful though.

Are their claims accurate? It doesn''t seem to cost that much more than 18K WG.

 

[chamois]

I live in Western Canada too, we bought my diamond shared prong eternity band in 19k white gold nearly two years ago. I was told the same as you. Haven''t had any problems with mine at all, still super white !

 

[oldminer]

Gold by itself is yellow, so it is the alloy which creates the whiteness. If the alloy is one such as palladium, which does not tarnish readily, you can get a high whiteness whicjh is rather durable. 19K tends to be hard as a rock. I have seen jewelry pieces made from 19K dating back to the 1920''s, but the alloys used in them were probably not the same as the current ones. The old 19K tended to become gray over time, almost like platinum has a gray tone about it.

 

[sparxs111]

not to sure about the 19K, but like you I am in western canada...calgary. I have found one store there that mainly sells white gold, and they SAY that it is very durable. HOWEVER, you need to confirm that it is palladium white gold and not nickel white gold. the first will stay very white and will not need to be rhodium plated, while the other depending on the chemistry of the oils of your hand can turn yellowish within a year, and sometimes needs to be replated every year or so. Why not go palladium, and save the hassle of replating... It doesn't have to be 19k to be a good gold ring.

 

[iota]

I don''t know any palladium dealers here. I heard the metalsmith has to know how to work palladium to attempt to fix/resize a palladium ring.

I prefer to get the setting locally, in case I get pregnant or fat and need it resized. I think it''s just more convenient although there are a lot of pretty options online.

Do any of the online dealers use 19K WG?

 

[b5s4]

scott kay uses 19k white gold. Pearlman''s is a ps vendor that carries his line along with other online dealers that might be closer to you.

 

[Gailey]

Iota,

I recently "test-drove" a 19K white gold band to see if I had any reaction to it. As far as I know it was alloyed with nickel. Personally, I didn''t care for the colour, it looked more like base metal (which I guess is what nickel is). I haven''t seen 19K alloyed with Palladium.

Here''s a link to an article in Canadian Jeweller Magazine - May 2008 that you might find useful, as well as one from Ganoskin

David Keeling who is in Edmonton uses 19k white gold (don''t know which alloy he uses)
Llyn Strelau here in Calgary also uses 19k. Another excellent resource.

Good luck

 

[iota]

I can''t find the Canadian jeweler''s article but I see a lot of pretty ads.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/25/2009 11:37:30 PM
Author: Gailey

David Keeling who is in Edmonton uses 19k white gold (don''t know which alloy he uses)

HI:

David used 19K in my custom diamond earrings/necklace and my sister''s rings. Durable and very "white".

cheers--Sharon

 

[Gailey]

Date: 7/25/2009 11:52:30 PM
Author: iota
I can''t find the Canadian jeweler''s article but I see a lot of pretty ads.

Hit the button with all the little squares on it in the viewing panel and scroll down. The article is called "Alloy Awareness" and is on Pg 35