Questions about white gold...

[Idealistic]

Does white gold fade or change color over time for those who do own white gold rings? My husband is very skeptical about upgrading my engagement setting to white gold.

 

[dncdnc]

It depends on the alloy and whether it is rhodium-plated. Rh-plated white gold will wear over time to a yellowish color and need to be re-plated. The frequency with which you have to do this depends on how much wear and tear you put on it, exposure to chemicals (e.g., household cleaning, swimming in chlorinated pools, etc.). You''ll hear various lines about how often you need to re-plate, anywhere from every 6 months to much less frequent.
On the other hand, if it''s a white-gold alloy without rhodium plating, it''s less of an issue because the silvery color is a feature of the alloy itself rather than the plating -- for example, a gold-palladium alloy.

 

[Black Jade]

Yes, this is true.
Just be aware though that it can be difficult to find non-rhodium plated white gold (except in antique rings).
I have white gold earrings and there has been no issue there, and necklaces also get less wear and tear but honestly in the case of a ring, I''d expect to have to re-rhodum again and again and again, so I probably wouldn''t do it.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 9/3/2009 5:37:02 PM
Author: Black Jade
Yes, this is true.

Just be aware though that it can be difficult to find non-rhodium plated white gold (except in antique rings).

I have white gold earrings and there has been no issue there, and necklaces also get less wear and tear but honestly in the case of a ring, I''d expect to have to re-rhodium again and again and again, so I probably wouldn''t do it.

Some of the new white gold production is extremely oxidation resistant and does not require rhodium plating... i.e. white gold / palladium.

 

[lyra]

I don''t know what Beverly K uses in it''s 18K white gold settings, but mine still looks brand new over a year later. This is with daily cleanings. I have one ring that I had rhodium plating put on over yellow gold, and it wears much faster, but I can still go more than 6 months before replating that. I think it really is a matter of the alloy used, and your particular body chemistry. Some people never replate their white gold. YMMV.

 

[atroop711]

all depends on the person. I''ve always used WG and never once had an issue with yellowing or any change in color. I''ve been wearing my current set for 4 yrs now and still look brand new. I have another ring that''s WG and it''s 17 yr old...still very white

 

[kittybean]

Date: 9/3/2009 6:12:53 PM
Author: atroop711
all depends on the person. I''ve always used WG and never once had an issue with yellowing or any change in color. I''ve been wearing my current set for 4 yrs now and still look brand new. I have another ring that''s WG and it''s 17 yr old...still very white

Agreed! My WG rings have to be replated at least every six months or so to stay white, even though I don''t wear them every day (they''re right-hand rings). They get yellow very easily, so I went with platinum for my wedding set. However, I do have a WG pendant, and I''ve worn it for years with no yellowing at all--maybe just a teeeeny bit on the chain.

 

[sonnyjane]

Date: 9/3/2009 6:34:52 PM
Author: kittybean

Date: 9/3/2009 6:12:53 PM

Author: atroop711

all depends on the person. I''ve always used WG and never once had an issue with yellowing or any change in color. I''ve been wearing my current set for 4 yrs now and still look brand new. I have another ring that''s WG and it''s 17 yr old...still very white

Agreed! My WG rings have to be replated at least every six months or so to stay white, even though I don''t wear them every day (they''re right-hand rings). They get yellow very easily, so I went with platinum for my wedding set. However, I do have a WG pendant, and I''ve worn it for years with no yellowing at all--maybe just a teeeeny bit on the chain.

Just like they said, it definitely depends on the person! My WG set needed to be re-plated after 6 weeks! I thought it was a fluke, bad first job, but it seems to be consistent no matter where I take it. I have since not been wearing my ring to work or the gym, so I only wear it once a week or so, so that cuts down on it a lot, but if I ever upgrade it will be to something that doesn''t fade so quickly! I also have a very thin band though, which I think makes a difference.

 

[Black Jade]

Is your other choice platinum--or yellow gold?
My ''white'' rings are platinum which I really like (I actually like YG too) but I understand that platinum gets a patina some people don''t like, over time. this hasn''t yet happened to me--one ring is just about a year old and the other is about 80 years old (though new to me) but doesn''t look as if it has patina either. Probably they polished it up in the shop before selling it to me, though.
Maybe you''d like to try the new white gold mentioned by the other posters.
If you''d like more opinions, you can try searching ''white gold''-- or ''white gold vs. platinum''--there are several previous threads on this topic. I looked at a lot of them when I was buying my ring last year and knew I wanted white, but didn''t know what. Platinum has made me happy so far and I believe that the price has gone down quite a lot since 2008.