Re-plating of white gold?

[Gayletmom]

I''m working on a pair of eternity bands to go with my existing solitaire. I want to have them made in 18k WG b/c I am not crazy about the grey-white tint of platinum-I know that many people love it but it doesn''t flatter my skin tone. I don''t mind the "warming" of WG and I''m not extremely color sensitive. I regularly wear a WG ring that belonged to my husband''s grandmother, probably from the 1920s-and it looks good to me.

I''m wondering, however, how plated WG looks as the plating wears off? Does it look chipped and somehow "not quite right" or does it just gradually turn a little yellow-ish?

I think that I would rather not replate if I can get away with it. What do you all think?

 

[stone-cold11]

it won''t peel or chip if that is what you are fearing.

 

[Todd Gray]

Rhodium plating on white gold wears off gradually and does not look blotchy or chipped off, however it is usually not necessary to plate 18k white gold because of the lower content of foreign alloys - it is not the gold that oxidizes and yellows, it is the other alloys added to the gold to turn it white which oxidizes and yellows.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

No it doesn''t chip or peel. It just gradually warms up. You probably won''t even notice it until you put it up next to platinum or freshly plated white gold.

 

[gemdandy]

I wear a white gold ring every day. The plating doesn''t chip; it just gradually becomes yellow.

 

[Gayletmom]

Thanks to all of you. Those are exactly the things i was wondering about-whether someone who likes "warm" would even notice the transition and whether it would look odd. Also, Todd Gray, thanks for the info on 18k wg, it makes alot of sense.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/5/2010 11:04:35 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
No it doesn''t chip or peel. It just gradually warms up. You probably won''t even notice it until you put it up next to platinum or freshly plated white gold.

Yes. I like how it looks over time personally.

 

[Gayletmom]

Yes. I like how it looks over time personally.

Thanks, Dreamer. I like the looks of a ring I have from the 1920s that belonged to my husband''s grandmother and expect to like the modern wg, too.

 

[Kaleigh]

I have some that never yellow... Guess I am lucky??

 

[MrsBettyBoop]

It''s a gradual thing... I like how it looks on some pieces as well. It''s not even really that noticeable to onlookers anyway though.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/6/2010 10:05:41 PM
Author: Kaleigh
I have some that never yellow... Guess I am lucky??

I do not notice a yellow look either, just warmer than it once was. But there are some people who have caustic sweat or something and apparently it wears off the rhodium super quick!

Re; the 1920''s gold... I was at a jewler today and she was saying that back in the 20s they used to use palladium in their wg and that is why it doesn''t yellow in the same way and acutally doesn''t need rhodium plating. Not sure it it is true or not but it sounded good.

 

[Michael_E]

If you''re having these bands custom made I would suggest having whoever makes them use one of the newer white gold alloys which comes white and stays that way. Stuller has one they call X-1 and it really is very white and stays that way. They provide this alloy to casters everywhere and I know there are other companies also providing similar alloys. This alloy also works very nicely and polishes easily. The best thing about it is that it apparently uses some other metals in the alloy which bind to the nickel keeping is dissolving slightly and causing allergic reactions. It meets the European standards for low nickel and so can also be used there. Ask your jeweler if they can use one of these new alloys and then forget about plating altogether.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/7/2010 12:37:32 PM
Author: Michael_E
If you''re having these bands custom made I would suggest having whoever makes them use one of the newer white gold alloys which comes white and stays that way. Stuller has one they call X-1 and it really is very white and stays that way. They provide this alloy to casters everywhere and I know there are other companies also providing similar alloys. This alloy also works very nicely and polishes easily. The best thing about it is that it apparently uses some other metals in the alloy which bind to the nickel keeping is dissolving slightly and causing allergic reactions. It meets the European standards for low nickel and so can also be used there. Ask your jeweler if they can use one of these new alloys and then forget about plating altogether.

This is what my jeweler was telling me about.

 

[Gayletmom]

Date: 3/7/2010 12:37:32 PM
Author: Michael_E
If you''re having these bands custom made I would suggest having whoever makes them use one of the newer white gold alloys which comes white and stays that way. Stuller has one they call X-1 and it really is very white and stays that way. They provide this alloy to casters everywhere and I know there are other companies also providing similar alloys. This alloy also works very nicely and polishes easily. The best thing about it is that it apparently uses some other metals in the alloy which bind to the nickel keeping is dissolving slightly and causing allergic reactions. It meets the European standards for low nickel and so can also be used there. Ask your jeweler if they can use one of these new alloys and then forget about plating altogether.

Many thanks, Michael. This is great info and very useful. I have sent an email to Lesley at BGD quoting you (hope you don''t mind) and asking about my options for wg alloys. I''m sure she''ll get back to me soon.