White Gold

[Aurora Borealis]

I ran a search about white gold and platinum but the results don't really seem to answer my specific questions.

I am having a ring custom made with bead-set 2-pointers going about halfway down the sides. It's a very thin ring (2-2.5mm) and although my understanding is that platinum will be stonger for holding the stones in, I don't prefer it's color or its patina, so I will be using 18k white gold. From searching past threads I also have the understanding that for a thinner ring, a platinum band may not hold it's shape as well. Does anyone think there will be any issues as far as durability is concerned, by using white gold for pave?

My jeweller told me that he doesn't rhodium plate his jewelry. I asked him if it was because the alloy contained palladium, he said no, but a high quality nickel that keeps its whiteness. I want my ring to be white and shiny, so should I ask him to rhodium plate it anyways? Once I do that the first time, will it look awful if I quit dipping it once the finish wears off?

I also have the opportunity to get it done in 19k WG for about $75 more. He said it is not any stronger than 18k but it is whiter. Running a search here led me to think that 19k was some kind of magical metal, whiter AND stonger than 18k but more scratch-resistant than platinum.

Given the considerations of the style of my ring and my preference for things new and shiny, which of the three metals should I choose?

Sorry for the lengthy post with multiple questions, but he's almsot finished carving the wax and I need to decide. I appreciate your advice.

Edited to add: 19k WG is not supposed to require rhodium plating because it is much whiter than 18k WG. Is unplated 19k also as shiny, or will I need to plate it to get the chrome-like finish?

 

[Daniela]

I have a friend who got engaged last year and her ring was 18k white gold (alloyed with nickle), unplated. In all honestly, the colour looked a little "off" to me. I really didn't like it all that well. If I were you, I would most definitely get the 19k white. It really is supposed to be whiter, and doesn't need plating at all. $75 is nothing in the long run.

Edited to add: I can't comment on the durability issue as far as the pave goes, but I am a little confused by your comment that you don't like the colour of platinum. Huh? I understand the whole patina issue, but the colour? It seems to me that you would want it to be as white as possible.

 

[Hest88]

I don''t know a lot about 19K white gold, but from what I''ve read it seems to be quite a good solution if you don''t want platinum yet want to maintain that whiteness. I understand it still contains quite a bit of nickel but I can''t seem to find out exactly what the mix contains.

I''d probe your jeweler further about what alloy he uses that he claims will be just as white as palladium white gold, but if you can''t get a satisfactory answer I''d pony up the extra $75 for 19K.

 

[Aurora Borealis]

Thank you very much for your thoughts. Any one else? I think I''m leaning towards the 19k.

 

[Hest88]

I understand the whole patina issue, but the colour? It seems to me that you would want it to be as white as possible.

Daniela, I suspect she means that natural platinum is really more steel grey than white. It doesn''t have the silver, "chrome-like" appearance of polished white gold or rhodium plating.

 

[Aurora Borealis]

Yep, that''s what I meant, especially when platinum gets all scratched up and loses it''s shine and the flat grey color is more obvious.

 

[perry]

Several % of the population is sensitive to nickle - and other people become sensitized to it the longer they wear it (i.e it may not be a problem now - but could be a major problem 5 years from now). Europe used to have a lot of SS jewlery, and nickle based white gold rings - but have now banned such jewelry because of the long term growth of nickle allergies (it became a significant health issue in Europe). Rhodium plating hides the nickle under another metal, and there are non- nickle white golds available.

This may never affect you, but I do wish you to be aware of the issue.

Perry

 

[Aurora Borealis]

Bump

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Date: 11/26/2004 8:11:57 PM
Author: perry
Several % of the population is sensitive to nickle - and other people become sensitized to it the longer they wear it (i.e it may not be a problem now - but could be a major problem 5 years from now). Europe used to have a lot of SS jewlery, and nickle based white gold rings - but have now banned such jewelry because of the long term growth of nickle allergies (it became a significant health issue in Europe). Rhodium plating hides the nickle under another metal, and there are non- nickle white golds available.

This may never affect you, but I do wish you to be aware of the issue.

Perry

I am allergic to nickle. If anything that contains nickle comes into contact with my skin I break out in a rash. If I keep wearing it, the rash becomes more and more severe. So, I Know what Perry is talking about!