Non-Yellowing White Gold

[scattycat]

Is it possible to get a white gold ring that never tarnishes or goes yellow? If so, how does this work?

[Coobeastie]

The white/siler aspect is plating so as this wears down you will get yellowing as the normal gold shows through. Its fairly cheap to have white gold cleaned and replated though.

[lady_p_gold]

It doesn't tarnish but the coating does wear off .... the answer is go for plantinum !!!!

[Coobeastie]

White gold will lose its colour and this is not an indicator of it being cheap. Gold is naturally yellow and as previously stated in order to gain the white/silver appearance it is initially alloyed with other metals (silver/palladium or nickel) Which is then plated with rhodium. It shouldn't tarnish however it will start to show through the base colour.

I think ernest jones offers a replating for about 10 pounds, and its recommended that you have this done once a year.

[smurfchops]

I agree with lady_p_gold -- platinum is the best if you can afford it.

[Springer]

coobeastie is right. White gold needs rhodium plating from time to time. It has nothing to do with the cheapness of the ring. If you don't want this bother, buy platinum!!!!

[scattycat]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm a bit gutted, as I came across a retailer at a wedding fair who claimed he put something in his handmade white gold rings which meant you never needed to get it re-plated as it never went yellow. I don't really want platinum as it's more expensive and I have a white gold engagement ring, which I'm told will eventually be corroded because it's softer than platinum. Nevermind. Back to the drawing board then!

[jojolou]

If you have a white gold ring already you shouldn't have platinum as when the two rings rub together on your finger the stronger platinum will wear away the white gold.

I have a white gold ring and my friend is a jeweller, every now and then he re-does my ring to keep it looking nice (like coobeastie said).

[textmum]

I have a white gold ring that I have had for over two years now and it hasnt changed colour. It is however a diamond cut style and I was told by the jeweller due to this it would keep its colour.

[claire85]

Hi scattycat!

I work in Ernest Jones. It is a Rhodium plating that gives white gold it's shiny, silverish appearance. It is naturally a dull, matte goldish colour which will start to show through after heavy wear/ a while- whichever is first no matter where you buy it from.

If you purchase white gold jewellery from Ernest Jones you can have it replated as many times as you like during the first year free of charge and after that we charge �12.99 (depending on which area you are in) (your jewelley doesn't have to be bought from EJ's to use this service).

No matter whether it is white or yellow gold, the percentage of pure gold the jewellery contains will determine it's 'softness'. An 18ct gold ring will be softer than a 9ct ring as there is more gold contained, but your jewellery should never corrode away completely although it will wear down. This all depends on how often you wear it also.

The rhodium plating will wear away faster if you wear you jewellery washing up or in the bath/ shower and carry out lots of manual tasks frequently.

I have a lot of yellow gold jewellery that I couldn't wear because I prefer silver/ white gold, so I simply had it all rhodium plated which doesn't last as long as on white gold because the yellow shows through faster, but it looks fantastic when it's first done. It should also last about a year without heavy wear.

**No-one sells a white gold that doesn't need rhodium plating for the appearance of platinum**

Hope this helps!

[scattycat]

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP! It's really informative and I'm now very suspicious of the man who told me I could get white gold that would never need replating...