White gold components

White gold installation

White gold is not a single element like yellow gold, but it is an alloy produced by combining yellow gold with one or more white elements. The most common elements used in white gold alloys are:

Manganese, palladium, nickel, platinum, and sometimes copper, silver, and zinc are added. The purity of white gold is expressed in karat, like yellow gold, and the percentage of its purity is usually stamped on it.[1]

White gold is available in different calibers: 18 karat, which contains 75% of yellow gold, 14 karat, which contains 58.3% of yellow gold, and 10 karat, which contains 41.7% of yellow gold[2]. White gold is also made Usually up to 21 karat.[3]

Examples of the proportions of metals in white gold karat

Jewelery is the most famous practical application of white gold; It is usually used in making rings, earrings, necklaces, and belts,[3] and examples of the proportions of metals in white gold alloys are as follows:[2]

18 karat: 75% yellow gold, 10% palladium, 10% nickel, and 5% zinc.

14 karat: consists of 59% yellow gold, 25.5% copper, 12.3% nickel, and 3.2% zinc.

White gold and platinum

White gold is a common alternative to silver, yellow gold, and platinum[1], which is a rare, white and expensive natural metal,[4] as its price exceeds the price of gold,[1] and it is considered the second most expensive metal after rhodium, and the hardest and heaviest white metals] 4], so white gold rings are sometimes coated with it to improve their appearance without significantly increasing their price, [1].

Rhodium plating metal

Rhodium is an expensive and hard metal, and does not oxidize with the passage of time,[2] so if white gold is not painted with it, it may acquire other colors such as pale brown, pale pink, or gray.[1]

It is common in white gold that the rhodium plating disappears from the piece, highlighting its original color due to daily wear, or because of perspiration, or exposure to various chemicals, or perfumes, which may require re-plating it again at the jeweler, and it is worth mentioning that the greater the thickness of the layer Painted, the more likely the piece will maintain its bright white color, and in contrast, the thinner the paint, the faster it will be removed.[2]

References

1.      Anne Marie Helmenstine، Ph.D (11-4-2017)، "What Is White Gold? (Chemical Composition)"، www.thoughtco.com، Retrieved 2-9-2017. Edited.

2.     "What is Gold?"، www.jewelryinfoplace.com، Retrieved 2-9-2017. Edited.

3.     By G.P. Thomas (30-1-2013)، "White Gold - Chemical Composition، Mechanical Properties and Common Applications"، www.azom.com، Retrieved 14-9-2017. Edited.

4.     "What is Platinum?"، www.jewelryinfoplace.com ، Retrieved 14-9-2017. Edited.