Gold vs White Gold: Which One Should You Choose?

Gold is the first jewelry metal that comes to mind for engagement rings!

For centuries, rings and other jewelry made from this rare precious metal have been the symbol of endless love, and a store of wealth.

Today, we have more style options than ever before. One lustrous type of gold with increasing popularity is white gold.

• Is white gold real?
• Is white gold more expensive than gold?
• Is white gold solid or plated?

These are just 3 of the frequent questions people ask about white gold.

White gold is a gold alloy with white color metals like zinc, nickel, silver, or palladium. 100% pure gold is too soft for jewelry. Thanks to the added metals, yellow gold becomes whiter and harder. 10k, 14k and 18k white gold are the most popular karats. 18k white gold has 75% gold purity in its composition. White gold often comes with rhodium plating for durability and better shine.

Here are the most important aspects on the subject, packed with helpful tips. We hope this post will help in making your best-informed decision for buying white gold engagement rings.

White gold is real gold

White gold is a gold alloy which offers a similar shine to sterling silver or platinum.

It is made of real yellow gold, just like rose gold is.

In its natural state, it has a reddish yellow color. It is a malleable metal.

In its purest form, it lacks durability. Pure gold is a soft metal not ready for jewelry.

Thus, we have to make it into alloys with other stronger metals to increase strength and hardness.

The most common colors for gold varieties are yellow gold, rose gold and white gold.

Rose gold is a durable metal alloy including copper. This combination with copper makes the overall color pink rose, hence the name of rose gold. The higher is the copper percentage, the closer the end metal has a rosy appearance.

Goldsmiths produce white gold by mixing yellow gold with white metals like zinc, nickel, silver, platinum or palladium.

As a result of this mixing, a new color option, with a superior hardness level is obtained.

While the white appearance is new, measuring gold purity is still done the same way as in other examples of gold colors. It is denoted by karats.

1 karat represents 1/24 by weight of the item. Such a piece is 4.17% rich in gold.

24 karat or 24k gold represents 100% pure gold content.

24k white gold does not exist by definition, as it has to include other harder metals.

The most common gold karats for white gold alloys are 10k, 14k and 18k.

10k white gold is 10-in-24 parts pure real gold or has 41.7 percentage of gold in the metal mixture.

14k and 18k gold has 58.3% and 75% in their weight content of gold, respectively.

Is white gold natural? Where does white gold come from?

In nature, gold is found in yellowy colored deposits. Other colors, including white gold, are all man-made.

White gold dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. In 1710, it was first casted in Germany, by Johan Frierich Bottger and Ehrenfried Walther Von Tcshirnhaus.

Today, it is popular because it offers gold with a silvery luster. Some people prefer this tarnish-free, shiny look to sterling, platinum or palladium.

How can you tell if white gold is real?

The world of jewelry might not be as clear as water all the time.

There might be 2 exact items, yet one piece of jewelry might be a gold-plated brass bracelet and the other a solid gold bracelet. Same appearance but different materials inside.

There are diamond and diamond simulants. The latter is not a diamond but a stone with a similar shine to the hardest gem.

Yet, there are key differences like density and hallmarks.

Compare weight with similar pieces you know is solid white gold. If there is a significant discrepancy, there might be good reason for suspicion.

24k gold has a density of 19.3 g/cm³. But of course, yellow gold engagement band will have a lower value as it is an alloy with lighter metals like copper, zinc, nickel. All these 3 metals have densities lower than 10 g/cm³.

White gold has a density about 16 g/cm³. This value is subject to fluctuations with different gold karats, percentage and properties of added metals.

Always check the gold hallmarks showing karat and if it is gold-plated or gold-filled.

Is white gold more valuable than gold?

White gold is made from real gold, with the addition of some metals. This addition comes from common metals like zinc or nickel, but also from precious metals like silver, platinum and palladium.

Moreover, white gold can be rhodium plated, which is priced higher than gold at the time of writing.

So, 18k rhodium plated white gold wedding ring can in fact be more expensive than an 18k yellow gold ring, but we can’t say anything definitive before examining the pieces.

A more correct comparison can be made comparing different karat versions of the same type of jewelry. Say, putting a 10k white gold ring next to 18k white gold ring. Of course, the former will have a more affordable price, everything else being equal.

Rhodium plated white gold is harder than yellow gold

Rhodium has a 6 level on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness.

Pure gold gets 2.5 and nickel 4 on the same scale.

Thus, rhodium plated white gold has much more scratch resistance and durability.

Is white gold solid or plated?

There are solid white gold pieces of jewelry and rhodium plated ones.

Solid white gold jewelry is one alloy inside out. This is similar to sterling silver or palladium 950 jewelry made from one single metal mixture.

On the other hand, rhodium plated versions are covered with a thin layer around the gold core.

Rhodium plating is an external layer which makes the core less prone to oxidation and physical impacts. It also helps to keep the color from fading over time. The plating process makes white gold look more platinum like, silvery white than yellow gold.

Why does white gold turn yellow?

White gold jewelry is often plated with a layer of rhodium. This layer protects the underlying metal from corrosion.

Rhodium plating does not affect the quality or authenticity of the metal in any way, and it does not change its color either. The only thing that it does is protect the underlying metal from corrosion and wear and tear.

But with daily use, chemical agents and physical impacts, this plating may wear off.
Through the parts of missing plating, the inner metal, which has a more yellowy color, will come under daylight.

This is why some users think that their rhodium plated white gold bracelet or other jewelry have turned yellow.

When this happens, a short visit to the jeweler for a re-plating session will restore the initial luster back.

Which is better, white gold or sterling silver?

When comparing white gold vs sterling silver, we have to start with tarnish.

Unfortunately, sterling does tarnish. These are blackish drops that form on the surface of metals. These result from oxidation with hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds.

Heat, humidity, chemical agents such as deodorant and perfumes speed up these formations.

Sterling, aka 925 silver, has 7.5% base metal in its composition for hardness. The most common addition comes from copper, which enhances tarnish.

On the other hand, rhodium plated white gold jewelry enjoys the protection of rhodium!
This is a highly inert metal which does not easily enter into chemical reactions. This acts as a protection wall for the inner white gold base.

Yet, this is valid only as long as the layer does not wear off. And, the rhodium coating may be a noble metal, but it is also brittle. It should not be as hard and durable as stainless steel.

For more on this topic, check out our post white gold vs sterling silver.

White gold vs platinum: Which is better?

Platinum is a popular metal for white jewelry. It is a precious metal just like gold and silver. It is harder than these latter two. And, it does not need any addition to gain a white color.

White gold pieces are made from a metal alloy, which makes gold tougher and whiter.

Moreover, they are usually finished with rhodium plating.

Thus, it is a not a single, pure metal but a gold alloy with an outer layer.

When we look at platinum jewelry, we see that it is the same precious metal inside and out.

If you scratch the surface you’ll come up with the same metal as before. It doesn’t demand re-plating.

However, rhodium plated white gold rings and other jewelry will ask for a visit to the jewelry shop when it wears off and starts looking yellowy.

Another advantage of the white metal may be in the price tag. At the time of writing, the price of platinum was about half of gold’s. Please note that both metal are actively traded worldwide and their ticker prices are subject to fluctuations with various market conditions.

Gold is a hypoallergenic metal, what about white gold?

Gold and rhodium, which is used as plating, are hypoallergenic metals. They are considered safe for jewelry and any risk of skin allergy is very, very slim.

However, if the outer layer wears off, the core gold part will come into contact with the skin.

For people with sensitive skin, the most common allergenic metal is nickel. It is a white metal which may be used for creating white gold.

If you are hypersensitive to nickel, in this case, you might experience skin irritation caused by nickel or another metal found in the inner alloy.

As the karat value decreases, this risk increases.

For example, as 14k gold earring has more added metals than a pair of 18k gold earring, it has a higher risk for causing metal allergy.

White gold does not tarnish

Unlike sterling silver and zinc, white gold jewelry does not tarnish.

It has high corrosion resistance. It is a hard and strong alloy fit for jewelry.

Does gold or white gold look better?

The rule of thumb is: the jewelry color should not disappear on your hand or skin.

So, a very vast percentage of people, from light to cool, form warm to darker skin types can enjoy rhodium plated white gold jewelry.

If the ring blends closely with your skin, it will become invisible, which is not what you’d want.

For example, if your skin color is close to a rosy ring, switching to yellow or white gold might be a good idea.

Make sure there is an enough contrast between your skin and the jewelry piece.

When we come to gemstones, white gold rings go well with colorless diamonds and white diamond simulants. This list includes gems like white topaz, white zircon, moissanite and cubic zirconia.

White gold also carries beautifully colorful sapphires and emeralds and rubies.

However, in the end, it comes to personal preference and style!

Conclusion: Is white gold better than yellow gold?

Both gold and white gold are very popular choices for engagement rings.

But which one is better: the classic choice yellow gold or the newer, more silvery shining white gold?

To answer this question, let’s first take a look at color.

Both yellow gold and white gold are real gold varieties. The latter is mixed with white metal hence the change in color.

White gold has less of a yellow tint to it than gold does, so it will appear brighter.

However, the way these two colors reflect light is different. Gold appears to be more reflective than white gold, while white gold does reflection light in a softer way that makes it easier on the eyes while looking at the ring.

What about plating?

Rhodium plating is often used to give protection, reduce tarnishing and ensure that your ring continues to look good over time. The downside of rhodium plating is that it leaves your ring with a more silvery appearance rather than its original yellowish color. Hey, but that’s matter of taste!

And if this layer of rhodium wears off, the underlying metal will be seen. This is an expected result of everyday wear and tear. However, a short re-plating session will suffice to bring back the shine and brightness.

Gold and rhodium are both hypoallergenic metals for jewelry.

Rhodium plated white gold pieces are very safe choices for those who want to stay away from any allergic reaction.

However, the inner metal white alloy may include allergenic metals like nickel.

In the case where the rhodium plating wears off, the core will come into contact with the skin.

This may cause metal allergies for people with sensitive skin.

When the outer layer starts to dissipate, a re-plating operation at the jewelry shop will reinstate the luster of the white gold engagement ring.

Gold and white gold wedding rings of the same karat share the same gold purity.

For example, a 18k gold and white gold ring have 75% gold in their content.

As the karat choice gets higher, a yellow gold jewelry piece will become softer.

This means that it will scratch gradually more easily.

However, a rhodium plated white gold jewelry will show much more resistance to friction and physical impacts thanks to its rhodium protection.

When we weight the pros and cons of white gold, the plating wearing off is the only significant one.

Yet, a small and cheap re-plating will bring it back.

If you prefer non-plated jewelry pieces, you may want to check alternatives like palladium or platinum rings.

In the end, the answer between white gold and yellow gold will come to your personal preference and style.