Apart from gold, silver and platinum, there is another metal that delivers an exceptional tinge to your jewellery items. It is none other than white gold. It is an excellent choice that cannot be matched with the metals mentioned above. In scientific words, it is not a metal actually. The name comes from its whitish colour with a golden tinge. Let us learn about this excellent alloy that jewellery brands use to create timeless ornaments.
What is white gold?
As the name suggests, it is an alloy made of pure gold and other metals. When mixed in the right proportion, a whitish metallic alloy with a hint of gold is created. It is unique in terms of colour, texture, tinge and shine.
In fact, the modern world is quite inclined towards white gold than silver and why it should not be. This is a better choice when compared to silver in terms of appearance, dazzle and glamour. It is less costly than gold and platinum but a better option than silver due to its durability and elegance.
Gold itself is highly malleable and ductile but fragile. To make it stronger, we have to mix it with other metals and ingredients. The same happens to create white gold. The silvery hue with a pinch of golden colour is what we find in white gold. Due to its characteristic features, it is seldom used to make pendants, necklaces, earrings and rings for women.
Components of white gold
Scientifically, this unique alloy is made of pure gold and other metals. It is technically an alloy and is created by mixing gold, palladium, silver and nickel at particular ratios. Based on the ratio of these elements, the golden tinge and whitish-silvery finish are decided.
Once a jewellery item is made from this metal alloy, a coating of rhodium is applied to it. Rhodium belongs to the same group as platinum. This is why this heavy metal has a tinge that closely matches the aura of platinum. This coating of rhodium makes the jewellery items more elegant and beautiful.
It is the rhodium coating that adds the lustre of silvery white and golden yellow. You will also be surprised to know that if the jewellery items have lost their charm due to some unprecedented reasons, ask a jeweller to put another coat of rhodium and the lustre will come back as good as new.
Types of white gold
Based on the ratio of the metals used to make white gold, here is the list of its types.
9CT white gold
As the name suggests, it is the lowest grade of white gold that contains the least amount of gold. It is the whitest version of white gold. In mathematical words, it contains 37.5% pure yellow gold.
14CT white gold
This is the medium version of white gold that contains 58.3% pure yellow gold. It is considered to be the most economic choice. It will not tarnish easily and is more durable.
18CT white gold
This type of white gold has a gun metal tinge and better looking than the 9CT version. In mathematical words, it contains 75% pure yellow gold. The latest rings in white gold in Melorra are made with this version of white gold.
The speciality of white gold
- White gold is comparatively less expensive than gold but a better choice than silver, as mentioned earlier. It is more durable and offers exclusive malleable options that even gold cannot.
- Another speciality of white gold is that its special tinge goes well with almost any coloured gemstone.
- A brilliant feature of this platinum-mimicking metallic alloy is that it can be used for any kind of intricate design. Even the delicate designs hold the shapes much better than the conventional jewellery metals
