While yellow gold was once the colour of choice for engagement rings, white gold engagements rings are quickly moving towards top spot on the bridal jewellery market. In order to be able to truly appreciate the beauty of a white gold engagement ring, however, it helps to understand just what white gold truly is.
White gold engagement rings are created using traditional yellow gold that is blended with a set percentage of other white metals, including palladium, silver, and nickel. White gold engagement rings can be found in several varieties of gold concentrations, notated with the use of 18kt, 14kt, or 9kt. The highest concentration of pure gold in a white gold engagement ring is 18kt, comprised of 75% yellow gold and 25% other white metals. Both 9kt and 14kt white gold engagement rings are created with much lower concentrations of pure gold. While it is true that an 18kt white gold engagement ring is more valuable, white gold engagement rings with lower gold concentrations can often be much more durable.
Regardless of the concentration of gold used in white gold engagement rings, the true colour of white gold tends to be more on the grey scale than silver toned. In order to create the white glossy finish consumers have come to know and love, the white gold engagement ring must be coated with an additional alloy to amplify its colour. Rhodium, a white metal very similar to platinum in nature, is used to coat the white gold engagement rings in order to change them from grey to white. Because this coating can eventually wear down with use and over time, most jewellers recommend having your white gold engagement ring re-coated with rhodium every two to three years. They also advise taking the time to ensure the jeweller that will be refinishing your white gold engagement ring is a reputable one.
Overall, white gold engagement rings are beautiful and durable. They are also much lower in cost than platinum rings, allowing them to work better for lower budgets. White gold engagement rings are also extremely popular and, therefore, very common. This alone makes finding a reputable jeweller practised in repairing, altering, or refinishing white gold a much easier task.