18K White Gold (750)
At Heart To Heart Jewellery, we provide 18K white/yellow/rose gold jewellery pieces and set it with Forever Love Moissanite or Lab-created gemstones.
Due to higher gold content, 18K white gold rings tend to look whiter and brighter compared to 14K white gold rings. Though the 18K white gold may cost more, it is less prone to oxidisation.
WHAT IS WHITE GOLD?
White gold is an alloy of gold, which means that is it a combination of pure gold and white metals, such as palladium and silver.
WHY IS GOLD MIXED WITH ALLOY METALS?
Because pure gold is a very soft metal, it has to be mixed with harder materials to add durability and strength. Without harder alloy metals, pure gold would easily bend out of shape. Hence, all jewellery made from yellow gold, rose gold or white gold would always have added alloy metals. These metals, particularly white metals, also help to create the desired white colour.
WHY IS WHITE GOLD COATED IN RHODIUM?
White gold is also coated with rhodium, which is a precious element and part of the platinum group of metals. Rhodium is a highly durable metal and adds luster and light reflection to jewellery pieces.
WHY DOES WHITE GOLD TURN YELLOW?
The outer layer of rhodium slowly wears away over time, revealing the yellow gold colour underneath. This is normal for all white gold jewellery.
How quickly rhodium fades depends on a variety of factors. For instance, the pH level of your skin, contact with household chemicals and even environmental factors (i.e. pollution in the area) can affect the rate of wearing off.
What can be done about it?
This can be easily resolved by recoating the jewellery piece with rhodium. This can restore the white gold’s brilliant light silver colour. The cost for recoating an engagement ring is around $20 SGD.
IS WHITE GOLD REAL GOLD?
Yes, white gold is still made from real, pure gold. Verification of white gold jewellery can be done by checking its hallmark, which is a small symbol stamped on the inside of a piece to guarantee the quality of precious metals. Hallmarks indicate that the jewellery has been certified and authenticated by the strict standards of the Singapore Assay Office.
In Singapore, all jewellery pieces over 1 gram in weight must undergo hallmarking to ensure that it contains the exact amount of certified precious metals stated.
HOW DO I KNOW THE AMOUNT OF PURE GOLD IN MY WHITE GOLD JEWELLERY?
The karat indicates the percentage of pure gold in any gold jewellery, where it is white, yellow or rose gold. It is often expressed with the letter K (i.e. 9K or 18K gold).
The higher the karat, the more gold it contains. A 9K gold jewellery piece has 37.5% pure gold, while an 18K gold jewellery piece has 75% pure gold. This is regardless of the gold colour.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WHITE GOLD?
Advantages:
White gold is a beautiful and precious metal that exudes elegance. It has the same appearance as platinum and silver but it is less expensive than platinum and more durable than silver.
It is the perfect choice for those who prefer a brilliant light silvery color over yellow gold. Moreover, given its neutral colour and durability, it is the perfect setting for all gemstones. It has a classic look, making it easy to match outfits and events.
Disadvantages:
Over time, the rhodium coating wears off and white gold can lose its silvery colour. However, this can be easily addressed by re-coating the jewellery piece with rhodium. This is an easy and fairly inexpensive process that can be done by most jewelers.
CONCLUSION – IS WHITE GOLD FOR ME?
If you prefer the stunning, neutral and classic look of silvery white jewellery, then white gold is a perfect choice for you. It is less expensive than platinum but more durable than silver. It has been a popular choice for engagement rings given its versatile look and high quality feel.
At Heart to Heart Jewellery, we strongly recommend setting our beautiful Lab-created Gem stones or FOREVER LOVE MOISSANITE in 18K white gold.