White gold continues to grow in popularity, but what is it exactly? Is white gold real gold, and is it more valuable than yellow gold? We’ll explain what white gold is, how it’s made, and whether colour affects value.
Firstly white gold does not occur naturally. It’s an alloy of gold with white-toned metals (commonly palladium, nickel, silver and zinc) that gives a paler colour and can improve hardness compared with very high-carat yellow gold. It’s commonly done for aesthetic purposes, though, and that means white gold’s primary usage is in jewellery, from rings to necklaces and bracelets.
Jewellers create white gold by alloying pure gold with palladium or nickel (often with silver/zinc) to shift the colour and adjust hardness. Lower-carat alloys (e.g., 14ct vs 18ct) contain a higher proportion of non-gold metals and are usually harder.
If you have sensitive skin, palladium-based white gold is a common nickel-free option. Most white-gold jewellery is also rhodium-plated to enhance brightness; plating gradually wears and needs periodic re-plating. Rhodium can also be applied to yellow-gold items to give a white surface, but this is a surface finish only.
Beyond colour, alloy hardness can differ. White-gold alloys are often harder than very high-carat yellow gold; yellow gold can also be alloyed (e.g., 14ct, 18ct) to improve durability. (Rose gold is made by alloying with copper for a pink tone.)
Not all yellow gold is pure gold, and you may be aware yellow gold comes in various carat options such as 14ct or 18ct gold. This is yellow gold mixed with other metals as well to provide durability, this is commonly metals such as copper. The carat depends on the percentage of the non-gold metals used. There are also ways to change the gold to a rose-coloured by introducing rose or red coloured metals to the gold.
For metal value, colour doesn’t add value: it’s primarily about weight × fineness (carat). An 18ct white-gold ring and an 18ct yellow-gold ring of the same weight contain the same fine-gold content. Retail jewellery pricing can vary with alloy choice (e.g., palladium-based alloys and rhodium plating may cost more) and craftsmanship, but when selling for metal value, offers are based chiefly on the gold content.
Popularity of white gold moves with fashion trends. White gold may cost more at retail in some ranges due to alloy/finishing choices, but metal value is driven by carat and weight, not colour. Both white and yellow pieces are widely traded.
As white gold is not a naturally occurring metal, its availability will depend upon market trends and demand. If white gold is in fashion, jewellers will create more white gold pieces thus increasing supply.
Retail prices from a jeweller can differ by range, alloy and finish (for example, palladium-based white-gold alloys and rhodium plating can add cost). For resale of metal or scrap value, the key factors are carat (fineness) and weight, regardless of white or yellow colour. Standard UK fineness’s of both yellow and white include 37.5% (9ct), 58.5% (14ct), 75% (18ct) and 91.6% (22ct).
Whether you are looking to sell white gold or yellow gold. At Cheshire Gold Xchange, where we can buy your gold in all formats.
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