Yellow Gold vs White Gold

Carrie0930 · May 2011

What do you all think about yellow gold and white gold? We will be getting my engagement ring soon (I picked it out) and I have a choice between the two. The primary stone in the ring is a sapphire, so to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it in yellow gold, the look of it. I've also always liked the look of white gold. However, I'm not so sure that white gold looks better with my skin tone than yellow gold. Also, I know with white gold you have to have the coating reapplied every year (well don't have to but it looks better) and I'm nervous that if I pick white gold I will regret it.

opalsky007 · May 2011

Personally, I'd pick white.

And it's not necessarily true that your white gold ring would need to be dipped every year. I have never had my rings dipped.

unplainjane · May 2011

i've never heard that you have to reapply a coating on white gold. i would say white gold has become more common and modern. though i think yellow gold looks really good too. get whatever color you normally would wear. it's very personal which you get. i know a couple of ladies that only wear yellow gold because they don't like the way white gold looks on them.

breaness · May 2011

I would get whatever is closest to what you wear most of the time. If you wear yellow gold earrings, necklaces, etc, then do yellow gold. If you wear silver, do white gold. If you wear a mixture, then just go with your gut

Carrie0930 · May 2011

Thanks for the input. I usually wear a mixture. My promise ring is silver and my Claddaugh ring is yellow gold and I wear a yellow gold necklace normally. I will probably end up going with the white gold.

Hays2be · May 2011

There are apparently two types of white gold--it's either made with nickle or palladium. Nickle WG is grayer, palladium is whiter. The nickle is the one that is usually rhodium plated. Palladium apparently maintains it white appearance.

My set with the ex was nickle and I had to have it replated every year or so. My new ring is palladium WG and the custom jeweler said it won't have to be plated.

Hays2be · May 2011

There are apparently two types of white gold--it's either made with nickle or palladium. Nickle WG is grayer, palladium is whiter. The nickle is the one that is usually rhodium plated. Palladium apparently maintains it white appearance.

My set with the ex was nickle and I had to have it replated every year or so. My new ring is palladium WG and the custom jeweler said it won't have to be plated.

achiduck · May 2011

I was previously engaged and had a sapphire e-ring set in white gold. I personally prefer white gold but just really felt that the yellow gold didn't look good with the sapphire and I wouldn't be happy with it.

mparwulski · May 2011

If you want a white metal, you could also consider palladium or platinum. They both come out of the ground white and stay white. They are also not as malleable as gold and preferable for prongs around your stones.

badkittyct · May 2011

The frequency of rhodium plating depends on your lifestyle and how you wear your jewelry. If you dump hand sanitizer on it it wears quicker, if you keep it on while cleaning (which you never should) same thing. If you are a delicate flower that isn't rough on her hands then you will rarely need it done. Also, how much acid is in your skin plays a huge role.

Modern white gold vs WW2 era white gold (when it came to really be) is very different. The reason the older white gold lasted longer was because of the nickel content, but since so many people are sentitive to it, wg is alloywed with other materials to make it white. If it is mixed with metals from the platinum family it holds its color well.

Wherever you are thinking of buying the ring should offer some sort of maintenance plan on it as well that would cover the cost of any and all labor such as replating it or tightening a stone.

hz80408 · May 2011

I have nickeled plated white gold. I've had my e-ring about 1 yr, 9 months and have had it re-dipped once. I need to do it again, however, I have small diamonds on the front of my band, so the only place you can see the yellowing of the gold is on the "back" of the rings.

MrsChasey · May 2011

I used to work in a jewelry store...yes, white gold needs to be dipped in rhodium...once a year is average but it does depend on your body chemistry (also cleaning chemicals, hot tub chemicals, and pool chemicals all very hard on jewelry so don't wear it while cleaning or going in the water...I wouldn't wear it to the beach either...not because of chemicals but the water can be cold or even just lubricate your hand enough that the ring will slip off) and it's usually covered by the store (check before purchasing). It's really what you preference is...also, if you can live without for a week or so while it's being dipped.

Does it just have one stone? I ask because if you are paying for it to be dipped, it'll cost more if it has lots of stones. Each stone has to be removed and re-set so can be very time consuming. That being said, mine has lots of stones in it and I still picked white gold. It just didn't pop in yellow gold and I don't have very much jewelry in yellow.

jemmini6 · May 2011

I've always had white gold because I don't like the way yellow gold looks on me. It's really a personal choice though, so get what you like the best.

jdrose5 · May 2011

My wedding ring with my first husband was white gold. I don't care for the way yellow gold looks on me. (I wanted silver actually because of that LOL). I never had to have mine redipped and I wore it ALL the time for 15 years. I was looking at it recently and now that it has been put up I was thinking it looks worse. So I am thinking of getting it dipped and maybe a jewelry box. My oldest daughter wants to see if it will fit her when she gets married. It did take more wear and tear when I wore it on a necklace. (My first husband passed away and until I started dating my FI I wore his ring and mine on a necklace and I think that is why it was more beaten up.)

britb618 · May 2011

Have you looked into Rose gold, it is softer than yellow gold and looks very pretty with colored stones, I have it for my engagement ring and I think its gorgeous. I get so many compliments on it because the color really stands out. Good luck!

Ljacks87 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_yellow-gold-vs-white-gold?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:30ca43ec-bbed-4aad-b70d-e74596bff50cPost:3b0835eb-bdee-484d-8eba-3731c6c570ee">Re: Yellow Gold vs White Gold</a>:
[QUOTE]If you want a white metal, you could also consider palladium or platinum. They both come out of the ground white and stay white. They are also not as malleable as gold and preferable for prongs around your stones.
Posted by mparwulski[/QUOTE]

This would be my suggestion. Palladium is less expensive than platinum and the color will stay consistent. My E-ring is platinum and wedding band it palladium. I prefer white metals, so I'm biased. If you decide to go with white gold, it will have to be re-dipped (or whatever the technical term is) but certainly not every year.

Yellow Gold vs White Gold

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