White gold

mbcdefg · March 2010

For those of you (or your husbands) who have white gold rings, how do they hold up over time?

FI chose a white gold ring for himself. He's a teacher so he doesn't do a lot of manual labor, and the only sport he really plays is golf. So I'm just curious as to whether we might need to bring it to a jeweler for repair or re-dipping in the future since he'll mainly have it on for regular, everyday activity.

cvl105 · March 2010

Not that he has had it for long, but Mike's is fine so far. White gold is actually stronger than platinum, per our jeweler, which is why he suggested it. It doesn't dent as easily, etc.

kle0113 · March 2010

I have white gold - my e-ring needs to be redipped soon, but my wedding band is fine. I also have a band that matches MH and it is also white gold and it is fine also. I think it should last years before you need to redip it. I would say maybe every 5 years depending. Thats just my opinion.

DandT1206 · March 2010

mine is starting to yellow a TINY bit (e-ring is about 15months old). But, you can't really tell unless you hold it up to a ring that is not yellowing. I might rodium dip it every couple of years. Haven't decided yet. I guess time will tell how often is necessary.

Laurms15 · March 2010

My mom had her e-ring re-set in white gold for approx her 5th or 10th wedding anniversary it used to be in yellow gold and her ring size had grown with pregnancy. On her 30th wedding anniversary she had it re-set in platinum in the 3 stone style. Her platinum ring is scratched on the band portion her white gold ring was never re-dipped she said and it didn't show scratches. She wished she did her new setting in white gold instead of the platinum.

I have my FMIL's engagement ring which is approx 40+ years old and has never been re-dipped. (FI's father passed away approx 10 years ago and his mom wanted him to use it and she knew his dad would want him to use it since she doesn't wear it any more and its a very classic style) I'm getting it re-dipped for the wedding so it matches the shine of my wedding band but both of my mom's ring and FMIL's ring have held up very very well over time.

dmoney79 · March 2010

both my e-ring and my wedding band are white gold...
so far so good...i only take them off when i shower or do dishes, and they've held up well
my band (almost 5 mos) is starting to yellow (only in the back, and only a little bit), whereas my e-ring (1yr 6mos) isn't...its really only obvoius because one is and one isn't (starting to yellow)
they're both 14k, so i don't know why one is and one isn't...
i also have a birthstone ring that is white gold, that i wore every day for years and its in very good condition.....

mbcdefg · March 2010

Thanks!

JeannineG122 · March 2010

Well, my husband is a cop & works the filthy streets of Newark and his ring has held up for as long as he's been wearing it so far.

AlmostLoCo · March 2010

We got a white gold band for my FI too because we were told it's less likely to scratch than platinum. One jeweler told me that men hardly ever get their rings dipped - it's mostly the ladies that care about this. I checked out the white gold bands of a couple friends of mine who've been married 5+ years and never got them re-dipped, and they look nice. Not as shiny/silvery as when it's brand new, but still a nice color and not at all close to yellow gold.

melissa82 · March 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_white-gold?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:fa3c3082-0693-4e7e-9fbe-ecd72f59d021Post:0b2c60cf-ca88-457d-b7bd-c14ead96325d">Re: White gold</a>:
[QUOTE]Not that he has had it for long, but Mike's is fine so far. White gold is actually stronger than platinum, per our jeweler, which is why he suggested it. It doesn't dent as easily, etc.
Posted by cvl105[/QUOTE]

I don't think this is exactly right. Gold is <em>harder</em> than platinum. Because gold is harder, it is more brittle and can break more easily, that's why many white gold engagement rings have platinum prongs. Platinum has more "give," making it it is stronger and more able to hold the diamond despite being hit, etc. Both metals can scratch, however, when gold is scratched you are losing a tiny bit of the gold, whereas the platinum is redistributed.

Much of this doesn't matter for a guy's ring though. Platinum is heavier than gold, so if he's not used to wearing rings, that might bother him. I've heard that the frequency white gold needs replating depends on the quality as well as your indiivdual body chemistry (i.e., the same piece could turn yellow more quickly on another person). FWIW, I don't have white gold rings, but I do have many other pieces, some of which I wear daily, and I've never had them replated.

cher1980 · March 2010

my e-ring, wedding band and FI's band is all White gold - so far so good - we clean it about every 2-3weeks and it brings back its shine...

Jaytee501 · March 2010

"I've heard that the frequency white gold needs replating depends on the quality as well as your indiivdual body chemistry (i.e., the same piece could turn yellow more quickly on another person)." - Melissa82

Ditto Melissa. Ken has been wearing his for ten months (today, to be exact) & it's fine.

The jeweler said it CAN be redipped, certainly, at some point but may never appear to be necessary.

USER876 · March 2010

All white gold is not =.

Your grandmothers ring that still looks "white" after all these yrs, was never rhodium dipped. Back then they alloyed the gold with white metals like palladium to give the white color. They will look the same forever, but they will never have the bright mirror "white" finish that today's white gold rings have. Note that there is no "standard" for white gold, so suppliers are trying to make white gold jewelry as inexpensive as possible. Today, the gold is alloyed with cheaper metals, and the result is a still a yellowy gold. The last step is the R. plating to give it that white, shiny finish. Also note that R. plating is not all equal as it can be done in different plating thicknesses. In time, the plating wears away to reveal the "yellow" gold underneath. Exposure to house hold chemicals typically acclerates this, as does an active lifestyle (playing sports, manual labor work,etc). Usually, the longer it takes to break through to the yellow, the better made the ring is. It is inexpensive to get a ring re-dipped, but it becomes a regular maint. schedule and cost.

Make sure you read my detailed review of Titanium and Tunsten rings before deciding. I would also avoid platinum, as it is cost prohibitive and doesn't really offer any strong benefits over the other available choices.

USER876 · March 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_white-gold?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:fa3c3082-0693-4e7e-9fbe-ecd72f59d021Post:134f7b96-4fe1-4c54-b4f6-cdbd0fc4582f">Re: White gold</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: White gold : I don't think this is exactly right. Gold is harder than platinum. Because gold is harder, it is more brittle and can break more easily, that's why many white gold engagement rings have platinum prongs. Platinum has more "give," making it it is stronger and more able to hold the diamond despite being hit, etc. Both metals can scratch, however, when gold is scratched you are losing a tiny bit of the gold, whereas the platinum is redistributed. Much of this doesn't matter for a guy's ring though. Platinum is heavier than gold, so if he's not used to wearing rings, that might bother him. I've heard that the frequency white gold needs replating depends on the quality as well as your indiivdual body chemistry (i.e., the same piece could turn yellow more quickly on another person). FWIW, I don't have white gold rings, but I do have many other pieces, some of which I wear daily, and I've never had them replated.
Posted by melissa82[/QUOTE]

Actually platinum is harder than gold. Gold is very soft and malleable, which is why it is only a small % of the alloy.

18 Karat = 75% gold
14 Karat = 58.3% gold

Typically Platinum purity in Jewelry is usually greater than 90-95%

Platinum isn't as resistant to gold to oxidation/chemicals which is why it loses it's lustre quicker which results in that dull antique finish over time.

A lot of white gold today, has nickel in the mix because it's a cheap "bleeching" alloy. Many people have nickel allergies which explains why they can't wear white gold.

The moral of the story is, educate yourself and be aware of what you are buying.

White gold

Re: White gold

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