White gold. Properties and features of white gold

One of the most popular precious metals in Europe, the “white gold” alloy, began to conquer the hearts of Russians not so long ago, somewhere in the second half of the last century, while abroad, its prestige began to increase in the early 20s . The average person associates the word gold with a yellow metal that has a certain value. Then what is called white gold? What is the composition of white gold? The reader will find answers to these and other questions related to the unique alloy in the article.

Definition of the concept

Mines where ore would be mined for the production of white gold do not exist a priori. The fact is that this original type of metal does not occur in nature at all. Then what is white gold? This is the result of human activity, the brainchild of master jewelers. The opinion that white gold is platinum and is much nobler than usual is somewhat erroneous. There is, for example, a gold alloy, the composition of which is not of great value, but jewelry made from it looks bright, impressive, and rich.

It is important to know! An indicator of the “nobility” of a precious metal is its fineness, but not its color or shade!

How to distinguish white gold from silver?

These two precious metals are very similar in appearance, but silver is much cheaper than white gold, in addition, silver is only a ligature for expensive white gold. How to recognize silver?

First of all, you should pay attention to the standard: gold jewelry uses 585 or 750 standard, silver 925. White gold has a brighter shine than silver. In addition, it is harder than silver.

What difficulties will the owner of white gold have to face?

The capricious alloy of white gold must be carefully monitored: periodically take the product to a jeweler in order to correct the rhodium layer, if any. White gold can become damaged during everyday wear if it comes into contact with harsh chemicals or if it comes into frequent contact with tap water, which may contain bleach.

Composition, properties, features

The white color of a jewelry product is given by the following components:

• platinum;
• palladium;
• nickel.

This is the answer to the question: why is white gold called that? And their percentage determines the cost of the alloy. There is almost no silver in the composition of white gold, or it happens, but rarely, since it makes the surface matte and deprives it of a glossy shine, which is a minus for jewelry. Often, gold contains rhodium, which belongs to the platinum group of noble metals. In this case, when making jewelry, the so-called galvanic method is used, when ordinary gold is coated with a thin layer of rhodium. The coating looks very beautiful, but over time it wears off and the yellow base becomes noticeable. The combination of elements in an alloy has a name: alloy. For gold, a white ligature means:

• nickel;
• manganese;
• palladium;
• silver.

This combination in the alloy is used to replace platinum, which is expensive and is a refractory metal. Sometimes, white gold does not contain nickel, as it can cause an allergic reaction.

Creating a jewelry masterpiece

Jewelers love to work with cool-colored precious metals, and the combinations with precious stones depend on how the white gold used to make jewelry is obtained. This alloy is most often inlaid:

• 
  Diamonds, they fit perfectly with the silver color of the metal. And it doesn’t matter what color the stone is, the decoration will turn out very impressive.

• Emeralds stand out against a white background and create a unique charm of the jewel.
• Sapphires, which jewelers try to use only in large sizes, creating a catchy and creative effect.
• Opals, in this case the color of the stones and metal is white, which creates a good combination and enhances each other’s radiance, and the cost of the jewelry will not be high.
• Cubic zirconia, they are used as an addition to decoration. The soft shine of such products makes them pleasant and comfortable to wear, and the price will pleasantly surprise any buyer.

How is metal obtained?

There are two ways to obtain white jewelry gold.

1. Alloy production. The ligature is different:

• yellow gold plus platinum;
• yellow gold plus palladium;
• yellow gold plus nickel.

Because of the first option, it is often said that white gold is platinum. But, as it turned out, this is not always the case.

2. Plating the gold base with rhodium. The galvanic method was discussed above, but we just need to add that rhodium-plated products are not suitable for everyday use. These are jewelry for going out, the less often they are worn, the longer the coating will last.

It is important to know! There are special ways to check the authenticity, and therefore the value, of metal.

Is yellow gold better?

Yellow gold has its disadvantages, which are associated with its softness. It is a fairly soft metal and the higher the carat, the easier it is to scratch.

The scratched surface can, of course, then be polished. But polishing will remove the gold layer from your jewelry and make it thinner.

A lower carat value of a piece of jewelry indicates its greater reliability, because... there is little pure gold metal and many other additives. However, if you are allergic to nickel, then it is better not to buy gold jewelry with less than 14 carats.

Benefits of White Precious Metal

A favorite of jewelry designers, white metal cannot be called otherwise, obtained as a result of painstaking work, claims to be the leader in popularity and has a number of undeniable advantages:

• when making jewelry, it can be suitable for combinations with other metals of different colors;
• favorably emphasizes the grace and beauty of the stone;
• looks modest, without vulgarity;
• durable, not afraid of mechanical damage, scratches;
• universal in terms of aesthetics, suitable for any color of hair, eyes, clothes;
• suits everyone without exception, regardless of age;
• White gold jewelry is an ideal gift option;
• equally good for special occasions and everyday life.

Electrolytes and coating deposition modes

We will offer 2 electrolyte options for producing gold-nickel alloy

Table 1 — Electrolytes and modes of deposition of gold-nickel alloy

Individual differences

One ring is gold, the other is silver. Try to tell the difference!

What is the difference between one type of gold and another, how to check? What is more expensive or nobler? These questions are of interest to those who are interested in the original alloy, who have long wanted to purchase a new product.

1. The difference is in composition. The alloy of white gold is different from the usual one: it contains more of a whitening element, for example, zinc, while yellow has a high proportion of zinc. The measure for both options is the same, is defined the same and is calculated in carats.
2. Color difference. White color or a much lighter shade distinguishes white gold from its traditional counterpart. Which color to choose is a matter of personal preference.
3. In order not to confuse white metal with silver, you should remember: products made from the latter look more massive and larger, because silver is a less flexible and malleable metal. After a certain period, silver products darken and oxidize, losing their presentable appearance, while gold products continue to enchant with their beauty and sophistication. But to find out exactly what kind of metal is in front of you, you will have to carry out an analysis using acid. The silver will show marks that cannot be removed.

It is important to know! Any type of gold contains real, well-known yellow gold!

Advantages and disadvantages

Jewelry made from precious metals can delight the owner with unique properties. If the alloy contains platinum and Au, then the products will differ:

1. Wear resistance and strength.
2. Resistant to environmental factors and reagents.

Platinum and Au are inert elements that do not react with acids and alkalis. Metals tolerate moisture well and dissolve only in a mixture of acids. If there are two metals in the ligature, then the products will last a long time, they are not afraid of mechanical damage, chips and scratches.

Typically, plaque forms on the surface of a metal during the oxidation process. Platinum and Au do not oxidize because they do not interact with acids; water cannot harm the elements, like air. The more of these elements in jewelry, the longer they will serve the owner faithfully.

These are the main advantages, but there are also disadvantages, which include:

• cost of products;
• thinning of the coating.

If the jewelry contains platinum, then it will be quite expensive. You can purchase the product in a special store, which is aimed at customers who have the opportunity to buy an expensive product.

If the surface of the jewelry is plated with rhodium, it may become thinner over time. The coating can be renewed, but to do this you will have to contact a jeweler and pay him money.

White gold is a capricious material: despite its properties and noble origin, jewelry made from ligature should be protected from:

1. Water containing chlorine.
2. From cleaning products.

For this reason, jewelry made from this alloy should be removed before visiting the pool or gym, protected from reagents and cleaned using special pastes.

Luxury or fashion?

Despite the fact that the invention came into use later than the yellow one, it is no less popular. Jewelers love to work with it - there is plenty of room for imagination. It’s not a shame to appear in public wearing such jewelry; it’s nice to be at home. But this is not the only thing that makes the alloy so popular. The fact is that white metal is especially valued because it suits almost everyone:

• women and girls of any age category;
• men and boys who love original jewelry;
• little girls whose parents want to teach their child the rules of good taste.

It is worth noting that the fashion for the familiar, now traditional, option periodically disappears, while white metals never lose relevance. They look luxurious, make you look stylish, and speak of wealth and well-being.

What is platinum

Among natural minerals, platinum is a very rare metal. But this was not the only reason for its popularity and value. Excellent physical and chemical properties are used in many industries and, most importantly, in jewelry.

To create jewelry, platinum is used as an independent metal and as an additional metal, designed to highlight the beauty of gold. According to its properties, the metal has good plasticity - it is easy to work with. Well, as for the appearance, the exquisite cold shine has always attracted the eye.

What does platinum look like?

The durability of platinum jewelry is much higher than the durability of gold jewelry. This is an expensive metal; as you know, the annual production of platinum is several times less than gold. It also has high anti-corrosion properties - it does not come into contact with oxygen, does not oxidize, and does not irritate the skin. It is not for nothing that the kings of France had one of the largest collections of jewelry made from this metal.

How to use it, what to combine with it

The products look incredibly original, are distinguished by sophistication, and help to emphasize individuality. They do not oblige the owner to strictly adhere to style or proportions; on the contrary, they provide the opportunity to experiment and look for their own unique image. The metal, which has gained recognition among jewelers, can be used to make rings of any complexity, earrings, bracelets, chains and even accessories. Fans of exotic piercings are also increasingly giving preference to this precious alloy. Diamonds go especially well with it, and moonstone is highlighted favorably. Original combinations with other precious metals give products elegance and true charm to whoever wears them, regardless of gender.

It is important to know! Gold items should not be allowed to come into contact with an aggressive environment; this can lead to damage, loss of shine and even shape!