 When you are looking for a wedding band, you do not always have to look towards traditional gold. This piece of jewelry can look just as magnificent with
white gold. This type has gained enormous popularity and is well liked by everyone, especially by younger age groups. This metal was developed in the 1920's as a substitute for platinum. White gold is, as you probably already guessed, an alloy of gold. White metals are then added to give
white gold the color you know today. These metals include nickel, zinc, copper, silver and palladium. The natural color of white gold is actually a light grey. This metal is not a special form of gold. A piece of white gold may be up to 21 carats. 24 carat white gold is not available.
White gold is great to enhance the look of diamonds or gemstones. Consider an amethyst gemstone. Its purple color would look better upon a white gold setting than in a yellow gold setting. Nickel and palladium are strong bleachers when it comes to the process of making white gold.
Silver and zinc, on the other hand, are only moderate. Nickel white adds a cold white color and is difficult to process. Nickel can also cause some reactions to the skin and for this reason is rarely used. Palladium is a more expensive choice, but it does add a warmer white and is soft
making it easy to process. When jewelry is made brand new, in rings, a coating of rhodium is applied. This is the ultimate white add on and is a very hard substance. Rhodium may also provide some protection for reactions to nickel. White gold is not always coated with it.
When shopping for jewelry, make sure you take a good luck at it first, and then ask if it is plated. Overtime your white gold can change colors. It may turn to an off white or even a yellowish brown tint. This occurs as rhodium starts to wear through. Keep watch on your jewelry and
its gemstones throughout the years and keep it clean. Above all enjoy it as an accent to your life.
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