Yellow Or White Gold?

Is white gold real gold?

Yes! White gold is real gold. But, as mentioned above, when choosing a metal type, you’ll need to look at the number of karats to see just how much of it is pure. It’s most common to find 14 or 18k gold as your options for jewellery. These options are much more durable than a pure 24k ring, with 14k gold being the harder of the two (the less pure gold that’s present, the better in terms of durability).

How is white gold made?

White gold is actually a combination, or alloy, of gold and a white metal — usually nickel, silver, or palladium. And although a huge part of the variation in colour comes from the metal mixture and the types of metal used, white gold is usually also plated with rhodium — a silver/white metal that adds a shiny colour and a bit more durability to white gold rings.

What is more expensive,  yellow or white gold?

For the most part, the two metals will be priced equally if they have the same presence of pure gold. Some jewellers will charge a bit more for white gold due to the addition of rhodium plating.

What is platinum?

Another option that you’ll often see that appears to look similar to white gold is platinum. Although it is a different metal, it too has a white/silver look to it, but it is not as shiny as white gold. However, the two are not to be confused. In fact, platinum is much more expensive, heavier than white gold, and has more of a grey hint to it. If you’re looking for a super durable option for your ring, platinum is definitely the way to go. However, 14k or 18k white gold is often the more popular choice due to cost.

The history of white and yellow gold

The purest form of gold used in jewelry has been dated back to 4000 B.C. However, it’s most notably used during the Georgian and Victorian eras. During these times gold was used in collaboration with jewels, such as rubies and sapphires. Eventually, jewellers saw the benefit of mixing pure gold with other metals to make a harder and less expensive piece of jewelry. Yellow gold engagement rings were extremely popular in the late 1990s, and are making a comeback with millennials.

White gold (as we know it today) was invented in the 19th century but did not become widely popular until the 1920s. Since platinum was needed for so many military purposes, white gold was used in jewelry as an easy and less expensive substitute. It has continued its popularity over the years, with a large shift in engagement rings being made with white gold during the 2000s.

Should I get a yellow or white gold jewellery?

This will really depend on personal preference. While white gold is a best-seller at the moment, yellow gold is also quickly coming back into style. If you’re stuck between the two, consider the undertones of your skin and try both colours on to see if there’s one that you prefer. In general, cool skin tones look better with white gold or platinum. People with warm skin tones tend to make yellow and rose gold engagement rings really pop.

If you really can’t decide between yellow or white gold, you don’t have to. Mixing and matching metal colours is actually a huge trend at the moment. If you decide on a white gold engagement ring, add a yellow gold wedding band to create a unique look that incorporates both metals.

At Lunar Rain, many of our rings are available in both yellow or white gold.

Lunar Rain is a Canadian jewellery and art brand based in Vancouver, Canada. We ship worldwide and specialize in making fine jewellery and art inspired by nature.

Shop our work at LunarRain.com

We currently have 5 collections:
Full Fathom Five – A collection inspired by sunken treasure and the sea.
Earthly Delights – Fantastical jewels inspired by nature, food and other earthly pleasures.
Gothic Romance – Jewellery inspired by gothic art, fashion and literature.
Celestial Dreams – Jewellery inspired by the stars and galaxies above and heavenly deities.
All The Devils Are Here – A darker collection inspired by witchcraft, hell, monsters and memento mori jewellery.