All about white gold

Jewelry made of expensive precious metals are always in great demand among connoisseurs of beauty. Products made of white gold have gained immense popularity. Decorations include a certain amount of alloys. White gold has a presentable and elegant appearance.

In jewelry, there are several varieties of gold that are called elite.

• Yellow... It contains copper and silver. The shade of the jewelry depends on the number of inclusions.
• Green... The unusual color comes from silver and rubidium. It is suitable for making stylish jewelry. It is not highly durable.
• Pink... A unique alloy, the shade of which depends on the amount of copper. Rose gold is used in the manufacture of delicate openwork products.
• Black... The metal contains in its composition cobalt, chromium and rhodium. The dark tone is obtained as a result of artificial oxidation of the surface.

Gold, which is called white, occupies a special place. The cool shade of metal gives it a pretentious elegance and nobility. The jewelry is distinguished by its high price and luxurious appearance.

Many people confuse this metal with silver. Indeed, white gold differs from the usual silver color. Its popularity originated in Europe in the twentieth century of the last century, and has retained it to this day.Many people believe that white gold looks nobler than yellow and has amazing magical properties. It has a beneficial effect on the human body and gets rid of negative energy. Astrologers are sure that this alloy is suitable for people born under the signs: Pisces, Libra and Scorpio.

In most cases, white gold is used to make elite jewelry adorned with precious stones. It will be possible to distinguish white gold from silver, having the following knowledge:

• silver is known for its cold luster; white gold has a metallic shimmer;
• a product made of silver leaves a dark mark if it is held over a light surface;
• Genuine gold will not change color if you drop dye on it or dip it in a glass of vinegar.

However, the exact definition of a product made of precious metal will be voiced only by a specialist with the help of expertise.

To give a light shade, the following elements are included in the ligature:

• silver - this metal has softness and ductility;
• platinum - platinum inclusions give natural gold a silvery tone; the presence of a noble metal in the alloy significantly increases the cost of the product;
• nickel - belongs to the group of heavy metals, over time it undergoes oxidation; often products with the addition of nickel darken; nickel has increased ductility and lends itself well to forging;
• zinc - the metal has a bluish tint; it lightens the color of the alloy and lowers the melting point;
• cadmium - the element has increased softness and has a silvery tint; in the composition of the ligature, it lowers the melting temperature and maintains the level of plasticity;
• manganese - brittle metal, which gives the alloy a grayish tint;
• palladium - the element belongs to the platinum group; it is responsible for the shine of the product and has increased durability.

Sometimes jewelry is covered with a thin layer of a rare metal - rhodium. It is known for its low ductility and is only relevant as an outer cover for jewelry. This treatment gives the garments a rich color and shine.

White gold is widely used in jewelry. It harmonizes wonderfully with diamonds, emeralds and black pearls. And also the alloy is used in dentistry. For example, true connoisseurs of beauty prefer to emphasize their financial position with white gold crowns. Rings, earrings, bracelets or necklaces are most often made of noble metal.

White gold is obtained using two main methods. The first is relevant in the manufacture of high quality expensive alloy. Pure gold is melted under industrial conditions and the master alloy is prepared. The inclusions of other metals are carefully measured according to the standards. They are melted and mixed to obtain a thick, homogeneous mass. The most difficult stage of this process is the last one. It depends on him how high-quality the alloy will turn out.

As for the second method, nickel is added to the alloy, which over time "helps" the decoration to change color not for the better.

The color of a product made of white gold depends on the percentage of inclusions present in the alloy.

White gold can be represented in the following shades:

• classic silver shine is given by palladium, nickel and silver;
• a yellow tone is obtained by adding copper to the alloy;
• a green tint appears due to silver;
• a reddish tone is obtained as a result of inclusions of copper and silver;
• exotic blue tone is obtained using complex technological processes.

Another important observation of jewelers is the natural color change in white gold. The fact is that over time, the rhodium layer is erased, the decoration turns yellow. This happens for the following reasons:

• long service life of products - if a ring or earrings are worn without removing, then the products will turn yellow;
• mechanical damage - some women prefer to clean and cook without taking off their jewelry; It is best to entrust the cleaning of products to a professional master.

The presence of certain inclusions determines the fineness of white gold. So, let's take a look at the most common hallmarks.

• 375... Gold that is classified as low quality. The alloy contains only about 40 percent of the precious metal, the rest of the components are nickel, zinc and silver. Experts note that such jewelry tends to darken and lose its luster over time.
• 500... Practically not used by jewelers, since copper and silver, which are part of the alloy, give jewelry a yellowish tone. Such products look rough and tasteless.
• 585... The most common sample of white gold. The products have a presentable appearance and are distinguished by a long service life. The alloy includes palladium, platinum and copper.
• 750... The alloy consists almost entirely of pure gold (80%) and a small amount of inclusions. The plasticity of this material allows you to create unique masterpieces in the art of jewelry. Jewelry made of 18-carat gold can be found in high-end stores. Their price is quite high.

It is important to understand that white gold cannot be branded above 750. The composition of the material must contain a ligature, which "bleaches" the alloy. Some jewelry sellers may offer their customers “white gold products” with a fineness of 925. In fact, this mark refers to silver.

Undoubtedly, jewelry made of white gold has increased durability and presentable appearance. At the same time, it is the inclusions that add strength to the precious metal.

The main advantages of white gold include the following characteristics:

• presentable appearance;
• long service life;
• relevance - products made of this alloy will never go out of fashion;
• a high-quality alloy does not blacken over time and does not lose its luster.

However, these products are not without drawbacks. For example, white gold jewelry is quite expensive. In addition, there are many fakes on the modern market. And also in the composition of the alloy there may be inclusions of nickel, which can cause an allergic reaction. Do not forget that over time, even the most expensive and high-quality white gold jewelry still loses its presentable appearance. In addition, delicate jewelry is easily scratched, and it is quite costly to fix such imperfections. In Russia, 1 gram of white gold is an order of magnitude higher than yellow gold.

It is best to purchase white gold items in a specialized jewelry salon, whose sellers will unconditionally provide a quality certificate and a warranty card.Otherwise, the buyer has a high risk of acquiring a low-quality but expensive fake. If he still doubts the authenticity of the product, then it is better to check it in a laboratory.

And you can also check the authenticity of the product, which is made of white gold, at home. Experts give the following recommendations:

• just take the usual magnet and bring it closer to the product; if a reaction follows, then there is a fake in front of you;
• to determine the authenticity of the precious metal will help lapis pencil, you can get it at the pharmacy; it is enough to slightly dip the product in water, and then draw a pencil over it; if there are no traces left on the metal, then we have real gold;
• the authenticity of the jewelry will be determined by weighing; the fact is that a cheap alloy of tin and copper has a low weight, in contrast to the precious metal;
• the verification procedure is carried out using iodine; it is enough to take a small amount of iodine and draw a small strip on the product - if it is colored, then this is a fake.

All jewelry made of gold are capable of making the same sound when dropped on a glass surface... Therefore, it is enough to take an already purchased piece of jewelry and a product, the authenticity of which you doubt. Throw both products in turn gently on the surface and pay attention to the sound they make. Men and women of different age categories can wear white gold jewelry. And also jewelry is suitable for children who are just beginning to form their habits.

You can keep track of products made of white gold at home. The following tips should be taken into account:

• you can clean it from dust and dirt with a soap solution; it is applied to the decoration with a soft brush;
• it is better to refuse contact with household chemicals;
• experts do not recommend cleaning jewelry with aggressive detergents;
• polishing is carried out, as a rule, in jewelry stores; It is not recommended to carry out this procedure on its own, since there is a high risk of damage to the jewelry.

For white gold samples, see the next video.