White gold is a popular jewelry option but most of us don't know much about it. After all, isn't white gold - silver?
Not by a long shot. Did you know white gold is actually yellowish brown? Further, it is paired with rhodium, which is a member of the platinum family of metals. So your white gold ring has a bit of platinum in it. The rhodium is what gives white gold its luster because it is highly reflective. There is currently no standard to measure the "whiteness" of white gold.
When your white gold jewelry was created be it a bracelet or celtic rings, it was brushed with a thin coat of rhodium. This coating lasts up to three years, then it will fade and you will see the white gold closer to its natural state. It will not be as shiny but it is still gold. Your jeweler can tell you if the rhodium can be replaced.
Did you know there are two types of white gold: Nickel and Palladium? Palladium white gold is more expensive. However, approximately 12 percent to 15 percent of the world's female population is allergic to nickel. They break out in red skin rashes.
The problem is so common that the EU Nickel Directive limits the amount of nickel that comes in contact with human skin. Nickel containing jewelry must be labeled "non-allergenic" or "nickel-free". Nickel white gold is being phased out in favor of the palladium variety. Only those with very low nickel alloys are being sold in European Union nations. China and Japan have similar laws. However, European and Asian low alloy versions are not guaranteed to cause a nickel reaction.
In the U.S., nickel content is not as restrictive. American laws only specify that jewelry containing nickel be labeled. Other countries have no nickel jewelry restrictions at all.
In order to combat the problem, jewelry makers are turning to more expensive palladium white gold or to other solutions. Some patented alloys use manganese rather than nickel to bleach the gold. Some use palladium while others do not for a lower-cost version. These new alloys are more difficult to work with because they are harder. They also need rhodium plating and tarnish easily. Currently the compositions of these new alloys do not have to be labeled for the consumer.
When choosing white gold jewelry, see if you can see the difference between white gold and silver. Technology has made it very difficult to see the difference between the two types.
So if you prefer white gold, be careful to note whether you are sensitive to nickel and choose accordingly. A lovely piece of jewelry won't be enjoyable if you can't wear it because of a red, itchy skin rash. If you choose the right piece for your skin's needs, you will enjoy it all the more. - 29871
Not by a long shot. Did you know white gold is actually yellowish brown? Further, it is paired with rhodium, which is a member of the platinum family of metals. So your white gold ring has a bit of platinum in it. The rhodium is what gives white gold its luster because it is highly reflective. There is currently no standard to measure the "whiteness" of white gold.
When your white gold jewelry was created be it a bracelet or celtic rings, it was brushed with a thin coat of rhodium. This coating lasts up to three years, then it will fade and you will see the white gold closer to its natural state. It will not be as shiny but it is still gold. Your jeweler can tell you if the rhodium can be replaced.
Did you know there are two types of white gold: Nickel and Palladium? Palladium white gold is more expensive. However, approximately 12 percent to 15 percent of the world's female population is allergic to nickel. They break out in red skin rashes.
The problem is so common that the EU Nickel Directive limits the amount of nickel that comes in contact with human skin. Nickel containing jewelry must be labeled "non-allergenic" or "nickel-free". Nickel white gold is being phased out in favor of the palladium variety. Only those with very low nickel alloys are being sold in European Union nations. China and Japan have similar laws. However, European and Asian low alloy versions are not guaranteed to cause a nickel reaction.
In the U.S., nickel content is not as restrictive. American laws only specify that jewelry containing nickel be labeled. Other countries have no nickel jewelry restrictions at all.
In order to combat the problem, jewelry makers are turning to more expensive palladium white gold or to other solutions. Some patented alloys use manganese rather than nickel to bleach the gold. Some use palladium while others do not for a lower-cost version. These new alloys are more difficult to work with because they are harder. They also need rhodium plating and tarnish easily. Currently the compositions of these new alloys do not have to be labeled for the consumer.
When choosing white gold jewelry, see if you can see the difference between white gold and silver. Technology has made it very difficult to see the difference between the two types.
So if you prefer white gold, be careful to note whether you are sensitive to nickel and choose accordingly. A lovely piece of jewelry won't be enjoyable if you can't wear it because of a red, itchy skin rash. If you choose the right piece for your skin's needs, you will enjoy it all the more. - 29871
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Concentrating on news and information about irish promise ring, Eduard Rakting pens largely for http://www.engagement-rings-tips.com . His writings on meaning of celtic rings are published on http://www.engagement-rings-tips.com/celtic-engagement-rings.html .
