White Yellow

The differences between white and yellow gold

The most common metal used today for jewelry is gold. Gold has always been and probably always will be an expensive , luxurious , classy metal that resemble wealth, status and modernism. This article will explain the differences between two colored golds , white and yellow.

Yellow gold, the typical color of gold most know of, is a purely mined element that is relatively soft and malleable.  Because pure gold – 24 kt gold – is soft, it often isn’t used in jewelry without being alloyed, or combined, with other metals to make it stronger and more flexible.  These alloys are what give gold its various colors.

The most common alloy used in yellow gold is copper, though zinc or nickel may also be used.  Higher properties of copper alloy may also give “yellow” gold a red, pink, or rosy tint, depending on the percentage of the alloy present.  To make gold “white,” it is usually alloyed with palladium and/or silver. Various alloy metals, such as iron, cadmium, and aluminum, may be added to create other colors of gold.

In the jewelry market, white and yellow gold are most commonly used.  White gold tends to be more popular for wedding bands, engagement rings, and other diamond jewelry pieces because it reflects the diamond’s clarity, rather than giving it a colored tint.  White gold’s alloys are also typically stronger and easier to work with or resize, giving the same appearance as platinum or titanium without the same price tag.  Conversely, white gold may present a problem to some jewelry wearers if it is alloyed with nickel, a common metal allergy, and may also need to be re-plated occasionally.

Yellow gold was highly popular at the turn of the 20th century and modern yellow gold often harkens back to those styles, appealing to jewelry wearers looking for a traditional, heirloom feel.   It often resists tarnishing more easily than white gold alloys, and allergies to copper and zinc are rare.  Yellow gold jewelry can less appealing, however, to those with lighter skin tones, as it may make them look sallow.

Yellow or white, gold is still the most popular metal to use in jewelry.  Both have their pros and cons and both compliment a wide variety of styles and tastes.

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