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JosephI April 15, 2010

Is the white gold that's used in jewelry actually platinum?

I'm totally confused by the term white gold, because ever since I was I kid I've always knew that gold was a yellowy copper tone and now suddenly people are trying to tell me that it's white. What the heck? How is gold white? I suspect it's just a different precious metal altogether and jewelers just call it 'white gold' so they can hike their prices up.

Answers (1 - 3 of 3)

StephenU May 2, 2010

No, white gold and platinum are different metals. White gold is gold mixed with either nickel or palladium, meaning that gold was alloyed. Almost all white gold is also plated with rhodium which heightens the sheen and silvery color of any jewelry piece. White gold may be similar in appearance to platinum but it isn't the same compound.

JonathanE April 25, 2010

Actually this time you're wrong. White gold is really composed partially of real yellow gold. It's a gold alloy, which means that the gold is mixed with palladium or nickel, or both, giving it its white tone. White gold might also contain traces of copper or zinc. Superior white gold can be composed of some 90% gold, with the remaining 10% palladium or nickel. Lower value white gold can contain as little as 50% real gold.

BobA April 19, 2010

White gold refers to gold combined with silver or palladium, usually with rhodium plating. Platinum is naturally white, but is also the most expensive metal, so there's no need in 'concealing' it's presence by calling it ""white gold"".