White gold can create stunning jewelry of all kinds. It is both eye-catching and durable, checking boxes for both form and function. Unfortunately, if you own a white gold piece of jewelry, you may notice a subtle shift in its coloring over time. Does this mean the white gold is tarnishing? Learn why it might appear less brilliant over time—and how to keep your favorite white gold pieces sparkling for years.
What is White Gold?
White gold is a metal alloy containing roughly 75% pure gold and 25% of another paler metal, such as silver, nickel, zinc, platinum or palladium. Despite creating a whiter metal alloy, the natural yellow tint of the pure gold will still likely be present in these types of alloys. To solve that problem, white gold alloys are plated with a precious metal, typically rhodium.
What is Tarnish?
Tarnishing is the process of dulling or destroying the luster of something by air, dust or dirt. Tarnish refers to the actual film that can develop on the surface of jewelry, caused by the elements within the jewelry piece being chemically altered over time. Tarnish comes in a wide range of colors, from yellow and brown to gray and black, depending on the metals contained within the jewelry.
Can White Gold Tarnish?
Answering the question, “Can white gold tarnish?” is not as straightforward as you might think. Rhodium, white gold’s most common plating, is a precious, ultra-shiny metal that can rub away over time, revealing the yellowish white gold alloy beneath. Whether white gold is plated with rhodium or not, almost all white gold will change color eventually. This alone does not necessarily mean that the white gold alloy is tarnishing. The process goes something like this:
- The Rhodium Plating Wears Off. The silvery-white layer of rhodium plating (not the white gold itself) begins to wear away, revealing the yellowish tint of the white gold alloy beneath. Daily elements can contribute to this wearing, such as:
- Humidity. By itself, humidity won't cause major tarnishing, but it can speed up the process if the rhodium plating is already worn down, making the white gold alloy more susceptible to tarnishing.
- Harsh chemicals or fabrics. The repetitive exposure to chemicals and abrasive fabrics can erode rhodium plating, exposing the yellow-white gold beneath. It is recommended that white gold rings (and really, most fine jewelry) be removed before using harsh soaps, hand sanitizers, perfumes and cleaning products, as these can accelerate the rhodium-degradation process.
- Improper storage. Jewelry should be stored away from light and moist air. Failing to do so can expose your jewelry to the environmental pollutants mentioned above and accelerate the wear of the rhodium plating.
Then, the White Gold Alloy Itself Tarnishes. Once the rhodium plating has eroded and the yellow-white gold alloy beneath is exposed, further tarnishing may occur, depending on the metals that were used to produce the white gold in question. Pure gold does not tarnish. However, if the other metals used in the alloy are susceptible to tarnish, such as nickel and zinc, the resulting alloy may tarnish also. If the alloy was made with gold and a harder, more resistant metal such as platinum or palladium, it may not tarnish further.
Sweat, dirt, body oil, environmental pollutants and chemicals can create a film on the surface of white gold. This film can trap moisture and other chemicals against the rhodium, potentially accelerating the natural wear of the plating and tarnishing of the white gold alloy, if susceptible. This tarnished gold can range from yellow to black, depending on the severity of the tarnishing and the type of pollutants that have come into contact with it. In some cases, tarnished gold may have a green or blue tint, caused by a buildup of copper on its surface. Tarnished gold may also appear dull or cloudy due to the buildup of microscopic crystals on its surface.
The Pros and Cons of White Gold Jewelry
While white gold has many positive characteristics that make it a desirable metal for jewelry of all kinds, there are some not-so-ideal aspects to keep in mind as well.
Advantages of using white gold in jewelry:
- White gold looks like platinum but is typically less expensive.
- White gold is more durable than silver. To explore the difference between white gold and silver, check out White Gold vs. Silver: What You Need to Know.
- White gold’s neutral, silver color looks great with diamonds or colored gemstones and makes a versatile accessory, pairing well with most outfit choices.
Disadvantages of choosing white gold in jewelry:
- White gold jewelry requires periodic recoating of its rhodium plating every couple of years to maintain its ideal coloring.
- Nickel, a metal used often in white gold alloys, is the most common metal allergy experienced by humans.
- A recent trend indicates that sales of white gold engagement ring settings declined from 61% in 2017 to 45% in 2021, reflecting a decline in popularity.
How to Take Care of White Gold
Whether it's the wedding ring you wear every day or a family heirloom you only bring out for special occasions, it’s important that you properly care for your white gold jewelry.
Proper Storage
As with all jewelry, proper storage will help increase its longevity. Having a designated place for each piece of jewelry not only helps keep you organized and reduces the risk of misplacing jewelry pieces, it will also help protect your jewelry from environmental elements when not in use. For a more in-depth look at proper jewelry storage, check out How To Store Jewelry.
Proper Cleaning
Another great jewelry care practice is properly cleaning after wear, prior to storing. The following is a simple, gentle (yet effective) way to keep your white gold sparkling clean.
- Mix a bit of dish detergent in warm, not hot, water. Do not use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as ammonia.
- Soak the white gold jewelry in your warm water mixture for 10 minutes.
- Carefully rub jewelry with your fingers. Do not use a toothbrush, as this can cause scratching. Do not let jewelry soak for more than 15 minutes.
- Rinse with lukewarm water.
- Air dry or carefully towel-dry with paper towel or regular cloth.
Re-plating
As mentioned above, your white gold jewelry will almost certainly require rhodium re-plating by a jeweler throughout its lifetime. Think of it as the occasional pampering for your white gold. Put a reminder in your calendar each year to look at your jewelry collection, especially your white gold pieces, to determine if a yellow tint is present and if re-plating is needed.
Whether you’re in the market for new white gold jewelry pieces or already have some beauties in your collection, consider getting your precious jewelry insured. While many people use homeowners insurance to insure their jewelry, there are potential drawbacks to that option when compared to personal jewelry insurance. Check your jewelry insurance rate from Jewelers Mutual by clicking the button below.
