How Long Does it Take for White Gold to Turn Yellow? It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years for white gold to begin showing a yellow color, depending on how quickly the thin rhodium plating wears away.
Try to avoid getting your white gold jewelry wet, soapy or dirty. Take it off before showering, swimming or splashing around in the ocean. Or you can opt for an alloy that's less yellow to begin with.
To summarize, your white gold ring isn't really “white gold.” Jewelers use rhodium and other metals to give it the appearance that it is white. So after natural wear and tear of about a year, the yellow tint of the gold will start to show. Just bring it in to your jeweler and they should get it looking good as new!
Most jewelers recommend getting white gold jewelry like earrings, necklaces, or bracelets re-plated every 1-2 years. Jewelry pieces that are worn daily like rings, however, undergo quite a bit more wear and tear and should be coated more often, ideally every 3 months to a year.
Anything you do that wears down the rhodium plating will cause the yellow hue to appear faster. So what you want to do is not stress the plating of rhodium. To keep your white gold white longer, take off your rings before washing your hands. Remove your white gold jewelry before you shower or go for a swim.
Solid Gold Jewelry
Whether it's regular gold, white gold, or rose gold, it's safe in the shower. However, it loses its shine over time due to soap scum and shampoo residue.
When you see a yellowish tint in your white gold jewelry, it's not because of poor quality. Instead, you see the inner layer of gold alloy under the rhodium plating. Because rhodium is applied in such a thin layer, usually only a few microns thick, it can wear off over time.
We can simply clean and polish the item and dip the item in rhodium using an electric current and make it bright white again. We usually recommend getting white gold items rhodium plated every 1-2 years.
On average, the plating on a white gold ring should last about a year, depending on how often the ring is worn. Once you begin to see your ring fade in brightness, or spots of a yellowish-gold peek through the rhodium plating, it's safe to stay it's time for your ring to re-dipped.
White gold is also a durable metal that can withstand everyday wear and tear, making it a practical choice for your engagement ring. White gold is incredibly versatile; it will look good with a number of gemstones and styles!
Seeing your white gold turn yellow can be a disappointment if you're not familiar with the way that white gold behaves. However, this is completely normal and has an easy fix once you understand how white gold is made and learn the steps for maintaining its color.
Rhodium Plating White Gold Jewellery from £24.50. White gold is graded in colour from 1 to 4 depending on the quality of the colour and how often rhodium plating would need to be applied.
Unlike other precious metals, white gold doesn't tarnish. That said, its color can fade thanks to the habitual weathering that rubs away its rhodium coating.
White gold, on the other hand, is more likely to be damaged by hand sanitizer. This is because white gold has a rhodium plating that can wear off. It's not uncommon for white gold jewellery to require replating at some point, but frequent use of hand sanitizers can speed up the wear and tarnishing.
Don't swim while wearing white gold as the chemicals in the water (chlorine) can react with the plating. Remove white gold items when bathing and sleeping. Keep your white gold away from other metals. For example don't wear a yellow gold ring next to a white gold ring, as the plating may rub off quicker.
Yes, 9K gold can tarnish. However it doesn't tarnish as obviously as sterling silver can. Wiping with a jewelry polishing cloth will help remove the tarnish and brings back the color. You will likely notice tarnish more on 9K rose gold (due to the higher copper content) and less on white gold.
"When you go a long time without redipping it can start to look patchy, and give your engagement ring a tie-dye effect.
Because of its rhodium plating, white gold requires a bit more maintenance than rose or yellow gold - but this isn't a bad thing. Rhodium plating creates a strong barrier which helps to prevent dents and scratches. The outer layer is durable and can help protect your ring for longer.
As it is a metal, like any other metal used in jewellery, it is susceptible to wear and tear through exposure. So most white gold pieces on average will need to be rhodium plated every 12-18 months. This depends on how the item of jewellery is worn.
Platinum is easier to maintain over time than white gold. Platinum is also the most hypoallergenic of all metals, because of its purity.
How Much Does it Cost to Dip your Ring? At a retail store, you can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $120 to have your ring dipped, depending on the complexity of the setting and style. But at With Clarity, ring dipping is free! We offer a lifetime warranty that covers ring replating and polishing.
3. How much does rhodium plating cost ? Typically the cost for rhodium plating can range from $60 – $120 for a fine engagement ring. The price may vary depending on the quality of the rhodium solution, the skill of the jeweller, turnaround time, and the finished effect.
A plating of rhodium is applied to the white gold to achieve a genuinely white finish. This rhodium plating covers the entire surface and disguises the yellow hue of the white gold, making it more closely resemble platinum.
To maintain your white gold wedding ring, nothing easier than using some soapy water at 40 degrees celsius. Soak the jewel into the water for around 15 minutes, then brush it with a small soft brush.
Each person's experience will vary with how long it takes for the rhodium plating to wear away and need re-doing but each time you want it brought back to bright white, you will need to hand your ring back to your jeweller and they will re-polish it and plate it.