Why Is My White Gold Ring Turning Yellow?
If your white gold ring is starting to look a little yellow, don't worry. This is a very common occurrence with white gold, and you're not doing anything wrong.In fact, I usually tell customers that it's a sign you're wearing your ring!
Why Does White Gold Turn Yellow?
The first thing to understand is that gold itself is naturally yellow. And not just a little yellow, think sunflower yellow.To make white gold, we alloy gold with other metals to strengthen it and change its color. But even white gold alloys still have some of that natural yellow color underneath.
That's why white gold can eventually develop a warmer, slightly yellow appearance.
What Does Rhodium Have to Do With It?
This is where rhodium plating comes in.Rhodium is a bright white metal related to platinum, and it makes a great finish for white gold because it gives the jewelry that bright, white appearance that many people associate with white gold.
The catch? Rhodium is a plating, so it naturally wears away over time.
Everyday things like perfume, hairspray, lotion, and hand sanitizer can contribute to that wear. That's one reason we recommend putting your jewelry on last when you're getting ready for the day.
Your ring isn't necessarily damaged when you start seeing some yellow come through. You're simply beginning to see the white gold underneath the rhodium finish.
How Often Does White Gold Need to Be Replated?
There's no set schedule for rhodium plating. It depends on how often you wear your ring, how hard you are on it, and how quickly the finish wears for you.If you start noticing that warm, yellow color coming through again, bring your ring in and let us take a look.
Adding a fresh rhodium finish is one of the most common repairs we do for white gold jewelry. A new finish can bring back that bright white appearance and make your ring look fresh again.
And don't worry. Your ring isn't turning yellow because you did something wrong. It's just part of owning and wearing white gold.