Jewelry can be overwhelming with all of the gold to choose from on the market. You may have heard of yellow gold and rose gold but have you ever heard of white gold? Is it gold? Is it like other metals? And more than anything, is it worth investing in?

In this in-depth guide, everything from its composition to its price to how to take care of it to how it measures up to other metal for jewelry is going to get analyzed in-depth.

What Is White Gold?

Unlike yellow gold found naturally in earth, white gold is artificially synthesized. It’s synthesized by mixing pure gold with stronger, white-colored metals such as palladium, nickel, or silver. All these make gold stronger while giving it that lovely, silvery-white hue.

However, what gives that characteristic sheen to white gold is rhodium plating—a precious metal family member of platinum. White gold is brighter than it would normally be due to rhodium, which gives it that classy, high-end appearance.

Fun Fact: White gold became widely popular in the 1920s as an alternative to platinum, which was scarce and expensive at the time.

What Is White Gold Made Up of?

Composition of White Gold

White gold is typically produced from an alloy of pure gold and white metals. Pure gold to white metal proportion changes based on gold's karat: For the full purity breakdown across every color of gold, see our gold purity guide.

The higher the karat mark, the more gold in the jewelry but at the price of it being more susceptible to scratching. Karat also nudges the underlying tone: since 18K white gold is three-quarters pure gold, it reads slightly warmer before plating, while 14K — with over 40% of the mix made up of non-gold metals — looks cooler and whiter underneath the rhodium.

Why White Gold Uses Metal Alloys

Pure gold or gold of 24K purity is naturally weak and pliant so that it cannot serve for daily decorations. Goldsmiths harden and make it more durable by mixing it with hard metals so that gold decorations survive for decades.

Why Is White Gold Rhodium Coated?

Even after alloying with white metals, white gold has a faint yellow colour. To obtain its shiny silvery-white appearance, white gold is plated with rhodium, which has several benefits:

However, rhodium plating is not permanent. Over time, it erases to display the yellowish foundation that is present underneath. Because of that, white gold jewelry has to get re-plated every 1–2 years periodically, sometimes stretching to 3 years for pieces that see less daily wear.

How Is White Gold Actually Made?

Two steps, in order. First, a goldsmith melts pure gold together with white metals (nickel, palladium, or silver) at the ratio its karat mark requires, producing a solid alloy that is naturally pale gold rather than bright white. Second, the finished piece is electroplated with a thin layer of rhodium, which is what actually gives white gold its bright, silvery-white finish. Skip the second step and you get a dull, faintly yellow-white metal — which is why re-plating restores color after rhodium wears off.

Is White Gold Real Gold?

Yes! White gold is gold because it has pure gold in it. All that alters is that other metals get incorporated to make it have a varying colour and strength.

How to Tell White Gold Is Real? Look for a hallmark stamp that assures its authenticity. Hallmarks that typically found include:

Hallmarking laws vary from country to country but in all countries more than 1 gram of jewelry must be hallmark-ed to ascertain its legitimacy.

What White Gold Looks Like

White gold has a dazzling, silvery-white colour due to rhodium plating. It might have slightly varying tones depending on metal alloys used:

Over time, as rhodium plating wears off, white gold may start to take on a warm yellowish color. This completely natural phenomenon can be restored by having your pieces re-plated at a jeweler.

White Gold vs. Other Metals: Is White Gold Better?

White Gold vs. Yellow Gold

White Gold vs. Platinum

Prefer platinum’s lower upkeep? See our full guide to caring for a platinum ring for what that trade-off actually looks like day to day.

White Gold vs. Silver

Weighing silver on its own merits? Our guide to sterling silver breaks down its real composition and how to keep it from tarnishing.

How Expensive Is White Gold?

The price of white gold is based on its karat purity level and gold price at the moment. Average:

Example: White gold ring containing 0.9-carat round-cut diamond would typically cost a third of that of a ring in platinum containing the same stone.

Caring for White Gold Jewelry

To maintain the shine of your white gold jewelry, follow these rules:

Tip: White gold is used extensively in rings, bracelets, and even personalized necklaces as its refined sheen pairs perfectly with engraving work and stone settings.

Is White Gold Worth It?

If you’re in need of a durable yet classy platinum replacement that won’t cost much, white gold fits the bill perfectly. White gold has all of the loveliness of precious metals but without the price.

However, be on the lookout for upkeep fees like rhodium re-plating. If you would like to own a metal that requires no upkeep, look to platinum.

Final Thoughts

White gold is a timeless and versatile option for anyone who loves jewelry. If spending on an engagement ring, bracelet, or personalized necklaces is on your to-do-list, its shine and durability make it a stunning option. Just take proper care of it so that it shines for decades to come. For more metal-buying breakdowns like this one, browse our Jewelry 101 guides before you buy.

Thinking of buying white gold jewelry? What is your favorite part of it? Tell us in the comments!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does white gold turn your skin green?

White gold rarely turns skin green the way some cheaper metals do, because the rhodium plating creates a barrier between your skin and the alloy underneath. Any discoloration is usually a reaction to the alloy metals once the plating wears thin, not the gold itself. Keeping the piece clean and re-plated every 1 to 2 years generally prevents it.

Is white gold safe for sensitive skin or nickel allergies?

The rhodium plating on white gold shields your skin from the alloy metals, which offers real protection if you have a nickel allergy. The catch is that plating wears off over time, and once it does, nickel-based white gold can start to irritate sensitive skin. If you know you react to nickel, ask for palladium-based white gold or stay on top of re-plating.

Can I wear white gold in the shower or swimming pool?

It's best to take white gold off first. Chlorine and harsh cleaning chemicals break down the rhodium plating, which dulls that bright silvery-white finish faster than normal wear. Everyday soap and water won't ruin it, but repeated pool and hot-tub exposure will send you back to the jeweler sooner.

White gold or platinum for an engagement ring?

Both give you that cool silvery-white look, but they differ in upkeep and cost. Platinum is naturally white, more durable, and never needs re-plating, though it's roughly double the price and heavier. White gold delivers a very similar appearance at a lower price, as long as you're comfortable re-plating it every year or two to keep it bright.

Does white gold cost more to maintain than yellow gold?

Yes, a little. Yellow gold keeps its color on its own, while white gold needs periodic rhodium re-plating, typically every 1 to 2 years, to stay bright and white. That plating is an ongoing maintenance cost yellow gold simply doesn't have, so factor it in if you prefer low-upkeep jewelry.

Is there such a thing as 24K white gold?

Not really. 24K gold is 99.9% pure, and pure gold is naturally soft and yellow — the white color only comes from alloying gold with other metals, which by definition drops it below 24K. So "24K white gold" isn't something jewelers actually make; the highest-purity white gold sold is typically 18K.

Does white gold rust or oxidize?

No. Gold itself is a noble metal and doesn’t rust or oxidize, even in the alloy form used for white gold — that’s part of why it has stayed prized for centuries. White gold also isn’t something found in nature; it’s made by melting gold with white metals like nickel, palladium, or silver, so there’s no such thing as a naturally occurring white gold. Any change you see over time comes from the rhodium plating wearing thin, not the gold underneath reacting with air or moisture.