White gold or Yellow gold: Which one do you like the most? White gold and yellow gold are two popular metals for engagement rings liked by many people. White gold is made by mixing white metals like silver and palladium into the gold as it doesn’t exist naturally. On the other hand, Yellow gold is made by mixing pure gold with copper, silver, and zinc.
This blog will differentiate white gold from yellow gold and will help you to choose which colored gold is suitable for you.
What is White Gold?
White Gold doesn’t exist naturally and you cannot mine it from the earth as a mineral. However, white gold is made by mixing pure gold with some impurities like silver or palladium. It was made as an affordable alternative to the naturally occurring expensive white metal platinum.
In short, white gold is an alloy i.e. combination of two or more metals like gold and silver, or palladium. White gold is made in a ratio of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals.
Pros of White Gold
Following are the pros of white gold that make us purchase white gold metal for our engagement ring bands:
1. Hardness and Durability
White gold is hard as compared to other metals for the ring bands like yellow gold and silver. Due to its hardness, it is durable enough to bear daily wear and tear and is resistant to corrosion and scratches. It maintains its color and shine for years.
2. Color
White gold has a pure white color lighter than silver which makes it suitable for engagement and wedding rings. It can suited with many gemstones, especially sapphire and diamonds.
3. Shine
White gold contains highly lustrous elements like palladium, platinum, or zinc which make white gold luminous as compared to yellow gold. White gold is also plated with rhodium to get extra shine making them perfect for engagement rings.
4. Corrosion Resistant
White gold is corrosion-resistant due to impurities added to it. Their color and shine are not affected by rust, and will not be dull or darkened. They do not lose color or shine from the ring’s surface for years making them suitable for engagement rings.
Cons of White Gold
Cons of white gold are listed below that must be taken into mind if you want to buy white gold:
1. Allergies
The presence of nickel in white gold can cause allergies to those who are allergic to nickel.
2. Expensive
White gold is expensive as it contains 75% pure gold, which is always more expensive than other metals like silver.
3. Change of Color
Your ring will turn yellow due to the wear and tear of rhodium plating of white gold with time. The wear of rhodium will cause the inner yellow material to shine. If you want your ring to be as luminous as when you purchased it, you have to regularly get your ring rhodium plated.
Now let’s see what is yellow gold, what are its pros and cons.
What is Yellow Gold?
Yellow Gold is a combination of 75% pure gold, 15% copper, and 10% silver that retains the purest gold color. Like White gold, it is also an alloy as pure gold is too soft and not durable like other metals. Adding other metals to the soft and pure gold makes it durable and can withstand scratches.
Pros of Yellow Gold
1. Versatility
Yellow Gold is a versatile metal as it can be suitable for traditional style rings as well as modern rings.
2. Suitable for many Skin tones
Yellow gold complements most of the skin tones, especially olive and dark skin tones.
3. Combination with Diamonds
Contrast and combine with diamonds to have a unique and elegant look for your engagement ring. It will give diamonds more shine making them luminous.
4. Suitable for many Gemstones
This metal can be used for most gemstones like sapphires, colored gems, and emeralds making them pop.
5. Minimalist Designs
Yellow gold is ideal for modern designs that are minimalistic and elegant.
Cons of Yellow Gold
Here are some cons you must know before buying yellow gold:
1. Less Durable
Yellow gold is slightly less durable in comparison with rose and white gold and other metals like platinum. It can be susceptible to scratches and other damages.
2. Allergies
Yellow gold is not suitable for hypo-allergic people as they can get severe allergies by wearing them.
3. Not suitable for colorless gemstones
Colorless diamonds can take the color of the metal being used and reflect the color of the metal within the stone.
Here we discussed white gold and yellow gold, now it’s time to have a quick comparison- yellow gold vs white gold:
Comparison: White Gold vs Yellow Gold
Here is a short and quick comparison of white gold and yellow gold:
| Property | White Gold | Yellow Gold |
| Composition | Made up of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals like silver and palladium. | Made up of 75% pure gold, 15% of copper and 10% silver. |
| Hardness | Scores 4.75 on the Mohs hardness scale i.e. the hardest in the metals. | Scores 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs hardness scale i.e. less harder than white gold. |
| Durability | White hold are more durable due to their hardness. | Yellow gold is not as durable as white gold as can get scratched. |
| Suitable for Skin tones | White gold is suitable for cooler skin tones as looks silvery and shiny. | Yellow gold is suitable for almost all skin tones but they complement dark and warm skin tones. |
| Color | White gold has a pure white color than other white metals like silver. | Yellow gold has a metallic golden color. |
| Shine | White gold jewelry is more shiny and luminous as compared to other metals. | Yellow Gold exhibits a metallic golden shine. |
| Price | White gold is more expensive than other metals. | Yellow gold is less expensive than the white gold. |
You must know these differences before purchasing white or yellow gold for your engagement and wedding rings. Learn about how to pick an engagement ring and make decisions wisely.
Conclusion
White gold or yellow gold both are very popular and in-demand metals for engagement rings. Whether you choose white gold or yellow gold, solely depends on you and your desires. Both are a good option with pros and cons as well. In terms of durability and shine, white gold is better while for affordability and dark skin tones, yellow gold is better. Both can be used in contrast with gemstones to make your dream engagement ring.
Sayabling Rings is an online platform for purchasing high-quality, elegant, and unique engagement rings and jewelry sets. Visit us to find your dream engagement ring. Choose us and Shine as you are!
FAQs
What looks better, white gold or yellow gold?
White gold or yellow gold both look great. It depends on your preference, what you like. White gold is suitable for cooler and fairer skin tones while yellow gold suits warm and dark skin tones.
Why do people choose white gold?
People choose white gold due to its pure white color that goes well with precious gemstones like diamonds and sapphires. Moreover, they are durable and the strongest as compared to other metals and can be used for years without fading.
Can white gold be found naturally?
No, white gold doesn’t exist on the earth to be mined. They are created by mixing 25% silver or palladium metals into 75% pure gold. Only pure yellow gold can be found on the earth’s surface.
Which is more timeless, white or yellow gold?
White gold is considered more suitable for modern designs due to its sleek and elegant appearance. While yellow gold is considered timeless as can be suitable for both traditional and modern styles. They pair well with diamonds, sapphires, and other colored gemstones.
Is white gold worth more than yellow gold?
Yes, white gold is slightly more expensive than yellow gold as it is plated with rhodium to give it extra shine. But, mostly they are priced the same way as they contain the same amount of pure gold.
