White Gold Diamond Engagement Ring
What exactly is a white gold diamond engagement ring? First, let's take a look at what "white gold" is.
Eighteen-carat white gold consists of 75% gold mixed with 25% white metals such as nickel, palladium, and silver. Currently, nickel is no longer used in white gold because the material may cause allergic reactions for some people. The white gold rings that you buy these days are normally coated with rhodium. Rhodium is a hard protective layer that protects the ring and keeps it shinny white. Because gold can tarnish, the Rhodium keeps the white gold looking good through wear and tear. Keep in mind that this rhodium coating will not last forever so it is prudent for you to periodically take the ring into a jeweler to determine if the ring needs to be recoated.
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Here's a lesson in history about the use of white gold in rings. During the time of Second World War, platinum was banned for jewelry use due to its need for military purpose. This encouraged the usage of white gold in jewelry manufacturing.
Today, white gold is chosen over platinum mainly because it is inexpensive. On average, a white gold wedding band can cost as little as one-fourth the price of a platinum ring. White gold is durable and much stronger than yellow gold. It is also more scratch resistant and maintains a beautiful appearance under wear.
It's important to remember that when purchasing a diamond engagement ring, the diamond is the most important part. Now, in some cases, the setting may be very unique and in those situations, you may want to consider whether you want to go with white gold or platinum. However, in most cases, the the ring just needs to look the way you want it to look. If you opt for the white shinny look, then there is nothing wrong with choosing white gold over platinum. In fact, rhodium reflects more light than platinum so your white gold diamond ring will be shinier than a platinum ring. Many jewelers will also rhodium plate a platinum ring. In those situations, both rings will look identical. So why not save some money on the ring and spend it on a bigger, better diamond?
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