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What is white gold?
Is white gold more valuable than yellow gold? Is it real gold or is some kind of knockoff?
Is jewelry made of white gold worth it?
Learn it all and more in my guide below.
- What is White Gold (Definition and Meaning)?
- Is White Gold Real?
- Does White Gold Have Nickel in it?
- Is White Gold Magnetic?
- Does White Gold Tarnish? What Does Tarnished White Gold Look Like?
- Does White Gold Rust?
- Is it Possible to Turn White Gold into Yellow Gold?
- Is White Gold Natural?
- What are the Advantage and Disadvantages of White Gold?
- Is it Possible to Include White Gold as Part of a Gold IRA Account?

Table of Contents
What is White Gold (Definition and Meaning)?
White gold is an alloy of gold and other white metals, such as nickel, palladium, or silver. The exact composition of white gold varies, but it’s usually around 75% gold and 25% other metals.
White gold looks white because yellow gold is alloyed with white metals like nickel, palladium, silver or zinc and jewelers add these metals to yellow gold to give it exclusive look and to also increase the durability of white gold jewelry.
They also use rhodium to coat white gold jewelry items and make them even whiter and more durable to wear and tear.
Is White Gold Real?
Yes, white gold is real.
It’s an alloy of pure yellow gold and other metals, typically nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium and zinc. White gold is a popular choice for jewelry because it’s durable, versatile, and looks graceful.
White gold jewelry can be made with 9k, 10k, 14k and 18k gold and each karat type help make unique-looking jewelry compared to the other karat types.
As for specific jewelry items there are white gold rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, broches, chains sold online.
Here are some examples of genuine white gold jewelry being sold online on legitimate online stores.


I mentioned above that you should only buy white gold from legitimate online jewelry stores.
That’s because there’s a lot of fake white gold floating around and you need to be aware of it so you don’t get scammed.
Fake white gold jewelry is jewelry that’s made of white gold but the percentage of yellow gold in the alloy is far less than required by law to labeled “white gold”. So you’d be paying more than what you’d be getting if you were to buy a fake white gold jewelry item.
Pro tip: fake white gold is usually significantly whiter than the genuine white gold because the percentage of authentic yellow gold in the alloy is significantly lower, while the percentage of other white metals is significantly higher.
Does White Gold Have Nickel in it?
Yes, white gold contains nickel alloyed with yellow gold and zinc.
Are you allergic to nickel?
The good news is that white gold is in general hypoallergenic. I said “in general” because it depends on the metals yellow gold is alloyed with to make white gold.
Be careful if you have a family history of nickel allergies.
You’ll know if you have nickel allergy as symptoms include itching, redness, swelling, or a rash where the white gold touches your skin.
Zinc is also commonly alloyed with yellow gold and nickel to make white gold and it’s also possible to be allergic to zinc.
Is White Gold Magnetic?
White gold is usually not magnetic because yellow gold is not magnetic and most other metals yellow gold is alloyed with to create white gold are non-magnetic as well.
The only exception is nickel but the amount of nickel in white gold alloy is typically not enough to demonstrate a strong magnetic effect.
Pro tip: you can use a magnet to test whether white gold is real or fake. Simply try to attract the white gold jewelry item to a strong neodymium magnet. You have authentic white gold on your hands if the experiment fails.
Does White Gold Tarnish? What Does Tarnished White Gold Look Like?
White gold doesn’t tarnish (just like yellow gold doesn’t tarnish too). However, white gold can change it’s appearance and lose it’s sheen and lustre over time.
With regular wear and tear over time white gold can fade to a natural pale yellow color.
This discoloration happens because the rhodium plating that gives white gold its bright white appearance wears away, revealing the natural gold alloy underneath.
The color change usually happens in patches, as rhodium coating falls and flakes off in pieces.
Does White Gold Rust?
No, white gold does not rust. Rusting is is a type of corrosion that occurs when iron in a metal reacts with oxygen and water. This means only iron and iron-containing alloy can rust. And white gold alloy doesn’t and never contains any iron.
White gold can discolor as its rhodium coating fall off, but that’s not rusting and any decent jeweler can easily and cheaply fix this coating for you.
Is it Possible to Turn White Gold into Yellow Gold?
It’s possible to turn white gold into yellow gold. However, it’s an intricate process that only a professional jeweler with the right tools can do correctly.
First, the jeweler will melt the white gold. Second, they’ll remove the rhodium plating. Third, they’ll remove all non-gold alloys.
Fourth, they’ll re-alloy the gold with different metals to increase the yellow color and to increase the durability given that pure gold is a highly malleable and ductile precious metal.
The final step is that they jeweler will solidify and reshape the jewelry.
Is White Gold Natural?
No, white gold is not natural.
You can’t mine white gold as you would yellow (true) gold.
White gold is a human-made alloy of white gold and other white metals, including, nickel, silver, palladium, platinum, zinc and rhodium (rhodium is used for coating).
What are the Advantage and Disadvantages of White Gold?
The advantages of white gold are:
- White gold is a beautiful, precious metal. It resembles platinum and silver in it’s shine and lustre and is much more affordable than platinum and more hard-wearing and lasting than silver.
- White gold is an excellent choice for jewelry aficionados who prefer wearing white, silvery-colored jewelry rather than the more classic yellow-color gold ornaments.
- White gold’s neutral color makes it easy for people of all skin tones to wear. It looks beautiful and timeless and is suited to all outfits and events.
The disadvantages of white gold are:
- White gold is made from a mix of pure yellow gold with alloys and coated in rhodium. This means that over time the rhodium coating fades away and exposes the white gold underneath. And this means that from time to time you’ll need to re-coat your white gold jewelry to maintain its silvery-white color.
- White gold is generally hypoallergenic, but usually contains nickel and some people are allergic to nickel. This group of people won’t be able to wear white gold jewelry without facing some bodily issues.
Is it Possible to Include White Gold as Part of a Gold IRA Account?
It’s not possible to include white gold as part of a gold IRA account. You can only include IRA-eligible gold bars an coins as part of your gold IRA account.
But there are no white gold bars and coins. They simply don’t exist and even if they did, they wouldn’t be eligible so the point is mute.
You can only include authentic-gold bars and coins as part of your gold and silver IRA and Augusta Precious Metals is the place to buy from if you’re looking for a legitimate and safe gold IRA company from the US.
Augusta stocks pretty much all IRA-approved coins and bars (gold, silver and potentially platinum and palladium) and you’ll be able to take your pick at your convenience.


What is White Gold? Is it Real (Conclusion)?
Now you know what white gold is, that’s it’s real and how it can be molded into beautiful jewelry.
You also know that white gold can’t for a part of a gold IRA account.
LMK what you think in the comment section below.
References:
- White Gold vs Yellow Gold: Cost, Care, and Differences- https://ourosjewels.com/blogs/education/white-gold-vs-yellow-gold-differences
- What’s the difference between white gold and platinum?- https://www.foxfinejewelry.com/blogs/news/what-s-the-difference-between-white-gold-and-platinum
- White Gold: What is It, and How is It Different from Yellow Gold?- https://rellery.com/blogs/news/white-gold-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-different-from-yellow-gold
- Precious Metals Guide – All About Gold and Platinum- https://www.moissaniteco.com/precious-metals-guide-all-about-gold-and-platinum
- White Gold- https://taylorandhart.com/us/ring-guidance/metals/white-gold
- What is white gold?- https://news.thediamondstore.co.uk/what-is-white-gold/
- What is white gold?- https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-white-gold
- White Gold- https://www.qualitydiamonds.co.uk/expert-advice/buying-guides/choosing-your-setting-metal/white-gold

Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.