White Gold Patina- What Does it Mean and What Does White Gold Patina Look Like?

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White gold patina…

What is it? Is it dangerous and how to remove it?

Is white gold patina permanent or not and can it be prevented?

Learn it below in my guide.

Here’s an awesome quiz about white gold patination. Take it after you’ve read my guide for your best results.

White Gold Patina- What Does it Mean and What Does White Gold Patina Look Like?
White Gold Patina- What Does it Mean and What Does White Gold Patina Look Like?

What is a White Gold Patina (Definition and Meaning)? What Does it Look Like?

A white gold patina is natural, subtle change in appearance white gold jewelry undergoes over time as its rhodium plating wears off.

As the rhodium wears off, the underlying white gold alloy becomes visible. This alloy is made up of gold and white metals like nickel, platinum and palladium, and all these metals have a slightly warmer, often yellowish tone compared to rhodium coating’s shiny white color.

White gold patina is a cherished look for some and annoyance for others. You’ll learn more right below.

Patina on a white gold ring example
Patina on a white gold ring example

Is White Gold Patina the Same as White Gold Tarnish?

No, white gold patina and white gold tarnish aren’t the same. White gold patina is a natural, often desirable, change in the white gold’s surface, whereas tarnish is an undesirable, superficial layer of oxidation that ruins the looks of white gold jewelry.

Here’s an example of a ugly tarnish on a white gold ring. The owner is looking for ways to remove tarnish and return their white gold ring to it’s previous bright splendor.

14k white gold ring tarnish example
14k white gold ring tarnish example

Can White Gold Be Artificially Patinated?

Yes, white gold can be artificially patinated. You can use certain chemicals to safely patinate your white gold jewelry and avoid the prolonged waiting period.

First, you can use Liver of Sulfur. Liver of Sulfur is a popular and safe choice for creating patina on various metals, including white gold. It reacts with white gold to produce a range of colors, from golden hues to dark browns and blacks.

Obviously, you want to aim for that classic white gold patinated look.

Second, there’s ammonium sulfide, another chemical you can use to create a white gold patina.

Does White Gold Vermeil Patinate?

Yes, white gold vermeil patinates the same way as solid white gold patinates.

This means white gold vermeil starts getting patches of yellow as rhodium plating falls off and disintegrates.

It doesn’t matter that the vermeil base is made of sterling silver as rhodium plating is covering white gold alloy, which is then covering sterling silver.

Obviously, severely damaged white gold plating will reveal the sterling silver base underneath but then you’re dealing with damaged jewelry, and not patinated.

Does White Gold Vermeil Patinate?
Does White Gold Vermeil Patinate?

What are Some Examples of White Gold Patina?

Here’re some picture examples of white gold patina on different jewelry items.

White gold jewelry patina example 1
White gold jewelry patina example 1
White gold jewelry patina example 2
White gold jewelry patina example 2
White gold jewelry patina example 3
White gold jewelry patina example 3
White gold jewelry patina example 4
White gold jewelry patina example 4

How to Remove Patina off White Gold Jewelry?

To remove patina from white gold jewelry, start with a gentle cleaning using warm, soapy water and a soft brush like a toothbrush. For tougher grime, you can first soak the jewelry in a solution of warm water and mild dish soap, or even a mixture of warm water, baking soda, and salt.

If the patina persists, consider professional cleaning or replating by a jeweler.

Pro tip: don’t leave the job half done. White gold jewelry piece looks classy and distinguished with an intact patina.

If you’re going to clean off the patina because you don’t like it, do it right or don’t do it all.

Half patinated white gold jewelry looks weird.

Does Rhodium Coating Prevent White Gold from Patinating?

No, rhodium coating doesn’t prevent white gold patination.

In fact, it’s because of rhodium that white gold patinates. Because yellow spots start to appear and ruin the look of white gold jewelry as rhodium coating thins out and gets chipped.

Here’s an example of a rhodium-plated white gold ring where the rhodium plating has mostly fallen off making the ring extremely unattractive (in my opinion).

White gold rhodium-plated ring with damaged plating (example).
White gold rhodium-plated ring with damaged plating (example).

Does White Gold Purity Affects Patination Speed?

No, white gold purity doesn’t affect white gold patination speed.

White gold is usually made from 9k, 10k, 14k and 18k gold. But the gold purity doesn’t matter because rhodium plating is covering the entire white gold alloy.

However, 14k and 18k golds contain more pure yellow gold than 9k and 10k gold. This means they give yellower version of white gold which means the patination (rhodium plating falling off) is more noticeable in them them in lower karatage white gold variants.

White Gold Patina vs Yellow Gold Patina- What are the Differences?

White gold patina and yellow gold patina have many differences.

White gold doesn’t patinate like traditional metals because its signature bright-white color comes from a layer of rhodium plating over a yellow gold alloy. This rhodium plating wears off over time and exposes the white gold’s underlying yellowish tint.

Pure yellow gold (fine gold) has a natural warm color and is resistant to tarnish. But, pure gold is very malleable, ductile and easily scratches. Accumulated scratches over time lead to dulled, muted look resembling ugly tarnish.

Therefore, pure gold is nearly always alloyed with other metals to increase its strength and durability.

These other metals include the tarnishing ones like copper and silver and it’s the presence of these metals that causes gold jewelry to first lightly patinate, and then tarnish.

White Gold Patina vs Yellow Gold Patina- What are the Differences?
White Gold Patina vs Yellow Gold Patina- What are the Differences?

White Gold Patina vs Sterling Silver Patina- What are the Differences?

White gold patina and sterling silver patina have many differences.

The main difference between the two patinas is that sterling silver develops a dark, brownish-black patina through tarnishing; whereas white gold doesn’t tarnish and instead reveals a yellowish hue as its rhodium plating wears off.

Sterling silver’s patina is a natural result of oxidation, whereas white gold’s “patina” is a sign of its protective rhodium plating’s degradation.

Both white gold patina and sterling silver patina are deemed undesirable and the jewelry owners are fixing these as soon as they can.

Sterling silver patina/tarnish is removed by gentle polishing, whereas white gold patina is removed by rhodium replating.

White Gold Patina vs Sterling Silver Patina- What are the Differences?
White Gold Patina vs Sterling Silver Patina- What are the Differences?

White Gold Patina vs Platinum Patina- What are the Differences?

White gold patina and platinum patina have many differences.

The primary difference between white gold patina and platinum patina lies in how they age. Rhodium-plated white gold maintains a bright white appearance until the plating wears off.

Platinum develops a patina over time gaining a slightly darker and more rugged look. Some people cherish the effect of platinum patination, while others strive to remove it.

Keep in mind that pure platinum and high-purity platinum alloys like Platinum/Iridium, platinum 950, platinum 900 and platinum 850 patinate differently than lower purity platinum alloys like platinum 500 and platinum 600.

Low purity platinum alloys have a lot of other metals in them and these metals affect the patination process and the resulting color and looks.

White Gold Patina vs Platinum Patina- What are the Differences?
White Gold Patina vs Platinum Patina- What are the Differences?

White Gold Patina vs Palladium Patina- What are the Differences?

White gold patina and palladium patina have many differences.

The main difference is that traditional white gold develops a “patina” as its rhodium plating chips off and wears off.

Palladium develops a matte finish (patina) over time as it sustains microscopic scratches and repeated contact with skin oils.

Keep in mind that pure palladium and high-purity palladium alloys like palladium 950 patinate differently than lower purity palladium alloys like palladium 500.

Low purity palladium alloys have a lot of other metals in them and these metals affect the patination process and the resulting color and looks.

White Gold Patina vs Palladium Patina- What are the Differences?
White Gold Patina vs Palladium Patina- What are the Differences?

White Gold Patina- Everything You Need to Know! Conclusion

White gold patina is the natural change in appearance that occurs when rhodium plating on white gold jewelry wears off over time.

Unlike tarnish, which is undesirable oxidation, patina reveals the underlying yellowish tone of the white gold alloy beneath the bright white rhodium coating.

Some people find this look charming, while others consider it unattractive.

White gold itself is made from gold mixed with white metals like nickel, platinum, or palladium, giving it a warmer tone than pure rhodium. The white gold purity level (9k, 10k, 14k, or 18k) doesn’t affect how quickly patina develops, though higher karat golds show more noticeable yellowing due to their greater pure gold content.

To remove patina, you can clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush, though persistent patina may require professional rhodium replating. White gold can also be artificially patinated using chemicals like Liver of Sulfur.

Unlike yellow gold (which resists tarnish but can appear dull from scratches), sterling silver (which develops dark tarnish), platinum (which develops a rugged matte finish), or palladium (which gains microscopic scratches), white gold’s patina is specifically about rhodium plating degradation rather than metal oxidation.

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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.

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