When you see a yellowish tint in your white gold jewelry, it's not because of poor quality. Instead, you see the inner layer of gold alloy under the rhodium plating. Because rhodium is applied in such a thin layer, usually only a few microns thick, it can wear off over time.
Since the “yellowing” is just the rhodium plating wearing away, the simple way to fix it is to get the rhodium replaced. Take your white gold to the store you purchased it, and they will place a thin coat of rhodium over the gold, returning it to the shiny white color you had originally.
Anything you do that wears down the rhodium plating will cause the yellow hue to appear faster. So what you want to do is not stress the plating of rhodium. To keep your white gold white longer, take off your rings before washing your hands. Remove your white gold jewelry before you shower or go for a swim.
We can simply clean and polish the item and dip the item in rhodium using an electric current and make it bright white again. We usually recommend getting white gold items rhodium plated every 1-2 years.
Each person's experience will vary with how long it takes for the rhodium plating to wear away and need re-doing but each time you want it brought back to bright white, you will need to hand your ring back to your jeweller and they will re-polish it and plate it.
Bad news is: you can't prevent white gold from turning yellow. The breakdown process is normal and inevitable. But you can slow down its process by taking good care of your jewelry. Try to avoid getting your white gold jewelry wet, soapy or dirty.
Replating a white gold ring may cost around $100-$200. But it still depends on the thickness, quality of the rhodium, and the expertise of the jeweller.
How much does it cost to get a white gold ring redipped?
How Much Does it Cost to Dip your Ring? At a retail store, you can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $120 to have your ring dipped, depending on the complexity of the setting and style. But at With Clarity, ring dipping is free! We offer a lifetime warranty that covers ring replating and polishing.
How Do I Replate White Gold? In order to restore the color of your white gold jewelry, you'll have to take it to a jeweler. The jeweler will polish your item, and rhodium plate it. Rhodium is a rare precious metal that does not tarnish and has a very strong, bright white color.
What Causes Discoloration In White Gold? When you see a yellowish tint in your white gold jewelry, it's not because of poor quality. Instead, you see the inner layer of gold alloy under the rhodium plating. Because rhodium is applied in such a thin layer, usually only a few microns thick, it can wear off over time.
Don't swim while wearing white gold as the chemicals in the water (chlorine) can react with the plating. Remove white gold items when bathing and sleeping. Keep your white gold away from other metals. For example don't wear a yellow gold ring next to a white gold ring, as the plating may rub off quicker.
Since white gold is a mixture of durable metals, it is much lower in price and more affordable than platinum." However, it's not all about up-front costs. While white gold may be more affordable to buy at first, keep in mind that it needs to be replated every five to 10 years to keep its color.
Can White Gold be Reverted to Yellow Gold? The simple answer is no. The more complicated answer is that, while it is technically possible to remove the white alloys that give white gold its color, it isn't very feasible.
Over time, with regular wear and exposure to environmental factors, the rhodium layer can start to wear off, and the base metal may begin to show through. As a result, the piece might lose some of its original luster.
So most white gold pieces on average will need to be rhodium plated every 12-18 months. This depends on how the item of jewellery is worn. Rings will generally need to be done more regularly as compared to earrings or pendants that receive less contact wear.
How long does it take for white gold to turn yellow?
How Long Does it Take for White Gold to Turn Yellow? It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years for white gold to begin showing a yellow color, depending on how quickly the thin rhodium plating wears away.
"I'd recommend having it redipped one to two times a year, possibly more depending on how tough you are on your ring," says Sparks. "When you go a long time without redipping it can start to look patchy, and give your engagement ring a tie-dye effect.
How much does dipping or rhodium plating cost? If your jewelry is white, yellow or rose gold: Rhodium plating: $72 for most rings; larger items by quote. Gold Plating: Small items (rings and small pendants) are $145; larger items are by quote, typically $145 - $300.
Over time, white gold rings tend to wear thin and you will see a “yellowish” colour start to appear. To give white gold rings their dazzling look again, they need to be re-plated with rhodium to give them their sparkle and shine back.
The average lifespan of gold-plated pieces is two years. After that, the gold plated jewelry tarnishes and starts to wear down. Depending on how well you maintain your jewelry collection, this period can vary. You can take the jewelry to a jeweler to have it re-plated if it starts to lose its gold plating.
But did you know that white gold's bright white color isn't from the white gold itself? The majority of white gold jewelry sold today is covered with a thin layer of rhodium plating, which gives white gold jewelry its distinctively beautiful color and shine.
White gold in its pure, un-plated state has quite a dullish gray appearance with a yellow undertone. In fact, the white finish that you see on white gold jewelry in stores is not actually the gold itself. Traditional White Gold is plated with a few microns of rhodium to achieve its signature white sheen.