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Grading White Gold
We get many questions wondering if 14K white gold is really white. The answer is yes and no. It depends who is alloying the gold, or if the refiner selling it to the manufacturer, jeweler, etc., even makes it available. It also depends if the manufacturer or jeweler really wants to spend slightly more money and use 14K White gold with lasting whiteness. Or do they want to save on the cost and rhodium plate your jewelry when it starts to turn a little yellow .And charge you in the process. In all fairness you must remember that pure gold begins in its yellow state-------------to become white various alloys are used to create a white gold look. Now ask yourself if you have a white gold mounting and does it turn a little yellow over the years. Rhodium plating will solve the problem until it wears off. Then you do it again. Now new standards have been developed by the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers Association (MJSA) and the World Gold Council (WGC). Three grades of whiteness have been developed and documented. If you want to read more on this subject go to the MJSA article here http://www.mjsainc.com/info_whiteness.php . Just a note of caution with respect to whiteness of gold. Most white gold's that measure either grade 1 or 2 on the whiteness scale may have varying degrees of nickel in them. If you are allergic to nickel (it is estimated that 2-15% of the people are) request that your white gold jewelry be alloyed with Palladium but expect to pay considerably more. If you are in the market for white gold jewelry ask the jeweler if their white gold jewelry requires rhodium. If it does, will you be satisfied with this jewelry or do you want the white gold that doesn't require the maintenance of rhodium treatments form time to time. The cheapest price isn't always the cheapest in the long term of jewelry ownership. Ever think about Palladium? It is white, won't tarnish, and it is a platinum group metal cheaper than gold.
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Hand Rings at Ultra Diamonds
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