| When is white gold not white gold?When a | | | | produced by adding a careful selection of |
| consumer walks into a shop to buy an item of | | | | white metals that bleach yellow gold. Strong |
| gold jewellery, if it is yellow or red then | | | | bleaching metals are palladium, nickel and |
| by checking the hallmark (if buying in the | | | | platinum. Moderate bleaching white metals are |
| UK) they can tell at a glance, with the aid | | | | silver and zinc. |
| of a loupe, if it is 9K or 18K for example - | | | | |
| the colour is fairly obvious. White gold is | | | | This tends to historically produce two |
| another story. Yes they can check the | | | | classes of white gold, nickel alloys and |
| caratage just as easily, but what about the | | | | palladium alloys. |
| colour? Are they looking at the actual gold | | | | |
| alloy or is a thin plating of Rhodium | | | | Because of the price of palladium, the |
| disguising the metal beneath?First a few | | | | palladium whites are the most expensive and |
| facts.24 carat gold is yellow.White gold is | | | | whiter alloys. |