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