If your white gold ring is turning yellow, you may be panicking trying to figure out what is wrong. Also, is this damage permanent?
Here is what you need to know about why the ring is turning yellow and what you can do:
Why is a White Gold Ring Turning Yellow?
Despite its name, white gold is actually a gold alloy with a thin plating on the surface to give it its unique color and sheen – as this layer wears away with time, the gold alloy beneath is revealed little by little, making it look like your ring is turning yellow.
What is White Gold?
Before you learn about why your white gold ring is turning yellow, you first have to understand what white gold is.
White gold is created by combining pure gold with other metals. These are typically nickel, silver, and zinc. The purest form of white gold consists of 75 percent gold and 25 percent other materials.
The resulting combination of gold with these other metals produces a metal that is yellowish in color. To counteract this, the metal is then covered with a metal known as rhodium, which is similar to platinum.
Why Does the White Gold Ring Turn Yellow?
Well, the rhodium layer on the ring is actually very thin. Due to this, it can begin to wear away after some time.
This is usually due to friction of the ring rubbing against the skin of your finger as well as other fabrics and materials. To add to this, excessive sweating, household cleaning products, and damage to the ring can increase the wearing away of this layer.
You then begin to see the yellowish layer beneath the rhodium layer.
The wearing away can take anywhere from 12 months to 18 months. It also depends on how often you wear your ring. For instance, if it is a wedding ring or your favorite piece and you wear it every day, then the top layer will be worn away much faster.
Can the White Layer Be Replaced?
The good news is that you can regain the original color of your white gold ring. However, the band must be treated and the rhodium layer replaced.
The good news is that it is a fairly simple process but you do need a professional jeweler to replate the ring for you.
The cost of the plating and how much time it takes can depend on the level of wearing away and the jeweler. In general, though, it shouldn’t take more than a week to get your replated and looking as good as new.
For the layer to be replaced, the ring will be placed in an electrolyte solution known as a plating bath. This solution contains dissolved salts, rhodium metal ions, and other chemicals.
A DC current is then applied to the bath. This causes the rhodium to stick to the ring through a process known as electrodeposition.
Can You Replace the Rhodium Layer to a Ring with Gemstones?
If you have a wedding ring or some other ring where there are stones being set in the ring, you may be worried by what the plating process will do the stones.
Well, you will be relieved to learn that there will be no damage done to the gemstones.
This is because for the plating to take place, a material has to conduct the DC current. Diamonds and gemstones don’t conduct electricity. Due to this, the plating will not touch the gemstones.
Can You Prevent a White Gold Ring From Turning Yellow?
You can’t completely prevent a white gold ring from turning yellow. Simply by wearing the ring, you will cause the surface layer to wear away.
However, how often you wear the ring and how well you maintain it can play a role in how quickly or slowly that it will discolor.
That being said, sometimes, even your body chemistry can work against you. For instance, the very pH of your skin can cause your white gold ring to discolor a little faster than usual.
How to Reduce the Discoloration of Your White Gold Ring?
Fortunately, there are various steps that you can take to reduce how quickly your white gold ring will turn yellow.
To start with, make it a habit of taking off your ring before washing your hands, doing the dishes, or taking a shower.
This way, it will be less likely to come into contact with soap.
When cleaning the house or tackling chores of any capacity, consider taking off your ring – you can wear it around a chain if you are worried about losing it.
In case you don’t want to make this effort, make sure to wear gloves, regardless of the chore. This way, your ring will be less likely to brush up against or scratch against anything else.
You may also want to avoid polishing or cleaning the ring by yourself. Keep in mind that every time you clean your ring, you can actually cause the top surface to wear away.
To prevent this from happening, take your ring to a jeweler’s whenever it needs to get cleaned. They will be able to use the least abrasive method so that you can maintain the shine without doing any further damage to the ring.
How to Keep Your White Gold Ring Looking Good?
Now that you know that your white gold ring can look yellow after a while, you shouldn’t wait until this discoloration appears. Instead, get ahead of the problem and head to your jeweler before this discoloration is noticeable.
If you wear your ring every day, then take the ring into the jewelers every six months. They will be able to examine it to determine if the layer has begun to wear away.
At the very least, consider taking in the ring to the jeweler every year so that you don’t have to worry about it looking dull.
Why Has Your White Gold Ring Turned Yellow?
The reason that your white gold ring has turned yellow is because the topmost layer has started wearing away – white gold is made up of a gold alley that is then plated with rhodium – when the top layer wears away, the gold alloy is visible.
How to Prevent White Gold from Turning Yellow
To prevent your white gold ring from turning yellow there are additional steps you can take in your regular jewelry maintenance routine.
One option is to have your ring re-plated with rhodium every few months to restore its white color and shine.
This can be done by a professional jeweler who will carefully strip off the old rhodium layer and apply a fresh coat.
Another way to prevent yellowing is to avoid exposing your white gold jewelry to harsh chemicals such as chlorine and household cleaning products as these can accelerate the wearing away of the rhodium plating.
Additionally remove your jewelry when participating in activities that may expose it to oils fragrances salt water and chlorine as these can also contribute to the discoloration.
By taking these preventative measures you can keep your white gold jewelry looking elegant and bright for years to come.