What's the difference in quality/price of gold versus white gold? Can anyone recommend a website?

Question

I can't believe how difficult it has been for me to find a simple comparison online.

Answer 1

Gold's "quality" is measured by karat value, not by color.

Gold is yellow--and that is the only color pure (24 karat) gold is. It's what is added to gold that effects it color--not the gold itself.

White gold can be produced up to 21 karat. There must be at least 3 parts (karats) of the 24 karats of pure gold that is other metals. By adding certain other metals to gold the yellow of the pure gold can be bleached to a white appearance.

I use not only yellow and white gold in my fabrication, but a variety of other colors--all achieved by adding specific metals to pure gold.

There is a difference in price between the gold colors due to manufacturing costs and the cost of the specific metals used. However, with the exception of white gold where no nickel is used and palladium (a member of the platinum group) is used, the difference is insignificant. It is the karat quality of the gold that is the real determiner of price.

There are two things to remember about white gold. On the positive side, it is significantly stronger than yellow gold of the same karat. Therefore, if you are making say a wedding band for a man who worked with his hands, white gold is a good choice. On the negative side, if you suffer from nickel allergies--and at least 5% of the population does--then you should either avoid white gold or pay a substantially higher price for nickel-free white gold that is alloyed with palladium.

Answer 2

Go to Dillongage.com or wikipedia

But I can tell you that "White" Gold is more expensive than "Yellow" gold. This is because "white" gold is purer and sometimes coated with rhodium.

Rhodium is similar to platinum and shares many of its properties, including its white color. Because the natural color of white gold is light grey, rhodium plating makes white gold whiter.

Answer 3

contact Dillon Gage @ Dillon Gage.com

Answer 4

http://www.dillongage.com