Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Turning white gold back to yellow gold

My finance and I purchased a white gold, three stone ring. I brought the ring in to have it sized and when I got the ring back I noticed that it had a yellow tint to it. I called the jeweler and was told that this is normal and to bring the ring back in and they would fix it. After reading this website I realized that the ring is probably yellow gold that has been plated. I am allergic to nickel and get a bad rash from it, my question is: is there a way for the jeweler to change the ring back to YELLOW gold instead of plating it to make it white gold? I would rather have the ring changed to the original yellow gold than have to spend the rest of my life with a ring that will break my finger out in a rash!

Kelly
- Clinton, Massachusetts
2003

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Pure gold is yellow, pure copper is red and all other metals are white or grey. White gold is an alloy of gold and other metals such as nickel or palladium. Electroplating does not turn yellow gold alloy into white gold or the reverse. If you want a yellow gold ring it will have to be made of yellow gold metal.

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating

Albuquerque, New Mexico

2003

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The description of your "white gold" three stone ring sounds like it is actually a lower karat "yellow gold" ring with a "white gold" electroplated finish as you have stated. Since the electroplating of a "white gold" alloy is not a common practice I'd guess that your "white gold finish" is rhodium plating. Jewelers will often rhodium plate over lower karat gold and call it "white gold" (especially when the stones are diamonds). Rhodium is a very hard, durable metal and should not wear that quickly if plated properly. Tell your jeweler that it is NOT normal for the rhodium to wear so fast and that the plating was too thin. I haven't heard of anyone ever getting a rash from rhodium so I think you're safe there.

Michael Wisniewski
- Chatsworth, California USA
2003

I have a white gold charm that would like to turn into yellow gold. Is this possible? IF so, what is the process.

Johny Boy
homeowner - Piscataway, NJ
2004