White gold in the modern jewelry world
The most popular type of gold in today's culture is without doubt white gold jewelry. A white gold necklace can beautifully compliment a woman's neckline, for example. White gold men rings and white gold chains are also perfect for men's jewelry, which is an expanding market. It seems like white gold is everywhere you look these days. Technically, white gold isn't pure gold, but it is more durable and some people believe more beautiful.
Pure gold is very delicate and damages easily, so people add other metals to make gold alloy. White gold jewelry is made from mixing silver or palladium with pure gold jewelry materials. White gold jewelry is also measured in karats, though, like other types of gold. The properties of white gold vary depending on the metals and proportions used. White gold alloys can be used for different purposes as a result. It is versatile enough to make a white gold necklace or white gold chains. A white gold nickel alloy is harder and therefore better for white gold men rings and pins.
White gold palladium alloys are soft, pliable and good for white gold gemstone settings. The highest quality white gold is usually at least 17 karats, and made up of gold and palladium. Sometimes traces of platinum are even used in white gold jewelry for weight and durability, although this often requires specialized goldsmiths. While some of the higher quality white gold jewelry chains and other jewelry will retain its shine and luster, most will need to be coated with a very thin layer of rhodium. This will give the naturally duller white gold necklace a shine comparable to platinum or silver.
Often white gold jewelry will require cleaning, or re-coating of rhodium at a later date. Unfortunately, roughly one in eight people is allergic to white gold jewelry that contains nickel. Reactions are usually mild, though, and usually involve minor skin rashes. White gold alloys containing other metals, such as palladium, are generally not allergenic.
These allergies sometimes start in women after pregnancy, so take advantage of that nickel-alloy white gold necklace before the kids come. White gold is also seen in popular culture and entertainment as well as the consumer culture.
In The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson, for example, a white gold substance is used to control magic in The Land. This is partly due to the fact that white gold is not a naturally occurring substance there. White gold is also the keystone of The Arch of Time. And more recently the Dandy Warhols wrote and recorded a song titled "White Gold." Anywhere you look, white gold jewelry can be found. A white gold necklace is a popular choice for mother's day, and white gold men rings are popular for wedding bands. Both men and women also wear white gold chains. If people are even writing books and songs about it, white gold must be popular.
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