I've always loved the classic look of white gold. There's something so elegant and timeless about it. When my partner and I started talking about engagement rings, I immediately gravitated toward white gold. However, I quickly learned that owning a white gold ring comes with its own set of maintenance considerations. It's not quite as simple as just putting it on and forgetting about it!
When I was in the ring design process, I was really torn between white gold and platinum. Both metals have a beautiful, bright white appearance. I knew that platinum was generally considered more durable, but I also liked the price point of white gold. The big question that kept popping up was: how often would I need to re-plate a white gold ring to keep it looking its best? It seemed like everyone had a different answer, and I wanted to get to the bottom of it.
After doing some digging, I realized that the frequency of re-plating depends on a few factors, including the type of white gold and how often you wear the ring. I discovered that 14k white gold typically needs re-plating every 6-12 months. This is because white gold is actually an alloy of gold and other metals, and it's often plated with rhodium to give it that bright white finish. Over time, the rhodium plating can wear away, revealing a slightly warmer, more yellow undertone. I found this to be true with my own ring after about a year. It wasn’t drastically yellow, but I could definitely tell the difference when I compared it to other, newly plated white gold jewelry.
I also learned about palladium white gold, which doesn’t necessarily need rhodium plating. However, with the current prices of gold and platinum, palladium white gold can be just as expensive, or even slightly more expensive, than platinum. So, for me, it didn't seem like a cost-effective alternative.
Interestingly, I came across some information about antique white gold rings that are over 100 years old and haven’t been re-plated. The owners often choose not to re-plate them, embracing the warmer, more natural color of the gold. While I appreciate the vintage look, I personally prefer the bright, shiny appearance of a freshly plated white gold ring. This is just a personal preference, and there's no right or wrong answer.
One thing I hadn't considered was that a ring can't be re-plated indefinitely. Each time a ring is re-plated, it needs to be polished first. This polishing process inevitably removes a small amount of the metal. Over time, this can weaken the ring. Also, re-plating has an environmental cost, as it requires the use of distilled water baths and chemicals. This made me think more carefully about how often I actually needed to re-plate my ring.
I try to aim for re-plating my ring once a year, but sometimes it ends up being more like every 1.5 years. During the pandemic, it was closer to 3 years between re-platings! Honestly, I barely noticed a difference, probably because I only wear my rings when I'm out of the house and not much even then. I'm pretty careful with my jewelry.
Based on my experience and research, here are some practical tips for maintaining your white gold ring and extending the life of the rhodium plating: