Several months ago, I carved in wax, and had cast, a wedding
ring for a client. The ring incorporated her original plain
Tiffany setting in the center of the design, and I flanked the
original with two highly figured bands, that were soldered to
it. The new bands, and the original, were all cast in white
gold. The customer has had the ring for three or four months now,
and she has noticed, and complained about a faint yellowish cast
that the ring seems to have taken on. Even the original center
band seems to have been affected. I used a caster that I was not
familiar with, but who was recommended by my diamond setter, (I
do not set prong-set diamonds myself…I know how to do it, but
these guys are a lot faster). Do any of you know what might be
causing this faint yellowish cast? I usually work in sterling,
18 and 22k, and don’t know a lot about the properties of white
gold. If one of you could give me a clue as to what may be
causing this “yellowing”, I would be so grateful. Thanks.
Lisa, (cold enough for a fire in the fireplace in the morning, warm enough for a
t-shirt in the afternoon), Topanga, CA USA
hi lisa The yellowing might be because there is no such thing as
white gold, If the piece is not Rhodium Plated there is a very
slight yellow or in my view light, light brown tint to the
metal… That is why most commercial white gold rings are plated
with Rhodium.
Hi: If the ring was cast using nickel white gold instead of
Palladium white gold the ring will have a yellower tint. The
ring was probably then Rhodium plated, which over time will wear
off exposing the tinted white gold underneath. We had a similar
problem a few years ago, make sure when you are getting
something cast that you specify Palladium white.
Linda, Most nickel white gold castings have a yellowish cast to
them. The way most manufacturers get rid of it is by rhodium
plating. You could try this. Or have it recast in palladium
white gold-although this is a distinctly greyer color.
Two words…Rhodium plating! Your customer’s ring is
tarnishing and rhodium plating will coat the piece with a thin
platinum plate. Platinum is whiter than white gold and will not
tarnish. Steve
Thanks to all of you, on and off line, that took the time to
write and explain the finer points of Rhodium plating, and nickel
white gold versus Palladium white gold. Now I can talk to the
customer, and sound as if I know something, for a change. I plan
to Rhodium plate, and ask for it to be a bit thickly done, as
I’m not able to execute this operation myself. I think perhaps,
the prospect of redoing the entire ring in Palladium white gold,
would be too daunting. Thanks again! What would I do without all
of you? Oh…bobcat update…neighbor’s rotten dogs scared all
of the critters off the other day, so no one got a meal. Came
home today, to find se=F1or bobcat lying in front of the chicken
coop perusing what he/she apparently hoped would be lunch. I
disabused him/her of the notion. Saw his/her mate nearby,
suspect bobkittens are in the works.