White gold that isn't white?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Jim:

How come anybody is using “white gold” that isn’t white? Since there
are perfectly good white golds why not just get congress to pass an
addendum to the precious metals standards that states “no product
that is plated with anything may be called gold”. This would take
care of the lousy 10K stuff that is plated with 24K.

Best,
Phillip

2

Phillip,

A descent hallmarking system would do the trick. Why that hasn’t been
implemented in the land of plenty is a mistery to me, if one can sue
for spilling a hot cup of java …

Alain

3

Jim and all,

This is a little off your subject Jim, but I had an issue come up
yesterday and I thought I would run it by everyone to get various
opinions.

A regular customer came is wanting to order a large, 14K white gold
fancy ring for herself, and I questioned her about the decision as I
have known for some years she has an allergy to nickel, and all her
previous orders were either platinum or palladium/white gold
mixtures. She insisted to me she could wear the regular nickel/white
gold if I just plated it with rhodium prior to delivery. I explained
to her that I didn’t believe a thin layer of rhodium would supply her
that type of protection, and when wear caused the rhodium to be
removed between her finger and the nickel, the resulting allergic
reaction would be very unpleasant.

She then showed me a ring that she had purchased from another
jeweler, stamped only “14K” and a trademark, set with a tanzanite and
diamonds, and she informed me she had been wearing the ring for a
month or more and had no reaction of any kind. One sales person told
her they had added a heavy layer of rhodium, and another told her the
rhodium had been “mixed in with the gold” so there would be no
trouble with the allergy. She left my store disappointed, probably
thinking I was trying to run up the price by suggesting a more
expensive metal, and doubting my knowledge and experience in
manufacturing rings.

Has anyone out there had experience working with people with a
nickel allergy that has allowed them to wear a ring with nickel in
the mixture?

Jon Michael Fuja

4 
    How come anybody is using "white gold" that isn't white? Since
there are perfectly good white golds why not just get congress to
pass an addendum to the precious metals standards that states "no
product that is plated with anything may be called gold".  This
would take care of the lousy 10K stuff that is plated with 24K.

Probably they would spend a decade arguing over what is “White” and
still get it wrong >:-} The FTC Guides for the Jewelry, Precious
Metals, and Pewter Industries makes no mention of gold color
anywhere so at this point there is no guidance on what color
terminology is not misleading or deceptive. And until some lawyers
get involved in suits over deceptive practices there probably will
not be any guidance from the FTC

Jim Binnion

James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160

@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau

5

Jon,

If she has a true nickle allergy she will have problems sooner or
later no matter how heavy a rhodium plate there is on the ring.
Although a month is not a long enough time to see problems if the
plating job was well done. The only way that this strategy would
work is if she constantly has the ring re-plated so that the nickle
white is never exposed. If left alone the rhodium will wear off, it
depends on a lot of environmental factors so it is hard to say how
soon but the plating will wear off and the nickle will eventually
contact her skin.

Jim Binnion

James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160

@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau

6

I know I may be a bit pedantic, but if you go to this site you will
see why it was correct to sue McDonald’s over a cup of coffee.

http://www.centerjd.org/free/mythbusters-free/MB_mcdonalds.htm

alison

In sunny Melbourne where it was 33 degrees (Celsius) today
www.alialexander.com.au