White Gold vs Yellow Gold: How to Choose

When shopping for jewelry, choosing your primary metal is one of your first decisions. Let's take a quick look at white and yellow gold options. Fortunately, most jewelers, including online retailer Blue Nile, carry both white and yellow gold jewelry in 14k and 18k alloys. Even better, you'll find many designs available in both colors.

^{Blue Nile offers this Milgrain and Pavé V-Shank Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k white gold and 14k yellow gold. You can also purchase the same ring in 18k white gold and 18k yellow gold.}

What is the Difference Between White Gold and Yellow Gold?

Pure gold is naturally a yellow color. However, it is so soft that it is not practical to be used for jewelry. Instead, most gold jewelry that you will see has been mixed with other metals to make it stronger. When gold is combined with copper, silver, and touches of zinc it will retain the yellow coloring. Alternatively, when it is paired with nickel, silver, palladium, and others, gold will take on a white color.

White Gold and Yellow Gold Share Many Properties

While white and yellow gold alloys have some different metals mixed in, they share many physical properties. This means that 18k white gold and 18k yellow gold have the same durability. The same goes for 14k alloys. The most significant difference between the two gold alloys is that a thin coat of rhodium is applied to white gold to enhance brightness and shine. With wear, this may need to be reapplied. Fortunately, that process is easy and affordable. 

Gemstone Choice Matters!

The reason that gemstones sparkle is because they pick up the light from their surroundings and reflect it back out. When colorless gems like diamonds are set, they will pick up a small about of the color of their setting. Diamonds set in white gold will appear a tad brighter while those in yellow mountings may gain some added warmth in their color. So, if color is important to you, you will want to choose a particular color metal that enhances the look of the diamonds.

The diamond colorless grading scale starts at D. Diamonds with a D color grade are perfectly colorless. As you move down the alphabet, diamonds become ever so slightly more yellow. As colorless diamonds are rarer than those with some yellow, they are more expensive. If you have spent the extra money to purchase a very white diamond that is in the Colorless or Near Colorless range, setting it in a white gold mounting will really show off that color. Maybe you want a very white diamond but are shopping on a budget. In this case, a white mounting can make your diamond look whiter than it is. Alternatively, some people like their diamonds to have a warm yellow glow, or enjoy the contrast of a white diamond set in a colored metal. If this is the case for you, go for a yellow gold mounting!