White gold is the most requested metal for engagement rings in Britain, and it is chosen for a straightforward reason: it gives you the bright white look of platinum for meaningfully less money.
There is one thing about it everybody should know before choosing, and surprisingly few people are told.
We work in 9ct, 14ct and 18ct white gold.
White gold is plated, and the plating wears
Gold is yellow. There is no such thing as naturally white gold. It is made by alloying yellow gold with pale metals such as palladium or silver, which produces a metal that is greyish rather than truly white, and then finishing it with a thin layer of rhodium to make it bright.
Rhodium is hard wearing but it is a plating, and plating wears. On a ring worn daily, the underside usually goes first, and after two or three years you may notice a faint warmth returning where the rhodium has thinned.
This is normal, it is not a fault, and it is easily corrected. Re-plating is a routine, inexpensive job. But it is a small ongoing commitment, and it is the single genuine difference between white gold and platinum, which stays white permanently because it is white all the way through.
If nobody has mentioned this to you while selling you a white gold ring, that in itself tells you something.
Which carat to choose
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18ct is 75% gold, the most substantial feeling, and slightly softer.
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14ct is 58.5% gold, harder, and a sensible middle ground.
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9ct is 37.5% gold, the hardest and the most affordable.
Because white gold is rhodium plated, the carat affects the colour far less than it does in yellow or rose gold. All three look much the same once finished. The choice is really about weight, hardness and budget.
One point worth raising with anyone who has reacted to jewellery before: some white gold alloys contain nickel, which is a common cause of skin sensitivity. If that applies to you, platinum is usually the better answer.
What it means for the diamond
White gold is bright and neutral, so it gives the eye nothing to forgive. Any warmth in a stone shows more readily than it would against a warm metal.
In practice that means choosing a slightly higher colour grade than you would in yellow or rose gold. G to I generally suits, and the difference is more noticeable as the stone gets larger, which is why our 1.5 carat and 2 carat pages recommend holding colour higher still.
White gold against platinum
The honest comparison, since these are the two most people weigh.
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Appearance. Freshly plated, almost indistinguishable. Nobody will look at your ring and know which it is.
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Cost. White gold is meaningfully less, both per gram and because gold is less dense so a design needs less of it.
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Upkeep. White gold needs re-plating every few years. Platinum needs nothing.
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Long-term wear. Platinum displaces rather than losing metal, which favours claws over decades.
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Sensitive skin. Platinum, if nickel is a concern.
Neither is wrong. If the difference in cost would otherwise come out of the stone, white gold in a well made setting is the sensible choice and nobody will see a compromise. Our metals guide sets out the full comparison.
Which settings suit white gold
Everything, and it is especially good where you want the metal to disappear.
A solitaire in white gold puts all the attention on the stone. Halo and pavé designs work well because the white metal blends with the small stones and reads as continuous brightness. A bezel gives a clean modern line.
What it costs
Settings start at £910 and a complete bespoke ring at £2,000. White gold sits below platinum for the same design and above 9ct yellow. The configurator prices every metal live, so you can compare white gold against platinum on your own design and decide with the real numbers in front of you.
Frequently asked questions
Does white gold turn yellow?
The rhodium plating thins with wear and the slightly warmer alloy beneath begins to show, usually after two or three years. Re-plating restores it and is routine and inexpensive.
How often does white gold need re-plating?
Every two to three years for a ring worn daily, though it varies with how the wearer uses their hands. Some people leave it longer and prefer the softer tone.
Is white gold cheaper than platinum?
Yes, and by more than the metal price alone suggests, because gold is less dense so the same design takes fewer grams.
Can you tell white gold and platinum apart?
Not by eye when the white gold is freshly plated. Over time platinum stays constant while white gold needs renewing, which is where the difference appears.
Is white gold suitable for sensitive skin?
Some alloys contain nickel, which is a common irritant. If you have reacted to jewellery before, platinum is usually the safer choice.
To compare white gold and platinum on your own design, build it in the configurator. To understand the commission first, read how designing your own ring works, or book a consultation.
