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We commonly get asked by clients what is white gold? How is it made? How does it compare to other precious metals like platinum? What is rhodium plating? So we’re going to address each question in turn, bust some myths about white gold and share what makes our white gold so special. We’ll also provide you with questions you should ask other jewellers when shopping for a white gold engagement ring or white gold wedding band.
White gold is a precious metal alloy – a blend of fine gold combined with silver-toned metals like platinum, silver, palladium and/or zinc, whilst often including other key components like copper for strength. Because fine gold is yellow, it relies on these secondary elements to change the colour of the alloy, whilst simultaneously improving its material properties so it can be used in ring making. Having once worked as a geochemist in the contaminated land sector, one thing I love about Jacqueline & Edward is playing with metallurgy and alloy compositions.
As you shop around for a white gold engagement ring or wedding ring you might notice a couple of different tones online. We would say that at least 99%, if not all of rings on the high street appear very bright and silvery due to being rhodium plated. These rings are typically a dull yellow underneath and need replating every 6 months to 2 years to retain their bright silver look. This on-going maintenance can be inconvenient and costly.
The colour of the white gold will depend on whether it is rhodium plated, the metal carat (9ct, 14ct or 18ct) and which white metals the gold is mixed with (platinum / palladium / silver). When looking at the carat of white gold, this simply tells us the ratio of pure gold to other metals in the alloy.
Yes – white gold is most definitely real. It contains a percentage of pure gold and is therefore upheld to the same standards as yellow gold. This means it must be hallmarked to ensure its purity and authenticity. Not only that, we recently took some Clients own natural river gold and turned that into pure Scottish white gold, what an adventure.
Did you know the bright, silvery colour of most high street white gold isn’t actually the colour of the ring itself? Much of what you find here relies on a temporary cosmetic trick.
As we’ve already mentioned, naturally, white gold is an alloy made by mixing pure yellow gold with white metals. On the high street, these base alloys typically result in a dull, yellowish, colour. To hide this, jewellers apply a very thin layer of a element called rhodium to mask the true colour, often only a 1 micron thick.
“Over time, this rhodium plating inevitably scratches and wears away—sometimes in as little as six months to a couple of years,” explains our founder, Mark. “When it does, the pale-yellow tones underneath are exposed, leaving you with a patchy, discoloured ring and a lifetime of maintenance costs.”
What this means for you, is a lifetime of re-plating to keep your rings looking the way they did on your big day.
At Jacqueline & Edward, we do things differently. Here is everything you need to know about our exclusive and unique, sustainably crafted white gold vs the alternatives.
14ct White Gold Hammered Matching Weddings Rings (3mm and 4mm width)
No is the simple answer. We believe that our handmade white gold engagement and wedding rings should be as enduring as your commitment to one another. That’s why we never rhodium-plate our rings unless specifically requested to match an existing piece.
Instead, they are made from solid ethical white gold. We’ve spent a long time researching, designing and developing our very own exclusive white gold alloy which means it is not commercially available anywhere else. There is no other colour or alloy quite like it in the country – ethical, sustainable, handmade, and a beautiful naturally rich silvery colour.
Here at Jacqueline & Edward, our white gold is a solid, platinum-rich white gold rather than the rhodium plated or palladium rich white gold found elsewhere.
Six key advantages of our white gold:
Good to know – just like yellow gold, the carat you choose affects the final shade. Because of the higher concentration of eco-silver in the alloy, our 9ct white gold is actually a touch ‘whiter’ than our ultra-luxurious 18ct white gold which is made almost entirely from platinum and gold.
You can read more about the differences between white gold vs platinum here.
The colour of white gold vs platinum engagement and weddings rings
You don’t just have to take our word for it. Our unique approach to handmade engagement and wedding rings means our clients notice the visual difference the moment they open their ring box.
Here is what one of our couples had to say about choosing their ethical handmade white gold wedding rings:
“We couldn’t be happier with our wedding rings. We chose the Hadydarn in 18ct white gold because we wanted something that’s beautiful and special while still being minimalist and crafted from sustainable and ethical materials, and that’s exactly what we got.
The white gold colour is different from many other jewellers as it’s much warmer, earthier which is something we had never seen before. The ring sizing service was super and it wasn’t a problem at all to amend our order and change sizes, widths, and even design of my partner’s ring afterwards. I especially valued that the team at Jacqueline & Edwards explored and explained a few options to include a piece of my grandfather’s wedding ring (he had just passed away) in my ring.
A big thank you to Jacqueline, Mark, and Simon. Highly recommended.”
Maximilian Bierbaum, May 2026
Maximillian and his husband wear an 18ct white gold Avoca wedding ring and an 18ct white gold Hadydarn wedding ring.
Read more customer testimonials.
For couples searching for truly ethical handmade white gold engagement rings or wedding bands, our collection offers a story unlike any other.
We handcraft our rings in our Yorkshire workshop using a thoughtful blend of recycled gold, recycled platinum and silver. But the real magic lies in our copper with incorporate. To give our alloy its signature strength, we use repurposed copper wire with an incredible history.
“The copper wire we use was originally part of a contaminated land remediation system in Scotland, used to pump kerosene out of the ground after a major fuel spill,” says Mark. “It has already done vital work protecting a nationally important water resource. Now, it is being given a second life, carefully repurposed into beautiful, sustainable jewelry.”
To make your pieces even more sentimental, we incorporate alluvial river gold sustainably panned by our own hands into your ring, gifted from our family collection. You choose the location of your river gold based on a place of special meaning to you both. Or, as our client mentioned above, seamlessly blend a piece of heirloom family jewellery into your new heirloom.
Your wedding and engagement rings are meant to be worn for a lifetime. When you choose a Jacqueline & Edward piece, you aren’t just choosing an alternative to the high street, you are choosing a piece of British craftsmanship that is sustainable, exclusive, and structurally designed to last forever.
Quick recap on the differences between high street white gold vs ours:
| Feature | High Street White Gold | Jacqueline & Edward White Gold |
| Alloy Base | Often mixed with cheaper zinc or palladium (can look yellow/brown). | Premium, exclusive 950 platinum-rich alloy. |
| Finish | Rhodium plated (artificial chemical layer). | 100% Plating-free (unless requested). |
| Longevity | Plating wears off in 6–12 months, depending on lifestyle. | Permanent, natural slightly earthy-white tone that never fades. |
| Maintenance | Lifetime costs for regular re-plating. | Maintenance-free. |
| Sustainability | Mass-produced, traditional mining supply chains. | Ethical & handmade in Yorkshire with recycled metals and cleanup copper. |
If there is a piece of jewellery that you would like to get made in white gold or you have any other questions regarding white gold, just get in touch with us at enquiries@jacquelineandedward.com.
You can also come in and try on some of our white gold wedding or engagement rings, or discuss a bespoke design by booking a free workshop visit with us.
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