Sutraa Journal · Care

How to Care for White Gold

White gold has the cool brightness of platinum at a gentler price. Here is how to care for it, and why its finish changes over time.

White gold is one of the most loved choices in fine jewellery, and for good reason. It carries a clean, silvery brightness, it suits almost every skin tone. If you have chosen a white gold piece to wear every day, a little understanding of how the metal is made, and how to look after it, will keep it looking the way it did the day it arrived.

This is a simple guide to caring for 18k white gold. What it is, why its finish changes over time, and the small habits that keep it bright.

What white gold actually is

Gold in its natural state is yellow, and too soft on its own to hold a diamond securely. To make it both white and hard enough to wear, it is alloyed with other metals. Sutraa pieces are made in 18k white gold, which is three quarters pure gold mixed with white metals such as palladium and silver. That alloy is what gives white gold its strength.

Even alloyed, white gold keeps a faint warmth of its own. To reach the bright, almost silver white most people picture, the finished piece is plated with a fine layer of rhodium.

The role of rhodium

Rhodium is a rare metal from the platinum family. It is one of the whitest and hardest metals available, and it is applied to white gold as a very thin surface layer. It is what gives a white gold piece that reflective, almost mirror-like finish.

Because rhodium sits on the surface rather than running through the metal, it is best understood as a finish rather than a permanent state. With everyday wear it slowly softens, and the slightly warmer gold beneath begins to show through. This is completely normal. It is not a fault, and it does not mean the piece is wearing out.

Why the finish changes over time

Every piece of white gold will, in time, want its rhodium refreshed. How soon depends almost entirely on where and how it is worn.

A ring lives on the hand, where it meets constant friction, so its plating wears fastest. A pendant or mangalsutra rests against clothing with far less abrasion, so it holds its finish much longer. As a rough guide, a white gold ring might want replating every one to two years, while a necklace can often go several years before it needs any attention at all.

This is worth knowing if you are choosing white gold for a piece you intend to wear daily. A mangalsutra is one of the gentlest places for white gold to live.

Everyday habits that protect it

White gold asks very little, but a few small habits will keep it bright for longer.

• Take it off before swimming. Chlorine is hard on gold alloys over time and can weaken the metal.
• Put it on last. Perfume, hairspray, lotion and sunscreen leave a residue that dulls the surface, so let those settle before your jewellery goes on.
• Keep it away from household cleaners, bleach and anything abrasive.
• Take it off for heavy or dirty work where it might be knocked or scratched.

None of this takes much thought once it becomes habit, and it noticeably extends the life of the finish.

How to clean white gold at home

Most of the time, white gold only needs a gentle clean to look its best. Fill a small bowl with warm water and add a drop of mild dish soap. Let the piece soak for a few minutes, then clean it gently with a soft brush. A clean, soft toothbrush is ideal, working carefully around the stone where residue tends to gather. Rinse in clean water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Avoid toothpaste, baking soda, and any rough or paper cloth. All of them are abrasive enough to scratch both the rhodium and the gold beneath it.

Storing it well

Left loose in a drawer, jewellery scratches itself, and diamonds are hard enough to mark softer metal. Keep each piece in its own soft pouch or a lined compartment, away from your other pieces. This protects both the finish and the stones, and it keeps clasps and chains from tangling.

Does care differ for yellow and rose gold?

The everyday principles are the same across all three. Keep them away from chemicals, clean them gently, and store them carefully. The one real difference is rhodium. Yellow and rose gold are not usually plated, so their colour comes from the alloy itself and stays much the same over the years. White gold is the finish that benefits from occasional replating to stay at its brightest.

If you would prefer a finish that never needs refreshing, yellow or rose gold may suit you better. If you love that cool, bright white, the small upkeep is a fair trade for it.

White gold for everyday wear

White gold is an excellent choice for a piece you plan to live in. It is hard-wearing, it suits most skin tones, and on a mangalsutra worn against the body it holds its finish for years at a time. Looked after simply, a white gold piece stays as quietly beautiful as the day it arrived.

Every Sutraa mangalsutra is made in 18k gold and can be chosen in white, yellow or rose. If you would like to discuss a Platinum setting please contact us. You can see the full collection here.

White gold rewards a light touch. Care for it simply, wear it often, and it will keep its brightness for as long as you want it close.