White Gold

Alloys · Rare · Modern

White gold is not white. Under the plating it is a dull greyish yellow, and the bright silvery look comes from a skin of rhodium a fraction of a micron thick, put on last. That skin wears through where a ring rubs, usually within a few years, and the piece goes back to the jeweller to be plated again. The people selling it rarely mention this.

Identity

Source
Modern alloy: gold and white metals
Composition
Gold ~75%, Nickel, Palladium
Over time
Gold alloyed with a white metal, usually nickel or palladium; most pieces are then plated with rhodium, which wears off.
Also known as
18k white gold, Palladium gold
Ores, before industry and since
Gold (Gold), Sylvanite (Gold)
Ores of the industrial age
Calaverite (Gold), Garnierite (Nickel), Limonite (Nickel), Nickeline (Nickel), Pentlandite (Nickel), Skutterudite (Nickel), Cooperite (Palladium), Pentlandite (Palladium), Platinum (Palladium)

Physical Properties

Appearance
Bright white-silver, indistinguishable from platinum to the eye, often rhodium-plated for extra brilliance
Luster
Metallic
Density
15.5 g/cm³
Melting point
960 °C
Boiling point
1900 °C
Lighter
Rose Gold
Denser
Daedric Metal
Magnetism
Non-magnetic
Electrical conductivity
High

Mechanical Properties

Mohs hardness
3.5
Softer
Shakudo
Harder
Hepatizon
Workability
Moderate
Brittleness
Tough
Malleability
High
Ductility
High

Chemical Properties

Corrosion resistance
Very High
Reactivity
Very Low

Lore & Narrative

White gold was developed during World War I when platinum was restricted for military use. Jewelers needed a platinum alternative that could still command premium prices. The result was a material that looked like platinum but cost considerably less.

Notable uses
Engagement rings, fine jewelry, high-end watchmaking
Forge uses
Jewelry, Watchmaking
Worldbuilding traits
Modern, Prestigious, Deceptive-appearance, Luxury

Sources

Browse the Metal Encyclopedia — MGS Toolbox