Over the years people have gone back and forth with various jewelry styles. Maybe there were a few years when yellow gold was in; platinum was the popular fad, or silver just popped onto the seen. However, in today's market it's the white gold pendants that are getting all of the attention.
One thing you will want to be sure of is that you buy your white gold pendants from an accredited jeweler, since it can be hard to tell the difference between white gold and silver visually, but there is a drastic difference in price, since white gold is considerably worth more than silver.
The primary difference between white gold and yellow gold is the alloys that are mixed with the 18 karat gold. All 18 karat gold, whether yellow, white or rose, is 75% pure gold, but yellow gold is mixed with alloy metals such as copper and zinc, where white gold is mixed with silver and palladium. White gold is often coated with rhodium, which is similar to platinum, as far as properties go.
Normally, white gold is a little more expensive than yellow gold, and because the rhodium is very white and very hard, white gold pendants are typically a little stronger, which is why they are more popular, in general. While most people will choose 18 karat gold, white or yellow for engagement rings, they might be able to choose 9 or 14 karat gold, when it comes to white gold pendants, dress jewelry and earrings, because it is cheaper.
To keep the white gold pendants shiny and white, it is usually recommended that you have the rhodium re-plated every 12 to 18 months. White gold without a rhodium finish has a grayish appearance. Without the rhodium, it is also a lot softer metal and more prone to damage. It is recommended that white gold pendants are re-plated with rhodium at the recommended intervals, to keep from a chain breaking and getting lost.
It is understandable that white gold is inexpensive compared to platinum. While this may be true, they almost look identical and only at a portion of the cost.
White gold pendants often highlight the stones that are put in them better because of the highly reflective quality of the colors against the white gold. The yellow gold gives a duller reflection, although some prefer the reflection of yellow gold, when it comes to engagement rings and otherwise, they will choose platinum, since it does not have to be re-plated and is naturally shiny by nature, although significantly more expensive.
Whatever your preference is regarding white gold pendants, you won't find anything better. Once you factor in the cost, the appeal, and the durability, you have yourself a long lasting piece of jewelry that will create many memories.
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