For those who prefer a different look from traditional yellow gold, white gold can be the answer. White gold, like all colors of gold is an alloy, or a mixture of gold and other metals.  Because the alloys that are added to make white gold are actually grayish in color, white gold is often plated with a metal called rhodium which is very white.

Rhodium was first used in the early 30s to plate silver flatware to keep it shiny without constant polishing. It wasn’t really until after the Second World War when advances in technology produced a means of coating jewelry with very thin layers of rhodium, that it became more widely used in jewelry making. From there, it was a quick step to plating jewelry of all kinds.  Rhodium is a very expensive metal, and this is often reflected in the price of the piece.

Rhodium is not a very malleable metal so it is never or at least very seldom used on its own in jewelry making.  For this reason, you should be skeptical of any item advertised as solid rhodium.  For one thing, it would be very expensive, so is not likely to be used on its own in wholesale costume jewelry.  It does however, due to its reflective qualities, make your white gold pieces really shine!

One of the best things about rhodium is the fact that it is hypoallergenic so it won’t turn your finger green.  Another interesting technique that some people enjoy is having an old yellow gold ring plated in rhodium for a whole new look.

One disadvantage of rhodium plating is that it will wear off over time.  How long it takes to wear is really a matter of lifestyle and the kind of wear your ring is exposed to.  Always try to remove your rings if you work a lot with your hands.  Any activity where your rings rub against other surfaces will make the plating wear off faster. Even your hands rubbing on the steering wheel when you drive can have an effect on the wear. Re-plating is easily done, however so you can keep your jewelry looking new. Some jewelers recommend re-plating every couple of years.

It is not recommended that you clean rhodium-plated jewelry with chemicals of any kind as this can accelerate the wearing off process.  A bit of mild detergent and water or a soft polishing cloth are all you need to keep your ring or other pieces sparkling.

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As exotic as it sounds, there is really no such thing as rose gold.  For that matter, gold itself is not simply gold, it is an alloy.   Gold by itself is much too soft to be made into jewelry, so it is mixed with other elements to give it both its color and its strength.  Since man has, throughout history, favored the color we associate with gold, it is most commonly made with the right balance of silver and copper to give it that color.

In the early 19th century, the Russian ballet had a great effect on all kinds of things from clothing, to art and music, and also jewelry.  Everyone wanted to imitate the bold colorful costumes and designs of the ballet.  It was during this period that rose gold was invented to provide a new look in jewelry.  For that reason, you may sometimes hear rose gold be referred to as Russian gold.

Because its color can vary in intensity, it is also sometimes called pink gold or red gold.  The reddish tone in rose gold is simply a result of how much copper is in the mixture of the alloys.  More copper means the gold will have a deeper red color.

The fact that rose gold contains less pure gold usually means it will also carry a lower price tag.  A great variety of wholesale costume jewelry is available in rose gold both in rings and other pieces such as earrings, bracelets and pendants.  Perhaps because of its colorful nature, it seems to be very popular with the hip-hop set and the jewelry they prefer to wear.

Although not related to gold at all, rose gold is a term also used in the music industry to describe the finish inside some instruments.

Due to the date of its first use, rose gold is often found in vintage pieces that collectors may be selling.  While they may have greater value because they are vintage items, do not be mislead by vendors who proclaim rose gold to be something rare and therefore very expensive.

There is no question that a rose gold ring or other piece of jewelry is unique.  Many jewelry lovers feel that the subtle tones of rose gold set off the sparkle of diamonds or cubic zirconia so much better than regular gold, and there is no question that the softer tones give it a natural marketing edge.  After all, rose and pink sound so much more romantic than yellow or white, don’t you think?

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