White Gold

A gold alloy containing either nickel or palladium as the principal whitening metal, originally developed as an alternative to platinum in the 1920s. Often used as a setting for diamonds. Nickel white golds are difficult to fabricate and so are often alloyed with zinc and copper to improve properties; this degrades the white colour and so jewellery is often rhodium plated to restore a good colour. Palladium white golds tend to be softer and more ductile, and may also be alloyed with copper and nickel.