How do I clean white gold?

purplestar133

A ring of mine made from white gold (with a blue topaz) has gone yellow. I wear it everyday and sometimes clean around the stone with a toothbrush as it has lots of places for dirt to get stuck.

I have tried sudocrem on it briefly as I remember my mum suggesting that years ago for some silver jewellery and it worked. Maybe I just need to persist or is there something else I could try?

suki1964

White gold turns yellow because the top layer has worn away. That's often nickel. You need to send it to a jewellers to get it re dipped

peachyprice

Stop right now!! The more you scrub it the more rhodium you'll rub off. You won't ever be able to make it white again by cleaning, it needs to go to the jewellers to be re-plated.

The colour you can see coming through now is the 'white' gold alloy of gold and one of silver/nickel/platinum/palladium, the alloy is never truly white, which is why they plate it to make it appear so.

You'll have to have this done periodically, how long it lasts between platings depends what you wear it for, how often you wear it and your own skin.

purplestar133

suki1964 wrote: »

White gold turns yellow because the top layer has worn away. That's often nickel. You need to send it to a jewellers to get it re dipped

peachyprice wrote: »

Stop right now!! The more you scrub it the more rhodium you'll rub off. You won't ever be able to make it white again by cleaning, it needs to go to the jewellers to be re-plated.

The colour you can see coming through now is the 'white' gold alloy of gold and one of silver/nickel/platinum/palladium, the alloy is never truly white, which is why they plate it to make it appear so.

You'll have to have this done periodically, how long it lasts between platings depends what you wear it for, how often you wear it and your own skin.

Clearly didn't know that! Thanks, will look into it.