A Brief History behind White Gold Engagement Rings’ Rise in Popularity

Throughout history, gold has been treasured as a symbol of wealth, wisdom and divinity. The expressions ‘the golden age’ and the ‘golden years’ have long signified good times, as indicated by the fact that the 50th wedding anniversary is also known as the golden wedding anniversary. The first objects made of gold were discovered in Egypt and date back 5 millennia. This coveted metal has been inspiring craftsmen to create jewellery since 3000 BC.

Gold is one of the most common types of metal used in jewellery because of its rich colour and durability. Gold is considered to be the traditional metal of wedding and engagement rings, and since gold doesn’t tarnish over time, it perfectly symbolises a couple’s eternal vows. However, pure 100% gold, in other words, 24 karats, is too soft and therefore must be mixed with other metals, like silver, copper, nickel or zinc in order to make it strong and durable.

It was this mixing of gold with other metals that led to the creation of white gold engagement rings at the beginning of the 20th century. While white gold became commercially available in 1912 in Pforzheim, Germany, it only gained considerable popularity in the mid-1920s as a cheaper, low-cost alternative to platinum. This new white metal, platinum, had begun to replace gold as the preferred metal in the early 1900s, but it was very expensive, which led to the increased prevalence of white gold engagement rings. This allowed consumers to choose a ring setting with a white, glossy finish while still having the desirability of gold, which often implies the top prize, like the gold medal at the Olympics.

To meet the demands for white jewellery, many combinations of gold-palladium-nickel were used, but by the Second World War, palladium-based white gold had become the only choice, as nickel and platinum were prohibited for non-war use. Unfortunately, palladium- based engagement rings were expensive and after the war, the less expensive-nickel-based white gold quickly became the popular choice once again. However, in more recent times, the nickel in the white gold alloy has often been replaced by a platinum family metal to reduce the number of allergic reactions caused by nickel.

Since the 1920s, these engagement rings, along with platinum, have supplanted the traditional yellow gold and have remained a consistently popular choice for couples. This is unsurprising, given that white gold far better complements the 21st century’s favourite gemstone, the diamond.

Frederick Holm is staff writer for of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. Whether you want white gold engagement rings, a princess cut diamond or an engraved band, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.