Choosing Between Yellow and White Gold Engagement Rings

There are many biased opinions regarding yellow and white gold engagement rings. But what should you really think about when choosing between the two? Here are ten things to consider.

Your skin tone

White gold is renowned for suiting rose coloured skin tones, whereas yellow tends to complement olive skin.

The Diamond

White gold arguably complements white diamonds better than yellow, as yellow can create an illusion of a yellow tone in the stone. It is important to decide whether you like that contrast or if you prefer the more subtle appearance of the diamonds in white gold engagement rings.

Purity

Yellow is the purest colour gold. It is purer than white as the mineral looks golden, or yellow, when mined. That said, yellow gold is a mixture of the pure metal and alloys of copper and zinc. White is a mixture of pure gold and white metals like silver and palladium.

Hypo-allergenic?

White gold created with a nickel-based alloy can sometimes cause an allergic reaction and therefore is only hypo-allergenic when made with another metal alloy. Yellow is the most hypo-allergenic of all gold colours.

Cost

White gold engagement rings can be more expensive than yellow when the metal is mixed with platinum or titanium. In addition, a nickel-free version is more expensive than yellow and white mixed with another alloy.

Popularity

Historically, yellow gold is the renowned metal for wedding and engagement bands. However, the white version has actually been more popular than yellow for many years.

Durability

It is generally agreed that white gold engagement rings are more durable and scratchproof than yellow because the metal is mixed with stronger alloys. However, it is coated in rhodium, which fades and therefore needs to be dipped every few years in order to retain its colour and lustre. However this is not very expensive and many jewellers even offer this service for free.

Yellow gold does not need to be re-plated and is more malleable, however, as a result it can be easily scratched or dented. It should be polished and cleaned regularly, but overall requires less maintenance.

The carat

Even though yellow gold ranges from 14 carats to 24 carats, usually 14 carat or 18 carat is used to mount both yellow and white gold engagement rings. This is because when the carat is higher than this, the gold content is higher and the metal is less durable.

The setting

Yellow gold is appropriate for vintage style settings since it is renowned historically as the classic metal for wedding and engagement bands.

Tradition

Yellow gold is symbolic of the highest quality - for example, winning a gold medal is better than a silver medal. Therefore, many people favour it for jewellery and it is traditionally used for wedding and engagement rings. On the other hand, white gold is considered more modern and fashionable at the moment.

Whether you opt for traditional yellow or on-trend white gold engagement rings, either version of this beautiful metal is ideal to create a bespoke engagement ring to your unique specifications.

Frederick Holm is staff writer for the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From the best white gold engagement rings to precious metals, coloured stones and vintage styles, 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.