Yes. White gold is real gold.
White gold is not a fake version of gold, and it is not simply another metal painted to look like gold. It is made by combining pure gold with other metals that give the finished jewelry a lighter, whiter appearance.
The amount of actual gold depends on the karat:
| White Gold Marking | Approximate Pure Gold Content |
|---|---|
| 10K / 417 | 41.7% |
| 14K / 585 | 58.3–58.5% |
| 18K / 750 | 75% |
| 24K | Nearly pure gold, but naturally yellow |
So an 18K white gold ring contains the same percentage of pure gold as an 18K yellow gold ring. The difference is mainly the metals mixed with the gold and the resulting color.
If you have white jewelry and aren’t sure whether it is gold, silver, platinum, or plated jewelry, Gold Kings can professionally test the metal before you make any decisions about selling it.
What Is White Gold Made Of?
Pure 24K gold is naturally yellow.
To create white gold, refiners and jewelry manufacturers mix gold with lighter-colored metals. Depending on the alloy, these can include metals such as nickel, palladium, copper, or zinc.
The Gemological Institute of America explains that white gold is produced by alloying gold with white metals such as nickel or palladium and that many white-gold pieces are then coated with rhodium to create a brighter white finish.
That means white gold is still a gold alloy.
Think of it this way:
14K yellow gold = gold + alloy metals
14K white gold = gold + different alloy metals
Both contain roughly the same percentage of pure gold.
The color is different. The gold content is not.
Why Isn’t White Gold Yellow?
Pure gold has a strong yellow color.
When other metals are mixed into gold, they change its appearance. The metals used in white gold reduce the yellow color and create a much lighter alloy.
However, untreated white gold is not always the brilliant, icy-white color people associate with engagement rings.
It may have a slightly warm, grayish, or pale-yellow tone.
That is why many white-gold rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets receive a thin coating of rhodium.
Rhodium gives jewelry the bright, reflective white finish many people recognize as white gold. GIA notes that rhodium plating also adds shine and surface protection.
Is White Gold Just Gold-Plated Jewelry?
No.
This is one of the biggest sources of confusion about white gold.
A solid 14K white-gold ring may have a thin layer of rhodium on the outside, but underneath that coating is still a 14K gold alloy.
That is very different from ordinary gold-plated jewelry.
Solid white gold
The underlying jewelry itself contains gold throughout the metal.
Gold-plated jewelry
Only a thin outer layer contains gold. The material underneath may be brass, copper, stainless steel, or another base metal.
Rhodium-plated white gold
The underlying jewelry is a gold alloy, while the rhodium is simply a surface finish.
So seeing the word “plated” associated with rhodium does not automatically mean your white-gold jewelry is fake.
Does White Gold Turn Yellow?
Sometimes it can appear more yellow over time, but that does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with the jewelry.
The rhodium coating on many white-gold pieces gradually wears as the jewelry is worn.
Once that bright-white surface becomes thinner, the natural color of the white-gold alloy underneath becomes more visible.
GIA notes that white gold can show a slightly warmer tone as rhodium plating wears and may occasionally need to be replated to restore its bright-white appearance.
This is especially noticeable with rings because they constantly contact:
- Skin
- Countertops
- Clothing
- Soap
- Lotions
- Other jewelry
- Everyday surfaces
A change in color therefore does not automatically mean the ring is fake.
Is 14K White Gold Real Gold?
Absolutely.
14K white gold contains approximately 58.3% pure gold.
The remaining approximately 41.7% consists of other metals used to alter characteristics such as color, hardness, and durability.
You may see markings including:
- 14K
- 14KT
- 583
- 585
The Federal Trade Commission explains that karat markings identify how much pure gold an item contains. A 14K piece contains 14 parts gold out of 24 total parts.
If you want to understand a 585 marking specifically, see Gold Kings’ guide to what 585 means on gold.
Is 18K White Gold Real Gold?
Yes.
18K white gold is 75% pure gold.
Only 25% of the alloy consists of other metals.
Common markings include:
- 18K
- 18KT
- 750
Because 18K white gold contains more pure gold per gram than 14K white gold, it generally has a higher precious-metal value when comparing equal weights.
Gold Kings also has a detailed explanation of what 750 means on gold.
Is White Gold Worth as Much as Yellow Gold?
If the weight and karat are the same, the amount of pure gold is generally the same.
For example:
A 10-gram 14K yellow-gold ring and a 10-gram 14K white-gold ring both contain roughly the same amount of pure gold.
The color alone does not make one contain more gold.
However, the actual value of finished jewelry can involve much more than simply weighing the entire piece.
Factors may include:
- Actual gold purity
- Total precious-metal weight
- Current gold spot price
- Diamonds or gemstones
- Designer or brand value
- Condition
- Collectibility
- Non-gold components
That is why knowing the total weight of a ring does not automatically tell you exactly how much gold is inside it.
Have White Gold You’re Thinking About Selling?
If you have an old white-gold ring, broken chain, single earring, bracelet, necklace, or inherited jewelry, don’t assume its silver color means it has little value.
Gold Kings can test the metal, verify its purity, weigh the item, and explain what you have before you decide whether selling makes sense.
You can also see the types of gold, jewelry, coins, bullion and other valuables Gold Kings buys.
How Can You Tell If White Gold Is Real?
Color alone is not enough.
White gold can look very similar to:
- Sterling silver
- Platinum
- Palladium
- Stainless steel
- Rhodium-plated silver
- Costume jewelry
Several clues can help.
1. Look for a Hallmark
Check inside rings, near necklace clasps, on bracelet clasps, or on the backs of earrings.
Common white-gold markings include:
10K or 417
14K, 583, or 585
18K or 750
A hallmark is helpful, but it should not always be treated as absolute proof.
Jewelry can be repaired, altered, incorrectly marked, heavily worn, or plated.
And genuine gold jewelry does not necessarily have to carry a readable stamp.
Gold Kings explains this in more detail in Does Real Gold Have to Be Stamped?.
2. Don’t Depend on a Magnet Alone
Gold itself is not magnetic.
However, jewelry contains alloys, clasps, springs, solder, and other components that can complicate a simple magnet test.
A magnet can sometimes identify an obvious problem, but it cannot reliably tell you the exact purity of a piece.
3. Have the Metal Professionally Tested
If authenticity or value matters, professional testing is much more useful than guessing based on color.
At Gold Kings, precious-metal items can be evaluated using professional testing methods, including XRF testing when appropriate. The item can then be weighed so its actual precious-metal content can be considered in the evaluation. Gold Kings’ current process emphasizes testing and weighing items in front of the customer.
This can be particularly useful for jewelry that:
- Has no stamp
- Has a worn stamp
- Was inherited
- Has been repaired
- Looks like silver or platinum
- Came from another country
- Has an unfamiliar hallmark
- Was purchased secondhand
White Gold vs. Silver: What’s the Difference?
White gold and silver can look remarkably similar.
But chemically and financially they are very different metals.
| Feature | White Gold | Sterling Silver |
| Main precious metal | Gold | Silver |
| Common markings | 10K, 14K, 18K, 417, 585, 750 | 925, Sterling |
| Common surface | Often rhodium plated | May be polished or rhodium plated |
| Tarnishing | Generally less prone to silver-style tarnish | Common over time |
| Typical precious-metal value | Usually higher per gram | Usually considerably lower per gram |
GIA notes that even sterling silver can sometimes be rhodium plated, making visual identification even more difficult.
So if an old ring looks white and shiny, appearance alone cannot tell you what it is.
White Gold vs. Platinum
Platinum is another metal commonly confused with white gold.
But platinum is not gold.
White gold gets its precious-metal content from gold.
Platinum jewelry contains platinum.
The two also use completely different purity markings.
A white-gold ring might say:
- 14K
- 585
- 18K
- 750
A platinum ring may have markings referring to platinum instead.
Because both can have a similar appearance, professional testing can be helpful when markings are missing or difficult to read.
Can White Gold Be Worth Money If It’s Broken?
Yes.
A white-gold ring does not stop containing gold because it is bent.
A broken white-gold necklace does not stop containing gold because the clasp is missing.
And a single white-gold earring does not become worthless because its matching earring disappeared years ago.
For ordinary scrap jewelry, the precious-metal content can remain valuable even when the jewelry itself is no longer wearable.
Common items worth checking include:
- Broken rings
- Damaged chains
- Single earrings
- Old wedding bands
- Class rings
- Bent bracelets
- Tangled necklaces
- Outdated jewelry
- Inherited jewelry
- Jewelry with missing stones
Before throwing an unidentified piece into a costume-jewelry box—or worse, throwing it away—consider having it tested.
What Determines the Value of White Gold?
For many pieces, four factors matter most.
Gold Purity
18K contains more gold per gram than 14K.
14K contains more gold per gram than 10K.
Precious-Metal Weight
A heavier piece generally contains more gold than a lighter piece of the same purity, although stones and other non-gold components must be considered.
Current Gold Price
Gold’s market price changes throughout the trading day.
As the underlying price of gold changes, so does the melt value of gold jewelry.
The Item Itself
Not every piece of jewelry should automatically be treated as scrap.
Designer jewelry, diamonds, gemstones, watches, collectible pieces, and certain estate jewelry may deserve additional evaluation before being valued solely for metal content.
That is another reason Gold Kings focuses on identifying what you actually have before making an offer.
Have Your White Gold Tested at Gold Kings
If you aren’t sure whether a white-colored ring, necklace, bracelet, watch, or pair of earrings is gold, you do not have to figure it out at home.
Gold Kings operates two Georgia locations where customers can bring gold and other precious-metal items for evaluation. Current Gold Kings information confirms professional testing, transparent weighing, and walk-in evaluations at its locations.
Gold Kings of Snellville
3635 Stone Mountain Hwy
Snellville, GA 30039
The Snellville location serves customers throughout Gwinnett County and surrounding communities, including Snellville, Loganville, Lawrenceville, Grayson, Lilburn, Stone Mountain, and nearby areas.
See information about selling gold at Gold Kings of Snellville.
Gold Kings of Commerce
480 Banks Crossing Dr
Commerce, GA 30529
The Commerce location is convenient for customers throughout Commerce, Banks Crossing, Jackson County, Banks County, and surrounding Northeast Georgia communities.
See Gold Kings location and contact information.
There is no obligation to guess whether something is gold simply because it looks white.
Test it first. Know what you own. Then decide what you want to do with it.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Gold
Is white gold actually real gold?
Yes. White gold is an alloy containing real gold mixed with other metals. Its gold content is determined by its karat rating.
Is 14K white gold 58.5% gold?
Approximately, yes. 14K represents about 58.3% pure gold, while jewelry marked 585 indicates approximately 58.5% gold.
Is 18K white gold 75% gold?
Yes. 18K or 750 white gold contains approximately 75% pure gold.
Why does white gold look silver?
Gold is mixed with lighter-colored alloy metals, and many pieces are also coated with rhodium to produce a bright-white finish.
Does white gold become yellow over time?
The rhodium finish can gradually wear away, revealing the slightly warmer color of the white-gold alloy underneath. That does not mean the gold has become fake or lost its gold content.
Is white gold more valuable than yellow gold?
Not simply because of its color. If two pieces have the same karat and contain the same amount of gold, their underlying gold content is similar. Finished-jewelry value can still differ because of brand, craftsmanship, diamonds, gemstones, or other factors.
Is white gold better than silver?
They are different precious metals rather than simply different grades of the same material. White gold generally contains considerably more precious-metal value per gram, while sterling silver is primarily silver.
Can white gold be stamped 585?
Yes. A 585 hallmark generally corresponds to approximately 14K gold.
Can white gold be stamped 750?
Yes. A 750 hallmark indicates approximately 75% pure gold, which corresponds to 18K.
Can white gold have no stamp?
Yes. Genuine gold jewelry may have a worn, missing, removed, or difficult-to-find hallmark. Professional testing can help determine the metal when markings are inconclusive.
Will Gold Kings buy white gold?
Gold Kings evaluates gold jewelry, including qualifying white-gold jewelry, along with other precious metals and valuables. The purity, weight, current market value, and characteristics of the individual item determine its evaluation.
White Gold Is Real Gold — Find Out What Yours Is Worth
The color can be misleading.
That silver-looking ring in an old jewelry box could be sterling silver, platinum, costume jewelry—or valuable 14K or 18K white gold.
You don’t need to guess.
If you have unwanted white-gold jewelry, Gold Kings can test it, weigh it, explain what you have, and provide an evaluation before you decide whether to sell.
Visit Gold Kings of Snellville or Gold Kings of Commerce, or use the Gold Kings quote page to start your evaluation.
We test it. We weigh it. We pay you.
