14K white gold necklaces in solid gold — 58.3% pure, stamped 14K — alloyed to a white colour and finished with rhodium for the bright white you see. Each arrives complete on its own chain at a stated length. White gold is the usual setting for a diamond, because a white metal around a white stone keeps the stone reading colourless rather than picking up warmth from the metal around it.
See also 14K white gold chains, white gold cable link chains, white gold franco chains, diamond necklaces, sideways cross necklaces, religious necklaces, necklace and pendant sets and all necklaces and chains.
More about these necklaces
White gold is not naturally white
This is the thing most worth knowing before buying any of it. Gold comes out of the ground yellow and stays yellow; white gold is yellow gold alloyed with white metals — traditionally nickel, increasingly palladium — which lightens it to a pale, faintly warm grey. That alloy on its own does not look like the jewellery in the photographs. What produces the bright white is a finish of rhodium applied over the top. The gold underneath is solid 14K and stamped as such; the white you are looking at is the surface.
The rhodium finish, and the part nobody mentions at the till
Rhodium is a hard, brilliant white metal from the platinum group, applied in a layer far thinner than a hair. It is what gives white gold its mirror finish, and it wears. On a necklace it wears slowly, because a chain and a pendant spend most of their life against fabric rather than a hard surface — far slower than on a ring, which takes constant contact. When it does thin, the piece does not break or discolour; it gradually warms toward the pale grey of the alloy beneath. A jeweller re-finishes it in an afternoon, and it is inexpensive. Knowing this in advance is the difference between a piece ageing and a piece disappointing.
Why diamonds are usually set in white gold
A colourless diamond takes on the colour of what surrounds it. Set in yellow gold, a stone at the warmer end of the colour scale reads warmer still; set in white metal, the same stone reads whiter. That is why the diamond pieces here are predominantly white gold, and why a yellow gold piece with a diamond is often made with a white gold or rhodium-finished head holding the stone while the rest stays yellow. It is an optical decision, not a quality one.
White gold, platinum and silver compared
They look alike and behave quite differently. White gold is solid gold, does not tarnish, and needs its rhodium renewed every few years. Platinum is naturally white so there is no finish to wear off, but it is much denser, considerably more expensive, and develops a soft patina rather than staying mirror-bright. Sterling silver is far less costly and tarnishes, because the copper in it reacts with the air. For a diamond piece meant to last, white gold and platinum are the two real options, and white gold is the lighter and less expensive of them.
A note on nickel
Some white gold alloys use nickel as the whitening metal and some use palladium. Nickel is a common contact allergen, and while the rhodium finish sits between the alloy and the skin, a worn finish can expose it. If you know you react to nickel, it is worth asking about the specific alloy before buying, and worth having the rhodium renewed promptly when it thins. Most people never encounter the issue at all.
Common questions
Is white gold real gold?
Yes. White gold is solid 14K gold — 58.3% pure, stamped 14K — alloyed with white metals to lighten its colour and finished with rhodium for brightness. The gold is throughout the piece, not a coating.
Why does white gold turn slightly yellow over time?
It is not tarnishing. The bright white is a rhodium finish over an alloy that is naturally a pale warm grey. As the finish thins with wear, that alloy colour shows through. A jeweller re-finishes it inexpensively and the white returns.
How often does it need re-plating?
On a necklace, much less often than on a ring — every few years rather than annually, because a chain and pendant sit against fabric rather than taking constant contact. How fast it wears depends on how often it is worn and what it rubs against.
Will white gold tarnish?
No. Gold does not react with air or water, so white gold does not tarnish the way sterling silver does. The only change over time is the rhodium finish thinning, which is a wear question rather than a chemical one.
White gold or platinum?
Platinum is naturally white with no finish to wear off, but it is denser, more expensive and develops a patina. White gold is lighter and less costly and holds a brighter mirror finish, at the cost of renewing the rhodium every few years. Both are solid precious metal.
Is white gold a good setting for a diamond?
Yes, and it is the usual choice. A colourless diamond picks up the colour of the metal around it, so a white setting keeps the stone reading white. That is why most diamond pieces here are white gold.
How do I clean a white gold necklace?
Warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush, then rinse and pat dry. Avoid abrasive pastes and silver dips — both attack a rhodium finish and will shorten the time before it needs renewing.
