AD Tales & Such

[HorologyK]

For those in the know, can you educate me on the finer points of white gold and rhodium plating. I was at an AD today looking at DD40's in WG and was told that since Rolex no longer rhodium plates their WG (unlike a few years ago) that the DD will eventually turn yellow. Is there any truth to this ? Obviously, if I go with the RG DD this isn't an issue, but very interested to know about the WG and if the color changes to yellow over time. Thanks !

[shgems]

That is not right. All gold out of the ground is yellow. To make the finished piece white alloys are added to the gold. 18K is 75% pure gold and 25% alloy which is typically nickel, silver, platinum, etc.
The finished white gold has a very slight hue of yellow which is covered over with a rhodium plate. When the rhodium wears away you still have white gold but you can see that slight background of a touch of yellow.
If Rolex does not rhodium plate there white gold they are using a special alloy which does not need the rhodium plate. Bottom line the color should stay pretty much as is.

[rebel_1]

Originally Posted by shgems

That is not right. All gold out of the ground is yellow. To make the finished piece white alloys are added to the gold. 18K is 75% pure gold and 25% alloy which is typically nickel, silver, platinum, etc.
The finished white gold has a very slight hue of yellow which is covered over with a rhodium plate. When the rhodium wears away you still have white gold but you can see that slight background of a touch of yellow.
If Rolex does not rhodium plate there white gold they are using a special alloy which does not need the rhodium plate. Bottom line the color should stay pretty much as is.

Great response!

[MovieGuy]

Rolex alloys their white gold with palladium and it is not rhodium plated at all.