Most women today prefer white gold instead of yellow gold jewellery, from rings to bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. But white gold is a lot harder to maintain and keep clean and new looking for years to come because it is a combination of metals. While yellow gold is simply yellow gold, white gold is a combination of pure yellow gold and white metals that give it the look that so many people desire. Therefore, keeping white gold clean is harder, especially once that yellow gold starts to shine through again.
The Cleaning Process
To really get your white gold jewellery to be as clean as possible, you have the option of taking it in to get a professional cleaning at a jewellery store. There, your white gold will be thoroughly cleaned of soap scum, dirt, fingerprints, and oils that have accumulated over time. When you take your white gold jewellery to a jeweller for a professional cleaning, it will also be buffed with a buffing machine and then coated with rhodium again so that your ring will look like new again.
Rhodium Plating
Because white gold still has hints of yellow in it, the only way to get that brilliant white finish is by plating it with rhodium. This can be done on a regular basis whenever you take your jewellery to a professional jewellery cleaner. In fact, whenever you take your white gold jewellery in for a professional cleaning, it will need to be replated with rhodium because the layer will be taken off during the cleaning and polishing process. The ring will be dipped in rhodium in order to give it a very thin coating, but keep in mind that because the rhodium layer is so thin, it will eventually wear away and need to be reapplied.
Home Cleaning
If you cannot find the time to take your white gold jewellery to a professional cleaner, you can certainly do so at home. This can also be the case if you cannot afford professional cleanings on a regular basis. To clean your jewels at home, you can purchase an affordable cleaning solution. Or you can instead soak the jewellery in a soapy solution for about a half hour. Then run it under warm water. Some people choose to use a soft bristled brush to get into the nooks and crannies of the jewellery, especially if there are stones within it, while others simply rinse it off and then use a soft towel to gently wipe it dry in order to avoid scratching the jewellery or removing any of the plating. Cleaning your favourite necklaces, rings, etc. with this method is very effective and is a great way to maintain the beautiful appearance of your jewellery even if you cannot get it cleaned professionally.
Thanks to the beauty of white gold jewellery, it is no surprise that it is so popular. Keeping it clean, though, can be tricky, especially because it is coated with rhodium in order to give it the white shine that people love about it, so taking it to a professional cleaner is the best way to go.
