Cleaning and Refurbishing a White Gold Ring

Germany Report 2026

Why Does White Gold Discolor?

In our stores, we're frequently asked why white gold turns yellowish. Using our ring sample alloys, we can easily show our customers the difference right there on the spot. That's more difficult in our online shop, so we've compiled everything important for you in this article to help you become an precious metal expert. What Color Is White Gold? White gold is always slightly warm yellowish-gray. There is no white gold in nature. White gold is rather a mixed alloy made from gold, silver, and palladium, which is produced in jewelry manufacturing. The bright palladium acts as a decolorizing agent and removes the yellow-gold color from the alloy. White gold is therefore not entirely chrome-colored and shiny, as the rings appear at first glance when you pick them up from the jeweler. So where does the color difference come from? The jewelry industry additionally refines the white gold material so that the ring has a more chrome-colored shine and thus appears even more valuable. Figure 1: White gold engagement ring already with worn coating (rhodium plating almost completely faded) Important: However, this refinement is only a galvanic coating and has a short lifespan! After wearing the ring for 3 to 6 months, most rings have lost the coating on the underside. Even with great care, this coating will fade over time. As the wearer, you cannot change this. Alarmed customers tell us in this context that "my white gold ring is now spotty or the white gold is peeling off, discoloring, or tarnishing". But that's simply not true. After months, the actual color emerges. The yellowish warm white gold! Figure 2: White gold ring with coating and without coating (rhodium plated) If you don't like the color of white gold, you should not buy a white gold ring. You should switch to platinum: The advantage of platinum is that this metal is not yellowish but already bright and shiny. Platinum rings do not need additional coating. Which White Gold Is More Yellowish: 14kt or 18kt White Gold? The lower the gold content, the more yellowish the ring. This means a 333 white gold ring (8kt) is more yellowish than 14kt (585 alloy) or 18kt (750 alloy) white gold Black Spots on White Gold Rings? White gold rings with low alloy content such as 8kt or 9kt (333 or 375) can develop black spots. Why is that? A white gold ring with low gold alloy contains a high silver content. Silver can oxidize over time and unfortunately turn black. 5 Facts About White Gold » White gold is always yellowish-gray » It can additionally be refined with rhodium, which gives it its bright grayish shine » 9kt white gold is more yellowish than 14kt or 18kt white gold » White gold with low alloys such as 8 or 9kt have a high silver content and can oxidize black What Does It Cost to Re-Rhodium Plate a Ring? When refreshing a ring, the entire old rhodium plating must first be laboriously removed before the ring can be re-rhodium plated. Additionally, the ring must be cleaned in an ultrasonic bath before it can be re-coated (rhodium plated). As a rule, costs range between €25 and €85, depending on the weight of the jewelry piece and the jeweler's prices. At BREEDIA, a refresh including rhodium plating costs a flat €40. What Does Rhodium Plated Mean? You can find a detailed article on the topic of rhodium plating here. What Is the Difference Between White Gold and Platinum? We have explained the difference between white gold and platinum in detail here. Can White Gold Turn Black and Become Spotty? Yes, white gold alloys with low gold content have a high silver content (9kt or 8kt). For people who sweat heavily or are allergic to silver, white gold rings can also turn black and become spotty. For long-term wear, you should switch to platinum jewelry. Can White Gold Discolor? No, the white gold color tone is always the same. What wears away is the coating (rhodium plating), which reveals the actual color. Is Yellow Gold Also Rhodium Plated? No, only silver and white gold alloys are suitable for refinement with rhodium. Do you have more questions about white gold? How Can I Clean My Discolored White Gold Ring? Read now: Clean engagement ring With These Tips to the Perfect Proposal Find Ring Size 10 Facts About Engagement Rings Engagement Ring Costs? Back to Magazine

Lifetime Guarantee on Engagement Rings

« Beware of Dubious Promises » Wouldn't it be wonderful if your precious engagement ring looked exactly as it did right after purchase for a lifetime – without scratches or other damage to the surface or the set diamond? Disreputable providers make this promise with a lifetime guarantee on engagement rings. We show that no such guarantee promise exists after ring purchase, but lifetime service for your ring should be a matter of course. Dubious Guarantee Promise When you want to buy a proposal ring, you expect a great deal both from the piece of jewelry itself and from the associated services. After all, it's an investment that you ideally make only once in your life, and depending on the jewelry you choose, it's not a small one. You should be able to rely on certain services and are pleased when they go beyond excellent purchasing advice, free engraving, and quick availability. This is as understandable as it is correct. But what if the provider advertises a lifetime guarantee on engagement rings? Quite apart from the fact that this term is rather vague without further explanation, it is simply disreputable. No one can genuinely guarantee for an indefinite period that rings – whether subject to direct external impact or not – will not break, cracks will not form in the setting, or that the set diamonds and colored gemstones will have no defects. What Does Lifetime Mean for Engagement Rings? If you think a bit about the choice of terms, you quickly wonder what a lifetime guarantee on engagement rings is supposed to mean. Is it about the "life" of the piece of jewelry or how long the wearer lives? In the latter case, the logical consequence would be that the guarantee expires after her death and any heirs would have no further claim to it. This discrepancy alone makes it more than clear that a lifetime guarantee on proposal rings cannot exist. Quite the opposite – such a promise is meaningless and disreputable. Statutory Warranty Claims In Germany, consumer protection is given very high priority. Fundamentally, as a buyer you have a statutory warranty claim of two years, whose rights always exist against the seller. This claim differs significantly from a guarantee, as it is exclusively a voluntary service of the manufacturer. The latter can be offered free of charge or for a fee – only the guarantor decides this, and they can also attach various conditions to it. The statutory warranty, on the other hand, always secures the consumer's rights for two years when the purchased product is defective. From repair to replacement to return of the goods if the so-called "subsequent performance" is not possible, there are various options here. Extended Right of Withdrawal After Receipt of Goods Rings that you would like to purchase in the online shop of our family business can be examined by our customers in peace at home, allowing them to prepare for their marriage proposal or wedding. At VERLOBUNGSRING.de, we offer an extended right of withdrawal of a total of 60 days after the goods have been delivered. Trying on is therefore no problem – after all, you should be sure that it really is the perfect ring. Even if the rings have already been engraved, the right of withdrawal naturally applies, but in this case the purchase price will not be fully refunded. If you are unsure, we recommend ordering proposal rings first without engraving. This also makes it possible to thoroughly compare different models at home until you find the dream ring you want to buy. Engraving on engagement and wedding rings can also be done later at no additional cost. No Guarantee on the Surface In contrast to the statutory warranty claim and our extended right of withdrawal, a lifetime guarantee on engagement rings is a meaningless and dubious promise from disreputable providers. It is clear that everyone expects a lot from the precious piece of jewelry – it's not just about material value, but especially about emotional value full of romance, and most women want to wear their engagement ring every day. No one can seriously guarantee that after long wear there will be no damage to the surface, because it is simply impossible when a piece of jewelry is worn day after day. In short: a guarantee on the surface is always disreputable and you should not believe such promises. Like Life – Traces Are Natural A sparkling proposal ring, like the one you can buy from us, can be compared a little to life: as beautiful as it is, certain traces in the form of minor damage or external signs always remain. What laugh lines are on the face or gray hair on the head, small scratches or notches on the surface and finest damage to the diamonds and colored gemstones are for jewelry. No matter whether you choose a ring made of yellow gold, silver or platinum, wear marks appear regardless of the alloy from day one. The more the jewelry is stressed, the faster this process occurs. Any guarantee that would include such wear marks is simply disreputable and would be equivalent to a promise that car tires never wear out even with daily driving. Every consumer would immediately become suspicious! The BREEDIA Service – Always at Your Ring's Service At BREEDIA, we offer you a service for all rings purchased from us that is completely independent of time. We deliberately avoid the word "lifetime" because we do not want to make disreputable promises regarding the surface of your precious jewelry. For us, it is clear that every proposal ring shows signs of wear after a certain time, which cannot be avoided. When you buy an engagement ring from us, we examine the piece of jewelry very carefully to assess defects that may result from wear and tear or excessive stress – for example, during gardening or lifting heavy objects. After a fair cost estimate, you are welcome to commission us with the repair. Should a defect occur that resulted from a manufacturing error on our part, our experts in the manufactory will of course take care of it free of charge. Enjoy your sparkling proposal ring – from day one and of course without time limits! Guarantee on Engagement Rings – A Conclusion Beware of disreputable promises from providers who advertise a lifetime guarantee on engagement rings. There is definitely no guarantee against surface damage that inevitably occurs from daily wear, and wear marks on diamonds or colored gemstones cannot be completely avoided either. In contrast to such questionable guarantee promises, credible services are those that offer you time-independent repairs and refurbishment. At Breedia, customers can rely not only on careful and professional manufacturing in our own manufactory in Germany, but also on a service that includes all areas of excellent advice, risk-free purchasing with extended right of withdrawal, free engraving, and professional refurbishment. This way you can enjoy your precious piece of jewelry for a long time, which accompanies you day after day, and in case of need always have a contact person who is happy to help and advise. With These Tips to the Perfect Proposal Find Ring Size 10 Facts About Engagement Rings Engagement Ring Costs? Back to Magazine