White Gold Vs Sterling Silver – Which Choice is Better?

At first glance, it’s not easy to tell the difference between white gold and sterling silver. They're both the same colour - silver. But the two metals are quite different in their appearances.

Here's all you need to know when you're looking for silver-hued jewellery. 

White Gold

White gold is a combination of pure gold and other metals. Therefore, it is a hard metal with a white colour appearance. Generally, nickel, silver, or palladium is used in white gold. The properties of white gold vary on which alloy is used. 

Just like yellow gold, the purity of white gold is measured in karats. So, if a white gold ring is 18 karats, this means that the ring is made up of 75% gold (18 karats divided by 24) and 25% other metals. 

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is a shiny and precious metal valued for its beauty. It’s electrical conductivity and has been used to create coins, decorative pieces and jewellery for centuries.

If we consider it as jewellery, silver is often alloyed with copper to add strength due to its soft metal. When silver is blended with copper, it becomes sterling silver. While you are shopping for sterling silver necklace in South Africa, you may notice a “925” stamped on the metal, which means that it contains 92.5% of pure silver and 7.5% of other metals. 

White Gold Vs Sterling Silver

The type of jewellery you're looking to get will weigh heavily into your decision between white gold and silver. Looking for Pandora charms online? Searching for sterling silver necklaces? Or silver jewellery in South Africa? 

Read the differences between the two to help make your decision a little easier. 

Durability

If you are planning to purchase pandora charms, white gold is much better for long-lasting durability and resistance. However, keep in mind that the hardness of white gold depends on its purity (ie: karats).

Silver is soft and easy to scratch and can change shape slightly with wear and tear, while white gold is resistant to both corrosion and impact. 

Cost-effective

Sterling silver is among the most affordable types of metal for jewellery, making it perfect for costume jewellery that you rotate with your wardrobe. However, the extra durability of white gold does increase the price tag of the metal. White gold costs more than silver, but less than platinum, making it moderately affordable. If you want value for money then you must go for silver jewellery or sterling silver.

Maintenance & Care

Both white gold and sterling silver require some level of maintenance, as does all jewellery. 

Every few years, your white gold piece will require a reapplication of rhodium plating by your jeweller, which easily restores the white finish. Without the reapplication, your jewellery will be “yellow”.

When we talk about silver, it requires regular cleaning and polishing to prevent tarnishing. While sterling silver is prone to tarnish, it will never rust, so that's an advantage. 

Whatever you decide, make sure to visit your jeweller twice a year for a check-up and professional cleaning. Do you wish to buy pandora charms online? Or planning to get an amazing sterling silver necklace in South Africa? Get in touch with us today. Visit our website: thesilvergoose.co.za