Selling White Gold - Valuation & Prices
White gold has become incredibly popular in jewelry, especially for engagement rings and diamond settings, thanks to its elegant and modern appearance. But what is white gold actually worth, and does it differ from yellow gold? Here we cover everything you need to know.
What is white gold and how is it made?
White gold does not exist as a natural metal. It is yellow gold that has been mixed (alloyed) with white metals to neutralize the yellow color. There are two common types of white gold alloys:
• Palladium white gold: Gold alloyed with palladium (and sometimes silver). Provides a naturally white color and rarely needs rhodium plating. It is hypoallergenic and more durable. Most common in modern European jewelry.
• Nickel white gold: Gold alloyed with nickel and zinc. Cheaper to produce but nickel can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Still common outside the EU.
After manufacturing, most white gold jewelry is rhodium-plated with an extremely thin layer of rhodium (a platinum metal) to achieve the perfect mirror-white shine. The rhodium coating does wear off over time, which is why white gold jewelry sometimes needs to be 're-rhodium plated' by a jeweler.
Is white gold worth as much as yellow gold?
Yes, absolutely! The karat purity – not the color – determines the gold value. An 18K white gold ring contains exactly 75% pure gold, just like an 18K yellow gold ring. At MittGuld, you get exactly the same high price for your white gold as for yellow gold of the same karat.
A small note: the manufacturing cost for white gold is slightly higher (more expensive alloy metals, rhodium plating), but this does not affect the scrap value. It is the gold content in grams and the gram price that count.
White gold with palladium – sometimes worth extra
Modern, high-quality white gold jewelry is often alloyed with palladium – a precious metal in the platinum family that is more valuable than silver or nickel. The palladium content in a typical 18K palladium white gold piece is around 10–15% of the weight.
When we analyze your white gold with our XRF X-ray, we measure the exact palladium content. We pay you separately for palladium based on the current market price, in addition to the gold value. This can mean that your white gold piece actually pays out more than a comparable yellow gold piece of the same weight and karat. Ask us about this during your valuation!
Get paid right for your white gold
Let us value your white gold with the market's most modern XRF technology. We measure exactly how much gold and palladium your jewelry contains - and pay for all of it.