Why is there white gold and yellow gold?

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reader’s question Sarah Christine Vieira e Silva, Uberaba, MG

illustrates Yasmin Ayumi

Originally, gold is yellow. But, as it is a very malleable metal, it needs to be mixed with other chemical elements in order to form an alloy that is hard and resistant enough to be used in jewelry. Depending on the mix, gold takes on new colors. White gold, for example, is a recipe usually composed of gold, silver and palladium, a whitish-colored metal, just like silver. Like any great recipe worth its salt, jewelry stores have their own formulas and specific secrets for achieving unique shades. These mixtures also define the amount of carats. If a piece of jewelry is 24K, it is 100% gold. But if it’s 18K, it’s a mixture of 18 parts gold and six parts other materials. And 9K? Same logic: nine parts of gold to 15 of other metals.

Rainbow

White gold is just the beginning

READ TOO

– How is gold formed?

– How much gold has been discovered in the world?

– What are the most precious metals that exist?

Source World Gold Council (association of the world’s leading gold mining companies)