How To Clean White Gold Jewelry: A Comprehensive Guide

Diamond Exchange Houston would like to provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to clean white gold jewelry such as rings. Once white gold has been worn for some time is will start to turn back to a yellow color. One amazing thing about jewelry such as engagement rings, pendants, wedding bands, and other types of diamond jewelry is that they can always be brought back to “brand new” condition.

So, no matter how long you have worn your rings or how scratched up they are, they can always be restored back to amazing condition. With our expert tips and tricks, you can easily restore your white gold jewelry to its original brilliant shine, and keep it looking as good as new for years to come.

Understanding Why White Gold Turns Yellow

White gold is absolutely gorgeous, however, with normal wear the white gold will eventually start to turn yellow. At Diamond Exchange Houston we are known for our amazing deals on engagement rings, loose diamonds, and jewelry. After a year or so our customers will come back to us to get their engagement rings renewed because the white gold is not shining as brightly. White gold is a combination alloy of gold and other white metals, such as palladium, nickel, and silver. While white gold is known for its lustrous and shiny appearance, however, it is common for white gold to turn yellow over time.

Yellow gold can very easily be turned into white gold by using a thin layer of rhodium, which is a rare metal that is used to plate white gold jewelry. This rhodium plating will wear off over time, causing the underlying yellow gold to show through. Certain factors that can cause white gold to turn yellow include exposure to chemicals, such as chlorine, and contact with perfumes, lotions, and other skincare products. There are many online resources available to help you learn the basics of cleaning your white gold jewelry such as Wikihow.

How to Clean White Gold that has Turned Yellow

Cleaning white gold rings and jewelry that has turned yellow is a relatively easy process that you can do at home or while visiting our jewelry store located in Houston. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to clean white gold that has turned yellow:

Step 1: Prepare a Cleaning Solution

You can visit our jewelry store and we have proper cleaning materials. If you are doing it from home then mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water in a small bowl. Stir the solution gently to mix the cleaner and water together.

Step 2: Soak the Jewelry

Place the yellowed white gold jewelry in the cleaning solution, and let it soak for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will help to loosen any dirt, grime, or oils that may have accumulated on the surface of the jewelry and make it easier to clean.

Step 3: Scrub the Jewelry with a Toothbrush

After soaking, use a toothbrush to gently scrub the jewelry and make sure you reach the deep crevices. if you have an engagement ring make sure to clean under the main diamond. Be sure to avoid scrubbing too hard or using abrasive materials, as this can scratch or damage the surface of the jewelry. Also, you do not want to scrub too aggressively because sometimes a diamond might fall out.

Step 4: Rinse, Steam, then Dry the Jewelry

Once you have finished scrubbing, rinse the jewelry thoroughly with warm water to remove any remaining cleaning solution or debris. Use a soft cloth to pat the jewelry dry, making sure to remove any excess water. Here at Diamond Exchange, we have a steamer machine that we use to blow hot air on the jewelry to help it get the cleanest possible. At Diamond Exchange Houston we offer free engagement ring and diamond jewelry cleaning for life. You are welcome to schedule an appointment with us to get your jewelry cleaned.

Step 5: Polish Your Jewelry

This step can only be done by a professional jeweler and not at home (unless you have a steamer). There are machines that our jeweler uses to polish the jewelry and remove any scratches. This can make engagement rings, pendants, wedding bands, and other types of jewelry look new again.

Step 6: Apply Rhodium Plating

Once your rings or jewelry has been completely cleaned, now it is time to make it look brand new by dipping it in rhodium. Rhodium plating is a quick and affordable process that can restore your white gold jewelry to its original shiny appearance. This process is normally done by our jeweler here at Diamond Exchange Houston. There is a small fee for this service, however, it is completely worth it because your jewelry will come back looking brand new.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cleaning white gold that has turned yellow is a simple and straightforward process that you can do at home using common household items. By following our expert tips and tricks, you can easily restore your white gold jewelry to its original lustrous shine, and keep it looking as good as new for years to come. If you would like to get your jewelry cleaned and restored to like-new condition then contact us today. Diamond Exchange Houston is here for all of your diamond jewelry needs!

How do I make white gold shiny again?

The best way to make a white gold engagement ring or piece of jewelry shiny again is to clean, polish, and rhodium.  Diamond Exchange Houston does offer this service for a small fee depending on the type of jewelry that you have.

How do I turn my white gold ring back to being white again instead of yellow?

After some time of wear then white gold will eventually start turning back to yellow.  The way that you turn a yellowing ring back to white again is with rhodium plating.  You simply dip your yellow gold into the rhodium plating chemical/formula and it makes it a shiny white color again.  Diamond Exchange Houston's jeweler does this process all of the time for our customers that want their rings or jewelry renewed.

How much does it cost to rhodium jewelry?

It will typically cost around $50-$100 to get a white gold ring or piece of jewelry restored to brand new.  This is a charge from the jeweler to clean, polish, and rhodium a piece of jewelry.