Besides the warm yellow color of gold, it also exists in gray, and almost resembles the metal silver. Under this color, it is called, « gray gold » or « white gold », it is the same alloy. Although silver and white gold are the same color, they are different. Not only is white gold more valuable than yellow gold, but it is also more resistant. That is why it is often set with precious stones including the diamond. Moreover, its color better brings out the color of the stones.
The particularity of gray or white gold
The administration does not regulate the designation of white or gray gold; it is the jewelers who determine them as such because of their alloys. However, the jewelry is stamped with a hallmark indicating the amount of pure gold it contains. It is thus declared like all precious metals. The white gold alloy is essentially composed of gold and silver; in its natural state it is known as electrum. In some gold mines, it is already found in its natural state. Nowadays, jewelers use various alloys to produce it. The most common are silver and palladium.
How to carry out the test?
It is quite difficult to distinguish gray gold from silver. To test them, a compositional analysis must be carried out at a laboratory. Otherwise, there is also the touchstone method. In addition to that, silver is lighter in terms of weight since the gray metal has a density of 10.5 versus 19.3 for gold, almost double. It is therefore enough to differentiate them by weight to know whether it is white gold or silver.