Worked by the expert hands of goldsmiths and artisans, gold and silver are two materials capable of giving shape to rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings, small works of art to wear. Knowing how to recognize white gold from silver is important: the two materials are very similar to the eye, but hide a different composition and, above all, a different value.
An inexperienced eye, in fact, could be deceived by silver that looks like gold, but discovering their characteristics is the first step in protecting yourself from fraud and making more careful choices.
Silver and white gold: composition and nature of two precious and versatile materials
Same color and shine, but a completely different essence. Silver is a material found in nature, in purity or more often in compounds with other minerals such as lead and sulphur. It is a very ductile metal, harder than pure gold which, however, needs to combine with other metals to be worked.
This is how precious alloys are born: specifically, the composition of 18k white gold is obtained thanks to the union of 75% gold with 25% silver, palladium or manganese, creating a more resistant and durable material than 'silver.
Another thing is gold-plated silver jewellery, in which a layer of gold is applied only and exclusively on the superficial part of a silver base.
White gold and silver, being so different by nature, require different and specific care to restore them to their original shine. Silver darkens easily and needs to be polished with a professional product. White gold is a low maintenance material but tends to yellow after a few years and may require rhodium plating by the jeweller. Rhodium plating can also be performed on silver jewelery and accessories, to make them more resistant to oxidation.
How to recognize white gold: tips for the untrained eye
To distinguish white gold from silver or any other material similar to the sight, it is necessary to look for and verify the hallmark , that is, the small distinctive mark that
international level indicates the nature of the metal. In particular, the hallmark refers to the fineness of the alloy expressed in thousandths: it is a numerical code that expresses the percentage of pure gold or silver present in the jewel.
The expected grades for gold are: 750, 585, 375 (which are equivalent to 18k, 14k, 9k respectively). The hallmark showing the number 750 indicates, for example, that out of 1000 parts of metal 750 are pure gold (75%), 585 will contain 58.5% and so on. While, for silver the expected securities are 925 and 800.
It often happens that you come across the wording "925 white gold" , but 925 is not a standard for white gold, so in this case you are dealing with a fake or a silver jewel and an erroneous indication.
The various methodologies for recognizing gold and silver, such as the "bite test", the use of ceramic stone, floating, etc. that we read about on the web are not fully reliable and some of them can even compromise the beauty of the jewel.
To recognize white gold , to verify its authenticity in case of doubts or to be certain that a jewel is made of real silver, it is advisable to contact a trusted jeweler who, thanks to his experience and suitable equipment, can give a reliable verdict. Even for safe purchases, the advice is to always rely on certified retailers.
Read our in-depth analysis on the real difference between white gold and yellow gold.
White gold and silver: a question of value
The price of precious metals varies every day, based on supply and demand with respect to the stock market trend. When quoting white gold, the fineness is considered, i.e. the quantity of pure gold expressed in thousandths or carats in relation to weight.
To precisely establish how much white gold is worth, it is therefore necessary to consult the prices in reference to a specific date. Silver has a far lower value than white gold. To get an idea: it is in the order of cents for the first, while 18k gold in the reference period considered (July 2023) exceeds €35 per gram.
If you have noticed a faded or worn appearance to the silver or gold material of your watch, learn more about proper cleaning and maintenance to preserve the appearance and durability of your precious accessory.
