Red Nymph Jewelry
The law of nature tells us that, after absorbing energy by any matter, it’ll become unstable in the state of high energy, which is called, in scientific term, “thermodynamic instability”. So, it’s natural that metal keeps releasing energy, in order to return to original and highly stable state of ore. For example, silver is a metallic product of argentite (Ag2S) heated at high temperature, which is on the one hand very unstable in property due to increased internal energy. Another important factor is the strong affinity between silver and sulfur. The test of scientist unveils that, when silver is in contact with hydrogen sulfide or sulfion in the air, it tends to generate a kind of insoluble silver salt (Ag2S), such chemical change may occur in traces. When silver is in contact with one part of billions or tens of billions of hydrogen sulfide or sulfion in the air, chemical reaction will take place.
The result of such reaction is the product of silver sulfide on the surface. Silver sulfide is black gray. With intensified reaction, silver sulfide increases and thickens, leading to surface color of the silver turning from white to yellowish and finally dark color.
Where does silver sulfide come from? It’s a natural product. First, large volume of hydrogen sulfide is generated from human and animal faeces after decomposition of bacteria, protein decayed inside plant also produces hydrogen sulfide; in addition, human sweat contains sulfur, which in contact with silver product will cause discoloring; in particular, tremendous volume of hydrogen sulfide is produced in the city, where sewage and garbage are emitted in huge amount, so it’s no wonder for silver discoloring.
So, the surface of silver jewelry is plated with a coating of white gold, to prevent silver jewelry from discoloring by oxidative sweat and air and corrosive chemicals. This practice changes the phenomenon of darkening silver jewelry, extends lifetime of silver jewelry, and adds surface gloss of silver jewelry.
The melting point of most Sterling silver alloys is about 891 C. The melting point of most white gold alloys ranges from about 943 C to 1079 C.
Also the specific gravity (SG) of sterling is significantly lower than that of any white gold alloy which means that a Sterling item would float on the surface of any molten white gold alloy.
Thus, if you forcibly immersed a Sterling item into molten white gold alloy, and held it there, heat energy would transfer to the Sterling silver and it would melt.
If you are asking about electroplating a Sterling item with a tarnish resistant coating that will cause it to appear like white gold alloy, then platinum is usually used to produce counterfeit goods marked 14K or 18K. Otherwise, sterling is sometimes electroplated with rhodium which is also often used on white gold alloy jewelry to make it appear “whiter” or more brilliant.
Rhodium plating is often added onto white gold or silver jewelry — and engagement and wedding bands in particular — to increase shine, luster and durability. Rhodium plating will also make the metal more scratch resistant and, when used on silver jewelry, less prone to tarnishing.
One of the biggest upsides to rhodium plating is it’s nickel free, making it hypoallergenic. Most white jewelry consists of yellow gold mixed with a small amount of nickel to give it the “white gold” color. Nickel allergy is increasing across the population, so it makes sense to choose your metals wisely.
Palladium white gold however does hold its colour much better but is more expensive. Sterling Silver is perhaps 90% cheaper and is much easier to work with. But it may not last as long, also the colour is a different “white”
A item of jewelry that is plated in white Gold is not solid whit Gold but rather a base metal which could be any number of metals then electroplated with a very thin layer of white gold. It looks nice but has much lower value, even lower than sterling silver, unless it is the sterling that is plated but why this would be done, is beyond me.
The basic issue is that silver tarnishes. Although some people like that natural look, many don’t, so it can be hard to offer and sell tarnished jewelry at your jewelry counter.
So we look for ways to delay or prevent that tarnishing and one of several ways to do it is to plate a very thin layer of white gold on top of the silver. your customers should be able to understand the situation easily.
The difficult customers would be the ones that demand a natural silver that will readily tarnish, but they want it to be shiny and untarnished when they buy it! This demands either careful sealing or constant polishing until you sell it
White gold is an alloy that visually looks the same all over the world, as opposed to yellow and red gold. This makes it easier to combine with other jewelrys than jewelrys in yellow and red gold.
The white gold has become by far the most popular alloy for wedding bands is not that surprising, it is cheaper than platinum while it is considered to be more exclusive than silver. A main reason for its popularity depends on that the majority of the population have a quite light skin tone better suited for light metals. Also, a white or silver colored metal is a better alternative if you want the diamond to look as “blue” and clear as possible.