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White Gold Vs Yellow Gold
by Xanthe Marina
There are many individuals who will wear any metal on the planet. There are those who will allow themselves to break out in a rash due to some horrendous allergic reaction from their jewellery bought on the high street or some market place, all for the sake of fashion.
Then there are some ladies who are more particular. Being a London based jewellery designer I am very flexible when catering to all tastes. Some of my clients will only wear white metal regardless of whether it is sterling silver or 18ct white gold and they will never look at an alternative. Then there are those who adore yellow gold and who might be a little adventurous and occasionally push the boat out and opt for rose gold. Then you have the likes of myself, I love all metals as long as it is a precious, and I do tend to lean more towards yellow gold. This may be a cultural thing. My mother, her mother and all my family prefer yellow gold.
When I was younger, I grew up watching shows such as “Blackadder”. During one scene the silly Lord Percy decides to create gold to save Lord Edmund Blackadder from poverty, needless to say, it doesn’t go quite to plan.
Lord Percy: After literally an hour's ceaseless searching, I have succeeded in creating gold, pure gold.
Blackadder: Are you sure?
Lord Percy: Yes, my lord. Behold.
Blackadder: Percy... it's green.
Lord Percy: That's right, my lord.
Blackadder: Yes, Percy, I don't want to be pedantic or anything, but the colour of gold is gold. That's why it's called gold.
I agree with Edmund, to a degree, but then in saying that I love matching the huge array of colours of gemstones to the colour of metals. For example I love that stones like Citrines, Lemon Quartz, Yellow Diamonds etc go so magnificently with yellow gold. Then again gemstones like the coolness of London Blue Topaz, Iolite and Sapphire go so perfectly with white gold or silver. Of course rose gold can be matched with stones with pink and red hues such as Rose Quartz, Garnets and Rubies oh my!
When choosing your metals it is important to take into consideration skin tones. Those with a warm or tanned skin tone can be complemented by the richness of yellow gold against their skin. Some ladies with a paler pallor can look washed out carrying yellow gold whilst white gold can be very complimentary to a paler skin tone. Those with a darker complexion can wear just about anything and it will look beautiful and striking.
When it comes to jewellery that requires almost no maintenance then yellow gold is the way forward. Unfortunately white gold and silver always need constant care and attention. Silver oxidises very quickly and creates blackening which is quite unpleasant and makes a piece look “dirty”. Whilst white gold is mixed with palladium and/or silver can fade, yellow gold does not.
Choosing metals is very individual. For me, I simply love gold more than any other metal regardless of the colour, shape or size and feel it is crucial for any lady to be open minded and to keep her jewellery box full no matter of the colour of metal.
Xanthe Marina is a jewellery designer based in London. Xanthe has her own collections whilst carrying out bespoke pieces for her clientele.
