Engagement ring: Yellow VS White Gold question

[USAF385]

(I've included some back story, but the actual question can be found below in bold.)

I've finally gotten to the point where I'm going to buy my girlfriend a ring. I was going to a while ago but a whole lot of life kept getting in the way.. school, deployments etc.

Anyway, a diamond is out of the question for her. First of all she thinks it's ridiculous spending so much money on a rock that isn't that rare and costs a lot because THEY say it should... plus the whole idea of people being enslaved and murdered for them is a turn off.

I finally found a gemstone for the ring. On a trip to the Carnegie museum in Pittsburgh this past May I took notice of the fact that she really liked pink tourmaline. I tried finding loose tourmaline stones, but most of the loose ones came from overseas and weren't conflict free.... so that would pretty much bugger up a huge part of the reason for not getting a diamond.

I found out that Maine has a nice amount of tourmaline and came across some jewelers who sell items made with Maine tourmaline. Great!

Here is the actual question: I'm going to buy a ring with the stone I want, but am going to swap the band for a nicer setting. They only come in yellow or white gold. Which should I get? Meaning... which is worth more? I'm just going to sell the band after getting the stone.

Thanks,
Ski

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Easy question-what looks better with the stone? I'm not a big white gold man myself-I'd go with platinum. What does she look better in-silver or gold? My wife wears silver a lot better than gold (she wears a winter pallet the best). Sapphires-diamonds set in silver work best for her-a lot "cooler" than rub/emeralds set in yellow gopd-more for an autum/summer pallet .

Pretty fancy for a knuckle dragging gun totin' swamp dwelling stump jumpin' cajun eh.

 

[Raider]

I think Caj has got it. Whatever looks best with the stone. Also I agree that platinum would be a better choice than white gold. Thats two men's opinions. Bottom line is what would she like the best.

Charlie

 

[TACC1]

My wife wanted a ruby in a yellow-gold setting. Maybe I'll
call her and see if she's still got it......
TACC1

 

[MrJT]

Fellas, the question was what is worth more to sell... the white or yellow. I believe yellow would be worth more because white has other metals in it.

 

[dacoontz]

I'd go with platinum as it will keep it's clear shine and color for a lot longer between cleanings. My wifes rings is white gold and really looks fantastic when cleaned but gets dirty pretty quick. Since you're saving money on the stone then I say splurge on the setting and ring and go for platinum. I think it will better with a pink stone as well. Yellow gold with a pink stone would not look very modern, IMHO. Good luck!!!

 

[Alpo]

Fellas, the question was what is worth more to sell... the white or yellow. I believe yellow would be worth more because white has other metals in it.

So does yellow. If they mix silver or nickel with pure gold, they get "white gold". If they mix copper with pure gold they get "red gold". If they mix a mixture of copper and silver with pure gold, they get the "yellow gold" that we are used to seeing.

If they use three parts pure gold to one part something else, it does not matter whether the other part is silver, copper or zinc, and it does not matter what color you end up with. It is still 18 Karat gold.

So, if the settings for both rings - the white and the yellow - are the same Karat, then they are worth the same (assuming they weigh the same) because they both will have the same amount of pure gold in them.

Personally, though, I think yellow will resell better than white.

 

[2152hq]

Are you going to sell it for 'scrap' price (melt) or try and sell it as a gold ring?
Are the two ring(settings) the same price & weight?,,your choice yellow or white gold...

As scrap,,if the karat designation is the same,,the gold content is the same as already pointed out.
Put the karat over 24 for a fractional designation of how much pure gold the alloy contains.
14k,,14/24,,, 7/12ths pure gold.
They weight it (pennyweight) and determine the pure gold content and value, then give you your $15.00

Check both settings,,,we're assuming both are the same karat designation,,but there's always a chance they're not. White is usually 10K at most because of all the nickle in it. Yellow gold ring settings are commonly 14k, but 10 is also used alot.

To just resell the ring setting,, I'd guess a yellow gold would sell better than a white gold but I know nothing of trends or what must-haves for the season might be.
Alot depends on what twit in the movies on TV is wearing at the present.

 

[dcxplant]

"white gold" is plain old gold, plated with rhodium.

Over time the plating wears off, and you will need to bring it to a jewler for replating. Replating is fast, and the two times I've done it, they did it for free. It's a service kind of like diamond cleaning, they do it for free to build a relationship so you might buy your next piece of bling from them.

Platinum, is just platinum. It was more money per oz than gold, but with recent events gold may be more per oz. Check daily.... Platinum is much harder than gold, and more durable. It will stay silver in color. It holds a shine very will, but when dulled the polishing is more difficult, and dings can be very hard to get out. Platinum is also much heavier than gold, so that's a personal preference.

I like the "white" gold. It's lighter, more comfortable for me, and any old jewler and shine it. I plate it every so often for a new finish. My platinum ring felt uncomfortable after a long day sometimes. Of course, that could also be the weight of my horrible first marriage too

Best of luck, and I hope you have a long and happy run

 

[s&wchad]

Congratulations!

 

[markush]

"white gold" is plain old gold, plated with rhodium.

Over time the plating wears off, and you will need to bring it to a jewler for replating. Replating is fast, and the two times I've done it, they did it for free. It's a service kind of like diamond cleaning, they do it for free to build a relationship so you might buy your next piece of bling from them.

I have no clue who sold you what but this is just plain wrong...replate white gold? Are you saying it's yellow under your plating? Um you sure it's not brass that they sold you as gold? Sorry I know this is so far off topic but dude you got taken!!

well i'll be a monkeys uncle! I just read that they are indeed doing this now... sorry I stand corrected.

 

[rcnixon]

Another vote for platinum. Get your whole wedding set in platinum. It looks great and wears very well. Ours will be thirty-six years old on the 23rd and it looks as good as it ever did. So does she. I, on the other hand have gotten old, fat and scarred up.

Russ

 

[USAF385]

Thanks for the advice! On the ring I'm looking at, both golds are the same karat. It doesn't really matter since I'm only interested in the stone, but if I can get more for one than the other I'd like to go that way obviously. I'm figuring I'll just sell the ring as a ring.

I'm going with a platinum ring for her though. I know she doesn't like yellow gold.. it doesn't go well with her skin tone I guess... or so she has said.

 

[Cyrano]

Platinum is a good choice. My wife wore one for 40 years and it looked lovely.

 

[dcxplant]

I have no clue who sold you what but this is just plain wrong...replate white gold? Are you saying it's yellow under your plating? Um you sure it's not brass that they sold you as gold? Sorry I know this is so far off topic but dude you got taken!!

well i'll be a monkeys uncle! I just read that they are indeed doing this now... sorry I stand corrected.

It's all in the name of "cost control"

My "white" gold will start to show a yellow patina after a while, then I take it in and them polish and "reflash" it. Good as new in five minutes. My platinum ring was a bear to keep looking good. Not all jewlers could handle polishing it correctly. It takes a special wheel and polish. Some jewlers will deny this, but when they polish platinum on a gold/silver wheel, it makes the ring shiny but does not take out any scratches or dings. In two days it looks bad again.

I'm at that point in life that I buy what I like, and I don't feel like I should spend a lot of money on something just because it will make me feel better doing so or to impress anyone. My $99 wedding ring is comfortable, and easy to care for. The price I paid for the ring has no bearing on how I feel about my wife and my marriage, which are priceless. Besides, she got all ring dough for karats!

 

[Fishslayer]

How long have you known this gal? If she has a definite preference it shouldn't be hard to find out. What does she wear? Has she mentioned what she would like or pointed out something she liked.

My wife was easy. She has an allergy to yellow gold (I found out this is not all that rare) so everything is white gold or silver.

 

[Fishslayer]

"white gold" is plain old gold, plated with rhodium.

Wonder what my wife's rings are made of?

Her wedding band had a pattern 26 years ago but has worn to a smooth finish. It's still white...

 

[cballman]

First thing I would do is find some who makes jewelry for a living. Then I would have them get the stone for you and then have them make you the ring to set the stone in. Over the years I have had a friend of mine who is a jeweler make different items for my wife. The quality is better than the high end and low end mall jewelry stores. They then can tell you what setting would look good for each stone and not a general setting that is run of the mill. If you are going to spend a little bit of money show her that you have taken the time to go out of the way for her. It makes their heart flutter and feel very special.

 

[alabamabarry]

rings

look and see what she has the most of....white, yellow or ask her what she likes.and if she loves you...she will not care what it is as long is it came from you....

 

[DeadAye]

Since you're going to resell the ring - Get the largest one available