White Gold

14K white gold, natural sapphire & diamond ring
White gold ring set with natural sapphire and diamonds
White gold does not occur in nature.  Gold is naturally a yellow color that must be alloyed with other metals in order to change its color.

White gold was invented in 1710 by German alchemists Johan Frierich Bottger and Ehrenfried Walther Von Tcshirnhaus.

However, white gold wasn't used in jewelry until 1917, after David Belais, of the Belais Brothers, submitted their "recipe" for white gold to be patented.

White gold became very popular in the mid 1920s as a more affordable substitute for platinum.

White gold is an alloy usually consisting of gold, copper, nickel, and zinc.
 All photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA)