Making White Gold by TomDart

Photography • Science/Medical • posted on Jul 26, 2007

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Description

Making White Gold...we all know gold is yellow, actually gold color. There is no white gold from nature but we can make it, just as we make rose gold and green gold. Pure gold is too soft for jewelry and is alloyed or mixed with other metals to make karat gold, such as 18k(750) and 14k(585). The color comes from the other metals added to the pure yellow gold. Here, my coworker Richard is making palladium white gold. Much white gold is made white by the addition of nickel but some folks have sensitivity to nickel. Europe requires white gold to meet certain "anti sensitivity" requirements. The USA does not but we sell white gold for the most part with no nickel problems, either the palladium white alloy mix or special proprietary gold alloys from a few manufacturers. This is pure yellow gold being melted with a palladium metal mix. The palladium is a platinum group metal and melts at a high temperature. We have no special furnaces and in the small shop use a torch and tricks of the trade to make good gold alloys for jewelry casting and other uses. Perhaps the picture will be interesting. The shot was taken with manual focus to show the flames and heat. Room lights were on but eye protection was needed. 1/60sec, f/10, ISO 200. This is not a real gallery image..well, perhaps if of some interest to others.

Comments (6)

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RobyHermida

8:51PM | Thu, 26 July 2007

Very interesting picture!!!!!

MrsLubner

11:10AM | Fri, 27 July 2007

Well I just learned about 4 things I didn't know before. And I thought I knew quite a bit about precious metals. This really is a great shot and very interesting.

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mamabobbijo

12:19PM | Fri, 27 July 2007

Worn white gold or silver all my life, and never knew any of that, although I did wonder why some made me itch and some didn't. Great shot. It is fascinating to watch a smith of any sort work. BJ

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Cosine

6:49PM | Sun, 29 July 2007

Very interesting photo and explanation, Tom. It reminds me a bit of glass blowing, both manual processes with precision heat.

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nikolais

1:23AM | Wed, 01 August 2007

exciting all

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jocko500

11:10PM | Thu, 02 August 2007

Thanks for the words on gold. I did not know. wonder how they duid it. I like the image for the fire. I like the dubjuct and you did take a very good shot of what going on.