GOLD ALLERGIES

White Gold

Roughly one in eight people that wears white gold jewelry develops an allergic reaction to the nickel found in some white gold alloys. A discoloration or skin rash may appear where the gold touches your skin (ears, neck, fingers, toes, piercings, etc.). The person might be suffering from a nickel allergy, not a gold allergy.

White gold alloys made without nickel in the alloy are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

To avoid nickel allergies manufacturers of higher quality white gold jewelry use an alloy made of yellow gold, platinum, palladium or zinc instead of the nickel-alloyed white gold.

Yellow Gold

Proof gold is 99.9% gold and generally used for standards purposes

24 karat gold is 99.7% pure gold

22 karat gold is 91.67% gold ( 5% silver, 2% copper and 1.33% zinc)

18 karat gold is 75% gold

14 karat gold is 58.3% gold

10 karat gold is 41.7% gold

The balance of the alloy may be made up of silver, copper, zinc or other metals. 24 karat gold is very soft. Alloys are added to make the gold stronger, and less expensive for the buyer or seller.

Bottom line, it’s probably not the gold you are allergic to, but the other metals in the alloy. Ask your jeweler for the material certs before you buy.