- Jewelry Identifier
- Gold alloys
- 10K White Gold
* 10K gold
10K White Gold: what it's made of, its purity, and its value
Common US-market budget white gold. Almost always rhodium-plated. Nickel allergy risk.
Published May 30, 2026
Quick facts
- Karat
- 10K
- Purity
- 41.7%
- Fineness
- 417/1000
- Color
- White
- Density
- 11.3 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 925 °C
What it's made of
- Gold
- 41.7%
- Copper
- 25%
- Nickel
- 20%
- Zinc
- 13.3%
The gold content is fixed at 41.7% — that's what makes it 10K. The remaining metals are what set the color: Nickel and palladium are the bleaching metals — they cancel gold's yellow to give a white tone.
About 10K White Gold
Common US-market budget white gold. Almost always rhodium-plated. Nickel allergy risk.
How much it's worth
The melt value of a 10K White Gold piece is gold spot price × 0.417 × weight (g), because only 41.7% of the metal is gold. A buyer then deducts roughly 5–15% for refining and margin, so a cash offer lands just under that figure. Higher-karat gold packs in more gold per gram, so it carries a higher melt value — but it's also softer and scratches more easily, which is why everyday jewelry often uses lower karats.
* Frequently asked
FAQ
- Q. How much gold is in 10K White Gold?
- A. 41.7% by weight. 10K means 10 parts gold out of 24, which works out to 417/1000 fineness — the rest is alloy metals added for color and durability.
- Q. Is 10K White Gold real gold?
- A. Yes. 10K is genuine gold — it's 41.7% pure gold by weight, alloyed with other metals. It is not gold-plated or gold-filled; the gold runs all the way through.
- Q. Why is 10K White Gold white?
- A. The color comes from the metals mixed with the gold. Nickel and palladium are the bleaching metals — they cancel gold's yellow to give a white tone.
- Q. Will 10K White Gold tarnish or cause skin reactions?
- A. Solid gold itself doesn't tarnish, but this is a nickel-bearing white gold, and nickel can trigger contact allergy in sensitive wearers (it's regulated in the EU under REACH). Rhodium plating and palladium-based alternatives avoid the issue.
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