White Gold Allergy?
 

Has anyone ever heard of someone being allergic to white gold? In Sept. my hubby upgraded my wedding set for our 14th anniversary. I had taken my original set to a jeweler to double check my ring size which I thought was a 5 1/4 but they said it was a 5. Well my new set ended up being sized a bit small- I don't know if my old ring really was a 5 1/4 and not a 5 but I did notice after the fact that the gold had worn thin on the back of the bands so maybe the affected the size. Anyway, the new set is a bit hard to get on and off but once they're on it's fine. They spin easily and I've been planning to have them stretched.

Sooo, the last couple of weeks I haven't taken them off. I've been a bit puffy and that made them really hard to get off. I took them off today and it look almost like my fingers are burned.:eek: There are 2 red, shiny raised rings on the top of my finger. Now that the rings are off they hurt- I don't know how I didn't notice before.

I think I read at some point that white gold is treated or coated with something because it isn't as shiny as yellow gold naturally. I'm scared to death I am allergic to whatever it is. I've been wearing these rings since Sept. with no problem. I've never been allergic or sensitive to anything else.

Any ideas? I'm freaking out- this is my beautiful new wedding set!:( Do you think it could be the sizing problem? They aren't tight at all once on though so I just can't see how that could be it.

Aww, man, I just read this-

Before my wedding (4/20/07) I got my engagement ring Rhodium dipped so that it would be shiny, etc. for pictures. It is 18K white gold. Starting probably a month after the wedding, my finger has become red and itchy underneath primarily the engagement ring, because it has a wide band.

Is it common to have Rhodium allergy? If so--is it possible to remove the plating?

here-http://www.finishing.com/373/24.shtml

Arg! I can't be allergic to my brand new ring!

Oops, ETA rhodium is what they coat most white gold with.

Yep youre allergic to something in it. I can only wear yellow gold or it does the same thing. I get a ring then it becomes itchy then I get little blisters. I have put clear fingenail polish on the inside before and that helped. I hate it its that way with me on earrings also and everythiing else. I am really limited on the jewery I can buy

I've never heard that before. Maybe speak to the jewellery store you got it from and see what they say.

Can I just say though... wow, 14th anniversary... looking at your avatar I didn't think you were even old enough to of been married for 14 years!!

Great, now I just read that white gold is made by mixing yellow gold with either nickel or palladium. Nickel is most common in the US and palladium is most common in the UK. 20% of women are allergic to nickel. I am officially freaking out. I love my rings!:( It's my wedding set and the most expensive jewelry I own- obviously can't just run out and buy a new one.

Thanks for the responses and thank you SO MUCH Gypsy for the complement.:)

You're most welcome... :D

I've heard of some people not being able to wear jewelry of certain precious metals. It's just not one of those things you think about until it happens.

I think that it's the nickel most likely. I'm allergic to nickel and that's what it sounds like. The more your skin is exposed to nickel, the worse it gets and the less your skin can tolerate it. I've tried coating jewelry with clear polish but it doesn't work anymore. The only thing I can wear is silver, yellow gold 14k and above, and platinum. I also have some white gold without nickel that I can wear. I think the polish would work for now. But your allergy may eventually get so bad that even that doesn't work.

I am going to take to a jeweler. There must be something that they can coat it with professionally. This my wedding set for pete's sake! There have to be other people who have made a major purchase not realizing that they were allergic so there just has to be a solution. I am so sad! I love my ring!:( It's so weird, I've never been allergic to anything.