How Often Does a White Gold Engagement Ring Need to Be Redipped?

White gold is a classic, timeless metal, which is why so many brides favor it for their engagement rings, but they require some upkeep if you want to ensure your precious piece of jewelry doesn't turn back to a yellow-gold color. The most important thing you can do for your white gold engagement ring? Get it redipped. To understand how often you really need to have this maintenance done, we chatted with Abby Sparks, CEO of Abby Sparks Jewelry, to ask her expert opinion on the matter.

What does it mean to get a ring redipped?

Having a ring redipped mostly applies to white gold jewelry. A ring made of white gold needs to be rhodium plated in order to keep its white color. During this process, electric currents are used to bond rhodium to the existing metal. This gives your white gold ring that bright, white shine you love! It's important to note that certain types of white gold will need more maintenance than others (this is because all white gold due to the fact that it's made from a mix of yellow gold and other alloys), so ask your jeweler what kind of upkeep the ring you have will need.

How often should you get your ring redipped?

When your fiancé buys your ring, it will have already been freshly dipped. Once you start wearing it, redipping it is a matter of upkeep, and really comes down to personal preference and what's necessary for the composition of your specific ring. "I'd recommend having it redipped one to two times a year, possibly more depending on how tough you are on your ring," says Sparks. "When you go a long time without redipping it can start to look patchy, and give your engagement ring a tie-dye effect. I personally don't recommend going with a white gold that needs to be dipped, just because it requires so much maintenance and upkeep. For those who are maintenance-averse, find a jeweler who works with high quality white gold. It does have some warmer tones, but you won't have to get it dipped and redipped throughout a lifetime of wear. If you really have your heart set on that crisp white effect, go with a platinum engagement ring instead, which won't require so much work and you'll still get the white metal effect that you love."