Not engaged…yet

My partner and i are designing my dream engagement ring…

I have been educated on everything except the difference between ‘gold alloy’ and white gold rings? most places i go to will create my ring in white gold, however, Tiffany and Paul Braum make them from gold alloy. Im told it is a stronger material than white gold, a bit like platnium, but without the price tag.

need help asap! =]

White gold is a type of gold alloy (it just has things in it which make it white).

Other types of gold alloy usually try and keep the colour yellow or rose-gold.

The strength of the gold alloy or white gold will depend what the gold is mixed with eg. nickel helps make it makes it stronger. Pure gold is 24 karats and is very soft and that’s why it is usually mixed with other substances/chemicals to make it stronger and that’s why you have 9 karat, 18 karat etc because it’s not pure. To know whether the gold alloy is stronger than white gold you would need to ask the jeweller what it is mixed with and compare the two.

All golds are alloys, first of all. Gold is a super soft metal, so if your ring was pure gold it would be useless as a ring, so if you’re wondering why it’s called an ‘alloy’ and not ‘gold’ that’d be it, like JolieMaganda has said. 
White gold is pretty fashionable at the moment in engagement and wedding rings, which is probably why you’re seeing them everywhere, but obviously the most important thing is what you like best. (Personally I prefer the contrast of yellow gold against a white diamond, but that’s just me!)
Something I’ve been told & observed about white gold is that it is more ‘work’ than yellow gold – similar to silver, white gold will tarnish, and according to jewllers is slightly more expensive to maintain because after some time (not sure how long) it will need to be re-surfaced (and I’m not sure what that means, either, it’s just what I’ve been told). Platinum also tarnishes (or at least I have seen a platinum ring belonging to someone who I know which has tarnished). 
But do check that what they are talking about is your normal yellow gold… if they are trying to sell you some kind of “magic Tiffany / Paul Braum exclusive” “gold alloy” which is still a *white* gold, I’d… be cautious. It might just be their special branding of white gold and in reality the exact same thing for more money, or almost the exact same thing. (White gold isn’t a naturally occuring metal anyway- it is a man-made gold variant: naturally occurring gold mixed with a white metal like nickel or manganese) But – if the brand is important to you, it might be worth it, anyway. They may also have better offers for after care of your ring. 
Good luck!