The fact that it is white does not take away from its quality of being gold. As a matter of fact, yellow gold is also blended with other elements to make it the sparkling yellow color that we all think of as gold.
White gold is an alloy of pure gold. To make white gold, nickel or palladium is added to the pure gold. Nickel and palladium is what gives the gold its white color. Other elements are added to pure gold when creating yellow or pink gold.