Gold is an enduring, naturally-found element that has
captured the hearts and minds of humans since antiquity. It has distinctive
properties that make is the most coveted of all precious metals. It is strong, resistant to tarnish and
corrosion, yet it is extremely malleable.
All pure gold is 24 karat, which is far too soft to use for
fine jewelry. In order to improve strength and durability, gold must be alloyed, or mixed with other metals. That process also creates the different
colors of gold that most people are familiar with. Colored golds are less than 24 karats, and
when used to create jewelry, the pieces are typically 75 percent gold (18k), 58
percent gold (14k) or 38 percent gold (9k). Gold’s color is determined by the
type of metal alloys in the material and the
percentage of each of those alloys. There is no difference in the value of
yellow gold, white gold or rose gold when comparing pieces of the same pure
gold karat.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is what most people picture first when they hear
the word “gold.” It gets its rich color and shine from a mix of gold and
color-saturated alloys like copper with a red hue and silver with a green hue.
White Gold
White gold can range in color from pale yellow to brown.
Because white gold comes in such a variety of colors, jewelry is often coated
in rhodium
plating, which most people believe is the actual “white gold”
itself.
The alloys in white gold can vary. Many gold
pieces are made up of gold, nickel and copper, though nickel can cause an
allergic reaction in many people. Other white gold pieces are a gold,
palladium, silver mix. Palladium, nickel
and zinc are the primary bleaching agents of white gold.
The composition of a piece of white gold jewelry is often
determined by the piece itself. Rings, pins and pendants require hard metals,
so they likely contain more nickel than earrings, for example. Palladium is
often added in bracelets and chains, or in pieces where the white gold will be
used for gemstone settings, as palladium makes the metal more malleable.
Rose Gold
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Rose gold, also called pink gold and red gold, is typically
associated with antique jewelry. It was popular in the 19th century,
especially among Russian royalty. Rose gold jewelry is often cast in 18 karat
gold and consists of about 21 percent copper and 4 percent silver to create the
rose hue.
Is Any Single Color
of Gold Better Than Another?
There is no difference in value between yellow gold, white
gold and rose gold. The real difference simply comes down to aesthetics. It can
be more difficult to find rose gold jewelry than white or yellow because its
popularity waned for many years, and it can take dealers a bit longer to find
goldsmiths who work in rose gold. This can often drive up the price of rose
gold jewelry, but it does not make the piece any more valuable over time.
Trends and tastes change. Rose gold is becoming more fashionable after an almost Century-long
drop in popularity. The vintage look of rose gold has made it a favorite in custom jewelry design. White gold became extremely
popular in the 1990’s but yellow gold is also making a comeback. Whether a
shopper is looking to stay on top of trends or create a classic look, one can
never when they follow their own preferences and tastes.
Naomi Shaw
Journalist, Beautician and Full-Time Mom
