You might be wondering: If it's all gold, why does it come in different colors?
In its natural form, pure gold (24 Karat) is bright yellow, but it is actually too soft to be worn every day. To make jewelry strong and durable enough for daily wear, jewelers mix pure gold with other metals (called alloys). The specific mix of these added metals is exactly what creates the beautiful variations of Yellow, White and Rose gold.
Here is a simple guide to understanding the difference between these three stunning choices.
1. Yellow Gold: The Timeless Classic
Yellow gold is the most traditional and recognizable form of gold jewelry.
How it's made: It is created by mixing pure gold with metals like copper and zinc. Pure gold is naturally yellow, a higher karat (like 22K or 18K) will have a richer, deeper yellow color than 14K.
The Look: It has a rich, warm and classic shine. Yellow gold is the purest color of gold and is perfect for those who love traditional, elegant jewelry.
Durability & Care: Yellow gold is very easy to maintain. It is the most hypoallergic of the three gold colors and will never lose its yellow color over the time. A simple polish is all it takes to bring back its original shine.
2. White Gold: The Modern Sparkle
White gold has sleek, silvery-white appearance that looks very similar to platinum but is much more affordable.
How it's made: It is made by mixing pure gold with white metal, such as silver, nickel, or palladium. To give it that bright, mirror-like finish, because the base is still yellow gold (an 18K white gold ring is still 75% yellow gold), the jewelry is coated with a brilliant white metal called rhodium to give it a pure icy finish.
The Look: It is modern, elegant and icy. White gold is incredibly popular for engagement rings because the bright white metal perfectly enhances the sparkle of white diamonds.
Durability & Care: White gold is slightly stronger than yellow gold, making it resistant to scratches. However, over time the rhodium coating can naturally wear away, revealing a faint yellow tint underneath. To keep it looking brand new, you will just need to take it to a jeweler every few years to have it quickly re-dipped in rhodium.
3. Rose Gold: The Romantic Choice
Rose gold (sometimes called pink gold) has become incredibly popular in recent years for its unique, vintage appeal.
How it's made: Rose gold gets its beautiful blush-pink color from being mixed with a higher percentage of copper, along with a touch of silver.
Fun fact: 14K rose gold often looks like slightly pinker or redder than 18K rose gold.
The Look: It offers a soft, romantic and warm glow that stands out from traditional metals. It brings a unique, fashionable touch to any jewelry design.
Durability & Care: Because copper is a very strong metal, rose gold is actually the most durable of the three choices and is highly resistant to scratches. It does not require any special plating, meaning it will never lose its pink color. In fact, over many years, rose gold can develop a slightly deeper, richer vintage tone.
