Gold has been a precious metal for centuries and has been used in currency, decoration, and, of course, jewelry. While most people assume their gold jewelry is made from pure gold, it almost never is. This is because gold by itself is much too soft to be used in jewelry. So, it’s almost always mixed with other metals to create combinations called alloys.
The different metals added to gold can change the color of the alloy, which is where the different types of gold – white, yellow, and rose – come from.
White Gold
White gold is a gold alloy made from mixing pure gold with white metals like silver, palladium, and nickel. The different metals used in the alloy offer different properties and benefits. For example, gold mixed with nickel makes a hard white gold suited for rings and brooch pins, but gold mixed with palladium creates a softer white gold better for gemstone settings.
White gold alloys are also usually finished with a rhodium plating to give them their distinctive white color, as, without the rhodium, most white gold would retain and yellow tint. This alloy is desirable for jewelry because it is more affordable than platinum but offers the same whitish silver color. It also complements white diamond nicely and looks best with rosy or fair skin tones.
Yellow Gold
Silver, copper, and zinc are the metals most commonly combined with gold to make yellow gold as they allow it to hold into its distinctive yellow color. Though this alloy does look the most like real gold out of all the gold alloys, it is the softest and therefore requires careful maintenance and care when used in jewelry. But yellow gold is the most traditional metal used for wedding and engagement rings as it is easily matched with low color grade diamonds, and it is often hypoallergenic. Yellow gold is thought to best complement olive or darker skin tones.
Rose Gold
Rose gold is an alloy made from gold and copper. Though rose gold is often called “pink” or “red” gold, the terms are not interchangeable. Red, rose, and pink gold refer to different copper contents in a gold-copper alloy since the more copper is in the alloy, the redder it will appear. The most popular mixture for rose gold is 25% copper and 75% gold by mass.
This alloy has gained popularity in recent years because it’s more affordable and durable than other gold alloys, and it complements all skin tones.
Find Beautiful Gold of All Colors at F. Silverman Jewelers
Whether you’re searching for a yellow gold engagement ring, rose gold bracelet, or white gold earrings, F. Silverman Jewelers in Bergen County can help. Our showroom in Woodcliff Lake is brimming with fine gold jewelry in every color and our expert jewelers are standing by to help you find the perfect piece.