What is the Difference between Yellow Gold, White Gold and Rose Gold?

People often ask what the difference is between white gold, yellow gold and rose gold. The short answer is that they are all still gold, but each has a chemical make up that makes them a slightly different colour.

Yellow gold is made up of pure gold, alloyed with copper and silver. The higher the carat of the gold, the more pure it is. 24k is 99.9% pure gold, and 14k, for example, is 58.5% gold. Yellow gold has been used in jewelry for thousands of years, with its history dating back to ancient Egypt. It was especially popular during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.

White gold is a mixture of pure gold, nickel, and palladium. It has a similar appearance to silver, but is more durable. White gold was first used in the 1920s in jewellery design, and became popular due to its ability to mimic the look of platinum, which was very expensive at the time. White gold is frequently used in wedding bands and engagement rings due to its neutral color, which allows the focus to remain on the gemstones.

Rose gold gets its pink color from the combination of pure gold and copper. A higher proportion of copper gives the gold a deeper, more orangey-red tone. It was first popular in 19th century Russia, and in the early 1900s was widely used in jewellery design. Rose gold has experienced a resurgence in recent years, thanks in part to its association with vintage style. It can add a romantic and feminine touch to jewellery, and is often used in engagement rings.

Rose gold has a higher amount of copper in its makeup.