What Is Rose Gold?

Rose gold is a colored gold with a distinctive pink hue. It is also sometimes called pink gold or red gold. Rose gold is a popular option for engagement rings and other jewelry due to its romantic vintage appeal.

Read on to find out more about this gold alloy, from how it’s made to where you can buy it.

How Is Rose Gold Made?

Contrary to popular belief, pure gold is not used in making jewelry. This is because pure gold is extremely soft and malleable. Instead, gold alloys are used, in which other metals are added to gold to increase its strength and durability.

Rose gold is an alloy composed of copper and silver alloys mixed with pure gold, which gives the metal its characteristic pink hue. The copper content is what determines the color of the metal, with more copper resulting in a more vibrant rose color known as red gold.

There is no set standard for the amount of copper that needs to be present in the alloy for it to be regarded as rose gold. This is why you may come across rose gold that appears lighter or darker than what the jewelry industry advertises as rose gold.

Are Pink Gold and Red Gold The Same As Rose Gold?

As mentioned above, rose gold displays a certain degree of color variation due to the varying amounts of copper used in making the alloy. These color variants are sometimes referred to as pink gold and red gold.

Red gold contains more copper, resulting in a darker reddish hue, while pink gold comprises less copper, giving it a more inconspicuous rose color.

Why Is Rose Gold Called Russian Gold?

Russian gold is an obsolete term for rose gold that references the country where it was first popularized in the 19th century. However, the popularity of the alloy soon spread to other countries, becoming the most fashionable choice for fine jewelry in Victorian England.

By the 1920s, its popularity had risen again. This time, as a result of the renowned French jeweler Cartier, who introduced his signature “Trinity Ring”. This ring comprised one rose, one white, and one yellow gold band entwined into one – a combination that is still popular today.

Despite the famed Trinity Ring, the popularity of rose gold took a dive after the 1920s, only to regain it again during the 1940s. This was due to the prohibition of the use of platinum for engagement and wedding rings, as it was being used for military purposes.

Nowadays, rose gold is more popular than ever and is widely used for engagement rings and other jewelry. In addition, its delicate pink hue has also become a trendy color for everything from makeup to laptops and hair dye.

So, while “Russian gold” is a term that is no longer used, rose gold continues to remain one of the most popular metals for both the modern and vintage bride.

Is Rose Gold Measured In Karats?

Gold purity is measured according to the karat system. “Karat” is the unit of measurement used in this system, which is used to describe the ratio of pure gold to other metals in a gold piece. For example, 24-karat gold is the purest and stands for 24 out of 24 parts gold.

Rose gold is available in the same karats as yellow gold. For example, 14-karat rose gold has the same proportion of pure gold to other metals as 14-karat yellow gold. In other words, they both contain 14 out of 24 parts gold (or 58.3%).

Generally speaking, rose gold pieces with a lower purity level contain more copper, which can make the gold appear redder (though this is not always the case since the jewelry may also contain other metals). Thus, rose gold with a higher karat usually has a lighter, more pinkish tone.

Rose Gold Vs. Yellow Gold

While the popularity of rose gold appears to rise and fall with the times, yellow gold will always be a timeless choice.

However, rose gold jewelry is more durable than yellow gold due to the silver and copper alloys it contains. Thus, yellow gold is more prone to getting scratched and damaged, implying that it generally requires more maintenance than rose gold.

On the flip side, yellow gold jewelry is a much more hypoallergenic metal than rose gold because it does not contain copper alloys, which some people are highly allergic to. Nonetheless, yellow gold is still a gold alloy that can trigger an allergic reaction when it is 14 karats or less, especially if it contains nickel.

One similarity between regular gold and rose gold is price. An engagement ring in a 14k rose gold setting will typically cost the same amount as an identical ring in 14k yellow gold. This is because the value of gold jewelry is based on its gold content, not its color.

Rose Gold Vs. White Gold

White gold is a gold alloy composed of pure gold mixed with various white metals, such as nickel and silver. Like other alloy metals, white gold is stronger and more durable than pure gold (though not as strong as platinum, which has a similar color). In addition, white gold jewelry is also covered with rhodium plating for extra protection.

However, this rhodium coating eventually wears off and needs to be reapplied every few years to prevent the actual color of the gold from being exposed. Rose gold, by comparison, does not require any additional coating to maintain its pigment or shine, making it one of the easiest precious metals to keep in good condition.

While the brilliant silver sheen of white gold is better suited to modern jewelry designs, the refined, feminine appearance of rose gold is more suitable for recreating vintage-style jewelry. However, in addition to its antique appeal, rose gold can also come across as fashionable and chic and is often seen in more contemporary pieces. This is unlike yellow and white gold, which are somewhat limited by their color to a particular style.

Again, there are no price differences between fine jewelry pieces made from yellow, rose, and white gold. Thus, an 18k rose gold ring will cost the same as an 18k yellow or white gold ring in a similar style and setting.

Does Pure Rose Gold Exist?

Unlike yellow gold, rose gold is not found in nature. Instead, rose gold is an alloy created by adding non-gold metals such as copper and silver to pure gold. Thus, a more intense rose color is actually a sign of an alloy with a lower purity level because it contains a higher ratio of copper to gold. A lighter rose color, on the other hand, indicates that the metal has a lower copper content and more gold, thereby making it “purer”.

So, when a person refers to a jewelry piece as “pure rose gold”, they are only correct insofar as they are acknowledging that the piece is made from rose gold and not another precious metal like white gold or sterling silver. This is because there is no such thing as “pure rose gold”.

Should You Buy Rose Gold Jewelry?

With its delicate pink color and inherent association with romance, rose gold is an excellent choice for an engagement ring or wedding band. In addition, rose gold makes the perfect gift for an anniversary or Valentine’s day.

However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when shopping for jewelry made from rose gold. Firstly, rose gold is not recommended for people with metal allergies and sensitive skin. If this is the case with your partner, it is advisable to choose a more hypoallergenic metal like classic yellow gold or sterling silver.

Alternatively, if your partner is dead set on rose gold, you could look for a ring with a higher karat. A higher karat means that the metal contains more gold and less copper, making it more hypoallergenic. However, rose gold pieces that contain more gold also tend to be softer, meaning they are less suitable for everyday wear. By contrast, rose gold pieces with a lower karat are harder and more durable, which is preferable for jewelry that will be worn daily.

Lastly, when buying rose gold jewelry, keep in mind that higher karats usually command a higher price. In other words, an 18k rose gold ring will always be more expensive than a 14k ring. Also, remember that rose gold is not necessarily cheaper than yellow gold because the price of these precious metals is based on their gold content, not their color.

Where Can You Buy Rose Gold Jewelry?

Owing to its massive rise in popularity in the past few years, rose gold jewelry is readily available from most local jewelry shops. You can also find it online, but be careful of products marketed as “pure rose gold”. As you know, pure rose gold doesn’t exist and, as a result, these products may be overpriced. So always check that the cost matches the quality of the item before purchasing.

James Allen and Blue Nile are two reputable online stores specializing in producing fine jewelry in a range of precious metals, including sterling silver, platinum, yellow, rose, and white gold.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rose Gold