Gold as we know it is essentially yellow Gold. Gold is mined and cannot be replicated in a lab as it’s an element, It’s a precious metal that has been used in engagement rings since 1750!
But overtime, jewellers realised that by mixing certain other metals into the gold will create an array of different colours.18ct gold for example is made of 75% pure gold and the rest are alloys. These alloys include copper, silver, palladium and more.
To create Rose gold, more copper is used in the mixture to make the gold have that beautiful blush pink colour.
To create white gold, palladium is commonly used. Palladium is a rare white metal and is from the same family as platinum so it’s hard wearing and fuses to gold very easily. But by mixing palladium into the alloy will only allow it to become an off-white colour. Which is why white gold is generally rhodium plated to make it more white. This plating wears off over time but can easily be polished and re rhodium plated. This is generally recommended every 3-4 years as polishing does remove a layer of gold each time.
Mixing these colours into a piece can be quite extraordinary. A piece with a mixture of 2 or 3 colours such and white, yellow and rose gold can be mesmerising! See our website for more designs on mixing different metals and creating fascinating, unique and attractive pieces.
Cinzia DiPierdomenico Dip.DT
Diamond & Sales Consultant