Rose Gold VS Yellow Gold

Although the natural color of gold is yellow, jewelers have created processes that allow the color of gold to be manipulated and changed. As a result, today, gold can be found in over 10 different colors.

When it comes to jewelry, and especially engagement and wedding rings, rose gold is one of the most common choices. But is rose gold the same in value as yellow gold, and what are the pros and cons of each? Let us explore this.

Pure gold alone is rather soft, meaning it’s not hard enough to be used in jewelry, which is why gold must be manipulated into a harder form to uphold its shape without tarnishing. Both yellow and rose gold come in various alloys, with the strength and color being impacted by the varying amounts of gold used in the alloy.

Yellow gold is commonly alloyed with copper, zinc or silver. This strengthens the gold, enhancing its durability. Rose gold s created by combining pure gold with copper and sometimes silver.  The copper is what gives the pink tinge to the metal and the proportion of the copper used impacts the color of the metal.

Yellow gold is considered to be more hypoallergenic. Rose gold’s metal alloys must contain copper to get that blushy hue we know and love. Unfortunately, copper is an allergen for sensitive skins. If you have a copper sensitivity, you may want to avoid buying rose gold jewelry.

Speaking about the durability, Rose gold is much more durable than yellow gold (or even white gold) due to the copper content.

Yellow gold is prone to having scratches and may also lose shape as opposed to rose gold. It may require more maintenance and polishing to maintain its luster. Rose gold requires minimal care and although it will receive scratches and scuffs over time, these can be polished off to return the metal to its original luster.

Regarding the price and value: The gold content in the varieties of gold is the main factor that determines its value. The gold karats in both yellow and rose gold is treated equally when it comes to liquidity and have equal value.

As we have seen, both these metals are very similar in terms of value and popularity, although rose gold has an edge over yellow in terms of durability. The main difference between the two is color. When deciding, whether to choose rose or yellow gold, let color be your determining factor.