5 Important Facts About Rose Gold and Why is it so Popular

Rose gold has enjoyed a phenomenal increase in popularity over the past few years. It has gone from rather an unfashionable color choice (more popular in Italy and other European countries) to a classic in both jewelry accessories and home interiors and shows no signs of disappearing any time soon. Here are 5 Important Facts About Rose Gold and Why is it so Popular.

Facts About Rose Gold That You Should Know and Why is it so Popular

1. What is rose gold made of?

You might be wondering, “is rose gold actual gold?”. Well, rose gold metal (or red/pink gold) is a gold alloy similar to white gold or yellow gold, meaning that it is made up of a series of additional ingredients and pure gold.

Rose gold metal is a mixture of pure gold, copper, and silver alloys (see below for the exact amounts) – helping to give it its rose color. Meaning that rose gold is real, but it’s not 100% gold.

2. White and yellow gold vs. rose gold

So, what is rose gold in comparison to white and yellow gold? The specific combination of ingredients determines the gold alloy produced and will affect the carat and the color. Recipes vary from one bullion producer to another, and most are pretty closely guarded secrets. But generally speaking, when it comes to white and yellow gold vs. rose gold, 9ct alloys can approximately be broken down into the following base ingredients:

• Components of yellow gold: 37% gold, 43% silver, 20% copper
• Components of white gold: 37% gold, 45% silver, 18% other
• Components of rose gold: 37% gold, 20% silver, 43% copper

3. Basic 9ct Gold Composition

9ct gold alloys are essentially the same ingredients but in varying quantities, namely gold, copper, and silver. Gold is the consistent factor in each, and for 9ct has to make up 37.5% of the total alloy (for the pie charts, percentages were rounded down for simplicity).

Copper and silver are added to improve workability and enhance the color. You can see that white gold has a more significant percentage of silver, and rose gold contains more copper – this, in simple terms, is how the different colors are created. Palladium, zinc, and nickel are also sometimes used, particularly in white gold.

Did you know that 9ct gold contains more of the other metals than the gold itself? This is why some designers and consumers don’t like to use it. However, while demand for handmade rose gold jewelry remains high, it’s unlikely we will see 9ct disappearing from stockists any time soon!

4. Does rose gold tarnish?

Before purchasing rose gold jewelry or making your own, you might want to know: does rose gold tarnish? The short answer is no. Although, after a few years of wear, it can change in color slightly – with its appearance turning darker and slightly redder in color. But this is because, over the years, the copper within the alloy can turn darker.

5. Why is rose gold so popular?

Why is rose gold so popular exactly? And what does it represent? It’s the happy medium between the stark and modern appeal of white gold and the traditional and classic feel of yellow gold; in many ways, it almost feels like a new option for those looking for something different. Rose gold has a romantic feel to it. Retailers have turned to their advantage using names like blush, pink (and not forgetting rose) in descriptions to capture the imagination of consumers to significant effect.

Rose is a subtle and gentle color that is luxurious and glamorous, without being brash like some high carat yellow gold. Yellow gold has also suffered in popularity since the ’90s, mainly due to its associations with older generations. Despite a gradual comeback in recent years, yellow gold still has some way to go before it outsells the infinitely more contemporary white gold.

Creating Handmade Rose Gold Jewelry

Rose gold metal, however, cannot be pigeon-holed so quickly and has come from behind to be the metal of choice during recent years. Only time will tell how long our love affair with a rose will continue, but it is well and indeed riding high for now.

Have you thought about tapping into the trend of using rose gold metal or red gold in your handmade jewelry designs?  Alternatively, for pieces with a rose gold look, don’t forget about our rose gold plated findings and chain, as well as rose gold, filled beaded rings.

P.S. Royi Sal Jewelry, as a decades-long leader in silver jewelry design and manufacturing, invites you to download our latest magazine here and profit from the exceptional or best-seller jewelry designs at affordable prices for 2019 you will find in the magazine. Click here to download it now.