Rose Gold
Gold with a warm pink hue created by a higher proportion of copper in the alloy.
Rose gold gets its warm pink blush from copper. Where yellow gold balances copper with silver, rose gold leans on a larger share of copper, with just a little silver, and that extra copper pulls the colour toward pink and red. It is durable, thanks to the hardening effect of copper, and has been a lasting fashion favourite. A neat quirk of the alloy is that lower karat rose gold actually looks rosier, because there is more room for copper in the mix.
How copper creates the colour
Copper is naturally reddish, so the more of it in a gold alloy, the pinker the result. Rose gold recipes push the copper content up and cut the silver back, which shifts the tone from yellow toward warm pink. A touch of silver keeps the colour from going too coppery and controls the exact shade.
Copper also hardens the metal, so rose gold tends to be tougher than yellow gold of the same karat, which helps it stand up to daily wear. The trade sometimes calls warmer, higher copper versions red gold and softer, paler versions pink gold.
- Copper gives rose gold its warm pink colour.
- More copper and less silver means a rosier tone.
- Copper also makes the alloy harder and durable.
- A fashionable choice for contemporary and vintage designs.
Why 14K rose gold looks rosier than 18K
This surprises people, but it follows from the maths. 18K is 75 percent gold, leaving only 25 percent for alloy, so even if all of that were copper, the copper share is capped at a quarter. 14K is about 58 percent gold, leaving roughly 42 percent for alloy, so there is far more room for copper.
More copper in the mix means a stronger pink pull, so 14K rose gold reads as noticeably warmer and rosier than 18K rose gold. Both are genuine rose gold, but the karat sets a ceiling on how pink the colour can go.
- Rose gold's pink colour comes from a high copper content.
- More copper and less silver produces a rosier shade.
- Copper also hardens the alloy for durability.
- Lower karat rose gold looks rosier because it holds more copper.
Rose Gold, in short.
What makes rose gold pink?
A higher proportion of copper in the alloy. Copper is reddish, so increasing its share and reducing silver shifts the gold's colour from yellow toward warm pink.
Why does 14K rose gold look pinker than 18K?
Because 14K has less pure gold and more room for alloy, it can hold more copper. That larger copper share gives a stronger pink tone than 18K, which is 75 percent gold.
Does rose gold need plating?
No. Its colour comes from the alloy itself and runs through the metal, so unlike white gold it does not need rhodium plating to hold its tone.
Related terms
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