Rose Gold
All that glitters is gold as the saying goes, but just what color of gold are we talking about? As this discussion of rose gold suggests, there is more than just one hue.
Gold may be considered a color in its own right – but when it comes to the actual material, there are several variations that can be found. Pure gold is considered “yellow” colored (the color of gold as we use it in common conversation), but if you add different metals to it, you can create alternate colors of gold. White gold is the most popular variant of gold, created by adding materials such as platinum or zinc to yellow gold in order to cause a white (silver) tint. Another type of gold that is not as common today is rose gold.
Rose gold used to be even more popular than white gold. White gold was originally developed and gained popularity in the 1920's as a substitute for more pricey platinum. Eventually, white gold became popular enough that it had its own following, with customers choosing white gold over yellow gold on its own merits. Rose gold, on the other hand, was specifically created to have the warm, pinkish-red tone that it has.
Rose gold was especially popular in the 19th century in Russia, lending the gold its other name (not as commonly used) – Russian gold. Rose gold is also known as pink gold or red gold. The way that rose gold is created is by adding copper to yellow gold, which tints the gold to a pinkish color. Copper has a naturally reddish color, but does not overpower the gold's natural color. Unlike other colors of gold, such as yellow gold, rose gold requires a relatively small amount of copper in order to color it – so the purity of rose gold can be higher than that of yellow gold. The highest quality of rose gold is 22 karat.
While rose gold can be found in 22k, it is not usually the quality used for jewelry. Most rose gold used for jewelry is either 18k or 14k. In both of these instances, a small amount of silver may also be added to the alloy, in order to strengthen the material as well as modify the color of the rose gold. Rose gold jewelry was especially popular in the 19th and early 20th century, with rose gold rings and necklaces being worn by women for their warmth and unique tone. Rose gold was even seen in engagement rings, a practice that is not seen much in today's market.
Although not as popular as it once was, rose gold is still available for those who want to find a unique piece of jewelry. If you are looking for rose gold pieces, estate sales, pawn shops and antique jewelry stores often stock these types of pieces – and are more likely to have a larger selection.
Find jewelry stores and information at JewelryStoresforyou.com.
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