How Is Rose Gold Made?

Rose gold originally gained popularity in the United States and around the world during the Art Deco period of the 1920’s, but since then it has remerged as one of the most popular engagement ring metals on the market. While the resurgence of love of the Jazz Age has dwindled, vintage inspiration continues to dominate the design world. From musical festival fashion to television, the boutique chic look has evolved. However, rose gold engagement rings are still a favorite choice for everyone from celebrities to millennial couples. While this gold has timeless elegance which keeps it looking great year after year, many people are unaware of how rose gold gets its beautiful color.

A vintage-inspired Rose Gold Engagement Ring

How Is Rose Gold Made?

Gold itself is a very soft metal, and therefore pure gold is rarely used in the creation of jewelry. However, in addition to its value, gold is sought after for creating jewelry because it will never rust or tarnish. Therefore, 24k pure gold is often alloyed with other metals for strength. There is a large number of metals that can be combined with gold for the purposes of making it stronger, including palladium, nickel, and copper. Each of these metals will make the gold more durable and resistant to scratching. However, alloying gold with another metal can change more the strength; it can also change the color. Alloying nickel with pure gold, for example, will create white gold. On the other hand, rose gold is made by mixing 24k gold with copper.

Is Rose Gold Still Valuable?

Although rose gold has a pinkish hue that produces its desirable, vintage look, many people are curious as to whether their rose gold engagement ring is as valuable as their traditional gold counterparts. The short answer is yes because a 18k gold ring will have the same amount of pure gold as a 18k rose gold ring. Both rings use approximately 75% of pure gold with a combination alloys to give the jewelry more strength. This means rose gold contains around 25% copper, although sometimes silver is also used to produce specific tones of rose.

Other Types of Rose Gold

At Adiamor, we carry both 14k and 18k rose gold metals for producing custom engagement rings and diamond jewelry, but these are not the only types of rose gold being made around the world. For example, the highest grade of rose gold, which is also known as crown gold, is 22 karat. A variation known as red gold is often found in jewelry throughout the Middle East. Red gold contains higher percentages of copper and less silver, so the color is less pink.

If you are searching for the perfect engagement ring, Adiamor carries styles that can any budget or look. Start designing your own custom rose gold ring today.