How many types of gold are there?

August 30, 2024

Are you among the people who think that gold comes in only one colour i.e. yellow? Well, several of us believe this is true but there is a lot more to it. This precious metal is available in different colours like rose gold, white gold, etc. If you are still wondering what we are trying to say here – let's find out the facts that will tell you about the different types of gold.

Types of Gold

While people may have individual options to choose the colour of gold that they want, such colour is dependent on the other metals that are mixed with gold. These alloys influence the tone colour, hardness, and durability of the gold bringing in these varieties for the consumers.

Read More: What are the benefits of adorning yourself with gold

1. Yellow Gold

18K Gold Glowing Sphere Diamond Earrings

Natural colour of Gold: Yellow gold is the closest to real gold as in terms of colour it has not been altered in any way and remains yellow. It is the simplest and most elegant form of gold which is related usually with some certain time refinement.

Common Alloys Used: In particular, yellow gold is commonly combined with other metals including copper, silver, and zinc to improve the material characteristics. 24 Karat gold is not suitable for use in everyday wear since it is highly soft, this makes it be alloyed with these other metals to produce 22 karats, 18 karats, or 14 karats of gold, the latter being the most preferred in jewellery accessories.

2. White Gold

Creation Process: White gold is made by combining gold with other metals that are white including palladium, nickel, and silver. This combination makes white gold have its shiny white colour, which makes it a popular choice in the current fashion.

Read More: Choosing the Right Gold: Comparing 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K

Rhodium Plating: To improve brightness and to make white gold less capable of tarnishing, it is often coated with a layer of rhodium, an extra-hard white metal. Nevertheless, the plating can wear away with time and thus may have to be redeposited to maintain the jewellery’s shiny look.

3. Rose Gold

Rose Gold Diamond Jhumki

Alloy Composition: Rose gold that has a pinkish tinge to it is made from gold mixed with copper. A higher volume of copper will result in a richer red hue of the rose gold material. It is very common for filigree, retro, and those love-themed jewellery pieces.

Variation in colour Intensity: It should be noted that the saturation of rose gold may significantly differ depending upon the proportion of gold and copper. For instance, 18k rose gold has a higher rate of gold and less content of copper than 14k rose gold and hence slightly pink than a reddish tinge.

4. Other shades of Gold (Green, Black, Purple, Blue)

Besides the above-mentioned forms of gold being yellow, white, and rose gold, it is also interesting to know that gold is also available in other fascinating colours associated with specific alloying processes.

1. Green Gold: Green gold also referred to as Electrum is a gold alloy that contains Silver with Copper. This gives the jewellery a greenish hue that is rather faint but sets in a very nice impression for pieces of jewellery.

2. Black Gold: Black gold is formed by a surface treatment like rhodium or gold having a combination of cobalt therefore making it black gold. This lends the gold a dark, shiny-looking sheen, that is common in quite modern, almost rebellious jewellery.

Read More: What is 14K & 18K Gold & Which One is Better

3. Purple Gold: Purple gold, also called amethyst gold, is prepared by the combination of gold and Aluminum. It is rather brittle and used best for inlays instead of as the base material in the creation of ornamental pieces.

4. Blue Gold: Blue gold is just what its name suggests, gold that is coated with indium or gallium. It results in a blue colour, which is most commonly observed in artistic and unconventional jewellery pieces.

Gold Coatings and Alternatives

Rose Gold Sleek Diamond Earrings

It is possible to determine a range of types of gold coatings and their analogues that differ in price and durability.

1. Gold-Filled

Gold-filled jewellery has a layer of gold that can be as thick as the base metal it is fused with; normally it is fused with brass. This type of jewellery withstands the gold-plated jewellery and has the potential of lasting for several years if well taken care of. The gold layer in gold-filled items is remarkably thicker than that of gold-plated jewellery which makes it less vulnerable to wear and tear.

2. Gold-Plated

In gold-plated jewellery, a covering of gold is affixed to a base metal such as copper or brass. Although more cost-effective, more often they include gold plating over what is commonly referred to as base metal that after some time may fade to reveal the base metal. It is used in fashion jewellery, but its lifetime might be relatively shorter as compared to other materials.

3. Vermeil

Vermeil is any jewellery finished in gold plating over a base of sterling silver, though the pronunciation of the term is actually “ver-may”. They must be at least 10k gold which also has to be at least 2. 5 microns thick. Vermeil is a far superior choice to traditional gold-plated products and is preferred for its cost-effectivity and strength.

4. Solid Gold

Solid gold refers to gold or gold alloy where there is no base metal plate under the gold material. It is the purest and strong sort of gold accessories and they come in different carats, which are from 10k to 24k. The symbol ‘K’ indicates the amount of gold in the piece with the higher ‘K’ meaning the higher the percentage of pure gold but also it is softer and easier to scratch. Sterling silver jewellery is a great investment to make for a long-lasting piece of jewellery that will need no replacement for a long time.

Redefining the Beauty of Gold with GIVA’s Jewellery Collection

Gold is widely used to craft magnificent jewellery designs that you can find at GIVA. It is all because of its shine, luster, and malleability and because gold is not only one metal, but many forms of gold offer different advantages. So, today you have the chance to shop for a piece of jewellery that matches your favourite attire and embellishes your looks. Whether you desire a beautiful necklace, earrings, rings, or bracelet, you have an amazing collection just a click away!

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