In the description of jewelry they often write about red and rose gold. In English, there are generally three gradations of shade: red (the brightest), rose (pink) and pink (also pink, but even lighter). And if it is still possible to distinguish shades by comparing two options, then when looking at one ring it is not too clear whether it is quite rose, or is it closer to pink, or maybe red gold shines like that in the rays of bright electric light? And which one is more valuable? If you're choosing All Shall Pass on Solomon's Ring and want to make it pinkish, what type of precious metal should you choose?
What is
Rose gold is an alloy based on a yellow precious metal and an alloy containing copper and silver. The saturation of the shade depends on the percentage of copper.
Composition and properties
The additives included in the alloy are the same for all samples used by jewelry makers. To give it the desired shade, in addition to aurum, silver and copper are used. Only their percentage changes depending on the sample:
- 375 – 37.5% aurum, 37.5% Cu, 25.0% silver;
- 585 – 58.5% Au, 32.5% copper, 9.0% silver;
- 750 – 75.0% aurum, 15.0% copper, 10.0% Ag.
The pink alloy has many of the same features, characteristics, and properties as the yellow precious metal, but there are some differences. First of all, it is high plasticity. Thanks to it, jewelers can create openwork jewelry with complex patterns. The metal is easily processed into the desired shape.
Strength
High ductility indicators of a precious metal of an unusual shade are achieved at the expense of strength. Because of this, the structure is quite easy to break or scratch. This is especially true for low grades, in particular 375. Most often, a break is a consequence of the fact that the bracelet or ring hit something. Please take this into account when purchasing.
Shade range
The main component of the pink metal alloy is copper. Its quantity in comparison with the content of pure precious metal determines the saturation and intensity of the shade. As a result of its increase or decrease, a color can be obtained from soft pink to almost red, and at times even orange.
Samples
The metal of unusual color is presented in three samples: 375, 585, 750.
The lowest standard is used by jewelers to make inexpensive jewelry: medallions, brooches, crosses. The color of the products differs in shades of red. A high ligature content causes a reduction in price, but negatively affects the physical properties of the gizmos. Under mechanical influence, products easily break, scratch, or bend.
Jewelry of 585 standard is most valued on the jewelry market, as it combines a low price (compared to similar classic models) with satisfactory strength indicators. In terms of its properties, this alloy is not inferior to the usual yellow one.
With an increase in the content of pure aurum (750 sample), the products acquire a peach tint. Gold can change the saturation and intensity of the main color depending on the amount of copper in the composition. However, regardless of this, the price of jewelry of 750 standard is significantly higher than that of similar 585. In this regard, jewelers prefer to use the alloy for the manufacture of complex designs with openwork patterns, as well as wedding rings.
Features of the material
Gold is a soft metal and is not suitable for making jewelry. Products made from it are short-lived: they are easily deformed and quickly lose their attractive appearance. To increase the strength of the precious metal, alloying additives such as copper, silver, zinc and other elements are added to it. The shade of the resulting alloy depends on their composition.
It's easy to understand the difference between rose gold and yellow gold. The yellow material contains a lot of gold and little ligature. But products made from it are not intended for everyday wear due to its high fragility and fragility. The material gets its beautiful pinkish tint thanks to the addition of copper and silver. The main advantage of pink alloy is strength and durability. The most complex and unusual jewelry is made from it, retaining its shape and attractive appearance even with everyday wear.
With a high copper content, the alloy turns red. If there is enough silver, it takes on a soft pink color. Previously, metal of this shade was considered defective, and it was not used for making jewelry. Only recently did it attract the attention of jewelers who appreciated the beauty and elegance of products made from pink composition. This material is widely used in new collections of famous brands. Due to its low cost and good quality, pink alloy jewelry is in high demand among buyers, especially in Eastern European countries.
Advantages and disadvantages
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
The main advantage of this alloy is its high ductility. Thanks to this, complex openwork products are created from it, which immediately attract attention. Buyers are also attracted by the lower price compared to classic gold. Another feature of the alloy is its unusual range of shades.
However, such things are of little use for daily wear. This is due to the low strength of the metal. This is especially true for low quality products.
Which gold is better - pink, yellow or white?
All 3 options are similar in physical and chemical characteristics. Because of this, the final choice of metal depends mainly on 2 factors: the financial capabilities of the buyer and personal view of beauty.
If a few years ago preference was given to yellow gold, today the situation has changed. Jewelry in white and pink shades is increasingly being chosen as a gift. Also in demand are rings that combine all three metals. Such models are distinguished by their sophistication and unusual design.
Where can you buy or sell
You can purchase unusual rose gold jewelry at a jewelry store. Under no circumstances should you buy them second-hand: there is a high probability of getting a fake.
Old or disliked jewelry can also later be returned to a jewelry store or exchanged there for a new model. If the jewelry has significant defects (broken chain, broken lock, etc.), you may be sent to a pawnshop. In this case, gold will most likely be purchased at scrap price.
Next, look at what other shades gold comes in:
Why is rose gold cheaper?
The low price of the alloy is influenced by its alloy. There is a small amount of silver here, the proportion of copper is much larger. It does not belong to precious metals, its cost is significantly less. For gold of other colors (yellow, white), the main component of the alloy is silver or palladium, which are much more expensive. As a result, two products with the same weight and markings will have different prices.
How much is 1 gram of rose gold worth today?
The cost of such jewelry depends on the standard of metal, decoration, weight of gold, presence and size of inserts. The price of precious metals can also affect the price.
| Price 999 standard according to the Central Bank | Market value of the sample today | Scrap price | Price in jewelry |
Connections with other metals
When combined with other metals, both in natural and artificial conditions, gold can have not only a yellow color, but also other colors. Nowadays gold jewelry of various colors and shades is in fashion. Jewelers achieve a variety of colors using other metals: silver, copper, zinc, nickel, platinum, palladium. Experiments by technologists on alloying these metals led to the creation of white, yellow, green and red gold. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain alloys of exotic colors and shades. The exact composition and technology for obtaining unique compounds are kept secret. Here are some unusual alloys used in modern gold jewelry:
Such combinations of gold with metals are called metallides. They are exotic and attract attention. Metallic jewelry is the latest in jewelry fashion. All varieties of this colored gold are 750 fine.
White gold
is obtained by combining the yellow analogue with other noble metals - silver, platinum, palladium. This compound gets its white color from palladium. White gold looks like platinum, but is much cheaper. White gold jewelry has recently become very popular in the jewelry market. The success of the combined material is promoted by famous designers who create masterpieces of jewelry from it. They have a refined, noble appearance. White gold harmonizes perfectly with diamond inserts and pearls. The most commonly used gemstones are emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Such inserts make the product very expensive. And although its cost can reach astronomical figures, the demand for it is constantly growing. To the question of what is more expensive, white gold or yellow gold, the answer is ambiguous.
The price of a white alloy product, like any other gold product, depends on the purity. The cheapest and most common white gold is 585, meaning it contains 58.5% gold metal, with the rest being silver, nickel and copper. But, in practice, the price of white gold products is much higher than that of its yellow counterpart. This is explained by the fact that it contains rare, expensive metals with high physical and chemical properties - palladium and platinum. Prices for these metals are much higher than for gold. For example, an ounce of platinum costs more than twice as much as a gold ounce. Therefore, which gold is better, white or yellow, is a matter of preference and status of the person who wants to purchase it.
Red gold
This is an alloy of gold, copper and zinc. This is a very durable and at the same time malleable jewelry material. Jewelry made from it is cheaper than yellow gold, but looks impressive. Products are often encrusted with precious stones - diamonds, rubies, garnets, which gives them a special chic. A distinctive feature of gold products with a red tint is their strength and durability. These properties of the material allow jewelry craftsmen to create complex, openwork patterns in products.
Red gold refers to the 585 alloy, which is very popular in the former Soviet Union. In European countries, such material is considered low quality - a yellow alloy is popular there. But, yellow metal has fewer options for product design due to the complexity of its processing. To determine for yourself which gold is better, red or yellow, you should know jewelry fashion trends and your own preferences. Jewelry made of yellow metal is more in demand today. But, if you consider that fashion often changes, and red gold jewelry has always been popular, then you should think about your final choice.
Yellow gold
is also a conglomerate that is very highly valued for its sunny color, which is closest to native gold. It contains copper and silver. If there is more copper in the alloy than silver, then its color takes on a reddish tint. Yellow gold must contain more silver than copper and then it acquires a bright sunny color. Color is not related to the hallmark, so yellow gold can be the same hallmark as white or red gold. The most common samples for this alloy are 585, 750, and the rare one is 958. The purpose of the sample on a product is to indicate the percentage of precious metal in the alloy.
There are worldwide systems for measuring the purity of gold in jewelry. In Russia, there is a metric system, when the measurement is calculated by the fineness - the quantitative content of gold in the alloy. The higher it is, the more precious metal is in the jewelry material. In Western Europe and the USA, the purity of gold is measured in carats. The purest gold in the European system is considered to be 24 carats, which translated into the Russian system means a fineness of 1000.
Despite the enormous popularity of the white alloy and the exotic nature of colored compounds, yellow gold is not losing its position. The latest collections of leading jewelry houses present a large number of products from this solar alloy.
Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage
In many ways, the rules for caring for and wearing pink jewelry are similar to those for their yellow counterparts. However, there are also nuances. First of all, such jewelry should not be exposed to reactions with mercury and strong acids. In this regard, it is recommended to limit the contact of jewelry with household chemicals.
The ligature does not protect the alloy from mechanical stress. When wearing, you must be careful not to hit the metal or scratch it. If there is a strong external load, the product can also be dented, as a result of which it will also lose its attractiveness.
It is recommended to use a soap solution to clean the surface. The water should be warm. Under no circumstances should pink alloys be boiled. Heavy stains can be removed with a cloth or a brush with soft bristles.
Price per gram
When selling or buying rose gold, be guided by the content of pure precious metal in the product and exchange prices for this metal.
Unfortunately, when purchasing gold jewelry from the public, only the weight and content of the pure substance are taken into account, and not the actual cost of the precious item, that is, when sold, the color of the gold alloy does not affect the cost of pure gold. Scrap gold jewelry of red, yellow, green colors of the same weight and standard will have almost the same price. The only exceptions can be jewelry inlaid with precious stones and white gold due to the content of platinum group metals.
As of 2021, the purchase of gold products in jewelry stores and pawnshops is carried out approximately at the following prices:
- 375th sample in the form of scrap at a price of 1520 rubles per gram;
- 500-560th sample in the form of scrap at a price of 2030 to 2080 rubles per gram;
- 583–585 samples in the form of scrap at a price of 2390 to 2680 rubles per gram;
- 750th sample in the form of scrap at a price from 3060 to 3390 rubles per gram;
- 750-900 samples in the form of scrap at a price of 3370 rubles per gram;
- 900-916 samples at a price of 3680 rubles per gram, in the form of scrap;
- The 958th sample is accepted at a price of 3920 rubles per gram.
Nowadays, products made from rose gold alloy are no longer considered unusual. You can increasingly see them at jewelry exhibitions. Famous presenters of television programs, festivals, and artists, along with classic jewelry made of white, red and yellow gold, also prefer jewelry in pink shades.
Gold is the precious metal from which most jewelry and luxury items are made. Currently, not only the usual yellow gold, but also its red, pink and even blue analogues have become available to people.
Pure gold is a rather fragile, soft and unreliable material with an amazingly beautiful yellow color. But it is not possible to use it alone, since the final product will be extremely short-lived and impractical. For example, today jewelry made from the purest gold is made in Japan, and only in single copies. As a rule, jewelry made from such material is worn by the owners only a few times in their entire lives, after which they are either inherited or safely melted down.
What types of pink alloy jewelry are there?
With the increasing popularity of rose gold, the variety of jewelry available for sale is increasing. If desired, you can collect a complete set of jewelry in one style - ring, pendant, bracelet, earrings.
Gemstones look quite unusual with pink alloys, regardless of their shape and number of carats. Gold goes well with any insert, but jewelers especially highlight pastel-colored stones. Diamond engagement rings are in great demand.
Tips for choosing
Before you buy the rose gold jewelry you like, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with a few simple recommendations:
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
Be sure to look at the stamp - the higher the sample number, the more pure Au the product contains.
For everyday wear, 585-carat jewelry is recommended, which combines low price and sufficient strength, and for special occasions you can buy a set with a higher aurum content.
Rose gold has many shades, so when purchasing, you should try on several different products to choose the most suitable color scheme.
How to choose?
When purchasing jewelry, you must make sure that there is a mark on the product. On Russian-manufactured rose gold, it looks like the profile of a woman's head turned to the right, with the numbers 585 and the letters - the abbreviation of the state inspection of assay supervision, which checked this product. The sample in the form of a star with a hammer and sickle is currently no longer relevant, unless it is an old Soviet-made product . When ordering individually, jewelers place their so-called “name tags” next to the sample—this is the manufacturer’s personal mark.
It is advisable to buy jewelry in specialized stores with a label and price tag.
If the jewelry was purchased somewhere on the market secondhand, then you should not be surprised if it eventually turns out that you bought a fake. There is now a lot of gold on sale from China, Turkey and Poland. It is no different from the Russian one, provided that its composition corresponds to the same percentage of ligatures.
As mentioned, 14k rose gold jewelry is quite strong and durable, so it can be passed down from generation to generation and complement family jewelry.
When choosing jewelry, everyone follows their own individual style, because people have different tastes: some like minimalism, simplicity and conciseness, while others prefer luxury, originality and intricacy. There can be a lot of jewelry, because even for a summer dress or business suit, it is advisable to choose items that differ in design . Also, jewelry is not only for an evening and festive look, but also more restrained in style for everyday wear. After all, the strength of 585 rose gold easily allows you to wear a variety of rings, chains, bracelets or cufflinks every day.
Reviews
Anna: “For my birthday, the guy gave me a set of pendant, earrings and ring. All in rose gold. Looks great. At the same time rich, tender, and elegant. I wear it with an evening dress and feel like a princess.”
Katerina: “I really liked my friend’s rose gold ring, I wanted the same one for myself. But I was stupid - I bought the cheapest one, 375 samples. As a result, after just six months there are a lot of scratches and several chips.”
Galina: “In practice, in Moscow, I bought a small pendant as a gift for my sister. She is still delighted and almost never parted with the gift. What’s especially pleasing is that the color of the surface does not fade at all.”
