ROSE GOLD VS YELLOW GOLD: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Everyone loves a gorgeous ring or pair of earrings made of gold. It's an elegant, classy metal to choose for your jewelry, and it pairs well with nearly every style. Throughout history, gold has been one of the most popular metals used for jewelry because of its rarity and quality. 

There are three types of gold used in modern jewelry. Rose gold, yellow gold, and white gold account for 78% of all jewelry made, so it’s safe to say that this metal remains the top choice for most people.

It's easy to tell the difference between white gold and rose or yellow gold. But the difference between rose gold and yellow gold is slightly more subtle. If you're struggling between the two, you've come to the right place! Let's explore the difference between these two metals.

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROSE GOLD AND YELLOW GOLD JEWELRY?

The difference between rose gold and yellow gold is actually pretty straightforward. Yellow gold is mostly just gold. When you buy jewelry made of yellow gold, you're getting a product that's made of mainly that precious metal and a bit of zinc, copper, and possibly nickel.

Rose gold is an alloy made from yellow gold and copper. This combination gives rose gold its distinctive pinkish-red hue. Not all rose gold is made the same, and those with a higher copper content will have an even deeper pink color.

Those metals are mixed with gold because gold is very malleable in its pure form. Gold is a strong metal, but it can't withstand everyday wear and tear stress. So, it will start bending and become misshapen over time if not mixed with other metals.

So, that's the difference between rose gold and yellow gold in a nutshell! Let's get into some more details, so you always know which type of gold is perfect for you.

CAN YOU BUY 24K YELLOW GOLD OR ROSE GOLD JEWELRY?

This is another key difference between yellow gold and rose gold. Finding 24k yellow gold jewelry is possible, but you can never find 24k rose gold jewelry. This is because rose gold is always made of yellow gold and copper.

When you hear the term "24k gold," you probably know that it's the highest quality of gold jewelry available. But do you know what that term really means?

WHAT IS 24K Gold?

The term 24k gold refers to jewelry made of pure gold without the presence of other metals. Some jewelers do make necklaces, earrings, or rings made of 24k gold, but it's pretty rare to find.

Gold is highly malleable, so making jewelry out of pure gold generally isn't worth it. You wouldn't be able to wear the jewelry much because it would lose its shape over time. 

Most jewelers offer 18k, 14k, and 10k yellow gold and rose gold. Gold jewelry with a caratage of 18 is considered very high quality because they're made of 75% pure gold. 

The next best quality you can buy is 14k yellow or rose gold. A 14k gold piece of jewelry contains 58% pure gold. On the lower end of the spectrum is 10k gold jewelry, which only contains 41.6% pure gold. Due to 14k gold jewelry having a less than 50% composition of gold, many people in the jewelry industry don't even count it as gold jewelry.

If you really want jewelry that has that 24k gold status, then consider getting our Throwback Love Charm Bracelet. It’s dipped in 24k gold, and you can add different charms to it for a look that suits every occasion.

 

 

IS ROSE GOLD OR YELLOW GOLD BETTER FOR YOUR SKIN TONE?

 

Finding the perfect piece of jewelry is about more than finding a piece you find aesthetically pleasing. You want to make sure you choose one that compliments your skin tone. Since rose gold and yellow gold have very different colors, they don’t always work with the same skin tones. 

Do you love gold jewelry? Check out our gold necklaces at LaCkore Couture!

SKINTONES FOR ROSE GOLD

Rose gold has a gorgeous pinkish-red color. A 14k rose gold ring will have a stronger pink hue than an 18k rose gold ring. However, regardless of how many carats the ring you're buying has, rose gold will always match certain skin tones.

Lightly tanned skin or those with an olive or Mediterranean complexion will pair very well with rose gold jewelry. Rose gold jewelry will also pair well with other warm skin tones like Arabian and African skin tones.

Southeast Asian skin tones will also be complimented perfectly by rose gold jewelry. The only skin tones that really don't work with rose gold jewelry are those with very pale complexions.

In particular, someone with a pale complexion and red undertones might want to avoid rose gold jewelry because it could accentuate those undertones. 

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SKINTONES FOR YELLOW GOLD

Yellow gold jewelry will look good on almost everyone! However, this jewelry will look best on those with tanned or darker skin tones because it’ll compliment your skin while providing a pop of deep gold color.

Those with pale complexions can pull off yellow gold jewelry, but it's not necessarily the perfect fit. Most jewelers recommend white gold for people with very pale complexions, especially those with fair blonde hair.

A great pair of gold earrings that can match any skintone is our Sexy Pearl Earrings! They’re dipping in 24k gold and have a stunning pearl in each hoop.

 

 

ROSE GOLD VS YELLOW GOLD: DO THEY CAUSE ALLERGIES?

Nothing is more heartbreaking than finding your perfect piece of jewelry, only to discover days or weeks later that you’re breaking out in a rash. If you’re sensitive to certain metals, then you definitely want to heed our advice here.

Yellow gold is considered a hypoallergenic metal. Hypoallergenic means that it's far less likely to cause an allergic reaction because there isn’t a significant presence of common allergens. 

In rare instances, a person can still be allergic to yellow gold, but this is unlikely. Rose gold, on the other hand, contains copper. Copper is a fairly common allergen, so you're more likely to experience a reaction with rose gold jewelry.

If you really struggle with allergies, then try our Hippie Chic Earrings! They’re hypoallergenic and dipped in 24k gold so they’ll look and feel amazing.

Are you ready to shop for your new favorite bracelet? Check out our gold bracelets at LaCkore Couture!

FIND YOUR PERFECT YELLOW OR ROSE GOLD JEWELRY

We hope this guide gave you all the information you need to know about yellow and rose gold so you can always find your perfect piece of gold jewelry. To give a quick recap: yellow gold is more pure than rose gold, and rose gold always contains copper. You're less likely to have an allergic reaction to yellow gold, and make sure to read our section on skin tones to find out which color suits you the best!

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