The coloring of red and rose gold
Red gold and rose gold get their color from copper that is added to the gold. The higher the copper content, the stronger the red color.
Red gold has a high copper content and therefore a rust-red color similar to copper. In addition to the color, the copper also gives a red gold alloy increased strength and hardness.
Rose gold, the particularly valuable variation of red gold, contains a lower proportion of copper and a higher proportion of gold. High-quality rose gold often contains additional silver or palladium - elements that have a discoloring effect and improve the durability and resistance of the jewelry to external influences.
components of red gold and rose gold
In addition to copper for coloring, small amounts of silver and, in some cases, aluminum are often added to the gold alloy. The addition of these two metals simplifies the design and shaping of the alloy.
However, the percentage of copper must be significantly higher than that of silver or aluminum. If the copper content is too high, the material properties deteriorate and the red gold alloy tends to oxidize and discolor.
You can find a selection of beautiful rose gold rings in our jewelry collections:
The color palette of red gold and rose gold
If copper makes up the largest portion of the red gold alloy, it has a deep rusty red color, such as 333 red gold with a fine gold content of 33.3% and a copper content of 66.7%. An orange-gold color is achieved with a higher fine gold content, such as 585 red gold with only 11.5% copper and an additional 9% silver.
A gold alloy is called precious rose gold if its color spectrum ranges from a cool silvery pink to a warmer apricot color. The characteristic red shimmer of the valuable 750 rose gold is created by an alloy made of 75% fine gold, 20.5% copper and 4.5% silver.
rose gold jewelry
Red gold and rose gold are generally available with a fine gold content of 33.3% to 75%, with 333 rose gold being the cheapest alternative of the alloy.
At RENÉSIM we only use the highest quality rose gold with a fine gold content of 75%.
Russian gold, Turkish gold and Crown Gold – different names for red gold
At the beginning of the 19th century, red gold jewelry was particularly popular in Russia. The name Russian gold was therefore still in use in the GDR. The term Turkish gold is also often used as a synonym for red gold, as the precious metal is also highly regarded in Turkey. 916 gold with copper as the sole alloy partner, which has a very faint red tone, is known in Great Britain as Crown Gold. After it was introduced by Henry VIII in 1526, it was used for gold coins for a long time.
Red gold & rose gold with a chemical layer
In addition to the method of mixing gold with copper and silver, it is also possible to produce a red color by chemically treating the surface of yellow gold to achieve the appearance of red gold. Such gold should not actually be traded under the name red gold, as it is actually a different metal to which the color is only applied to the surface. The color layer wears off over time and the underlying color becomes visible, which means that the reddish color is not sufficiently durable.
diamond jewelry in rose gold
Jewellery lexicon
jewelry collections
Things to know
