White, Rose and Yellow Gold: Which Should You Choose?

When you go jewellery shopping, you see designs not only in classic yellow but in bright white and warm pinkish tones. Especially when choosing a wedding band or solitaire, one of the most common questions is what the difference is between white and rose gold. These tones, made by moving away from gold's natural yellow, offer different advantages depending on taste and how you wear your jewellery.

Changing the colour does not reduce the value of gold or harm its quality. It is an alloying technique that makes gold more suitable for jewellery, increases its durability and supports the sparkle of stones.

The natural colour of pure gold and how alloys work

24 karat pure gold has its own intense yellow colour. As we explain in our guide 14, 18, 22 and 24 karat gold, pure gold is very soft. For jewellery it is mixed with other metals to harden it. It is exactly at this mixing, or alloying, stage that the colour of gold changes.

The type and proportion of the metals added determine the colour. Even at the same karat, metals such as silver, copper, zinc or palladium produce different tones: yellow, white and rose. The pure gold content is kept at the 14 or 18 karat standard, while the remainder is adjusted for colour.

White gold

White gold is the most popular metal colour for diamond jewellery. Because it is the setting that best reflects a diamond's colourless brilliance, it is widely used in solitaire and five-stone rings. To make white gold, white metals such as palladium, silver or zinc are added. This alloy largely cancels out gold's yellow and turns it a light, slightly greyish white.

The mirror-like whiteness you see in the window comes from rhodium plating applied at the final stage of production. Rhodium is a hard, bright metal of the platinum group. Rhodium plating gives the piece its bright white colour and offers some protection against scratches.

Rose gold

Rose gold has a warm, romantic tone that has become markedly more popular in jewellery fashion in recent years. Also called pink gold, it is made by adding a high proportion of copper and a little silver to gold. When copper's reddish colour combines with gold's yellow, the warm pink tone appears. Once also known as "Russian gold", it is often used in vintage designs and delicate necklaces.

The more copper, the redder the colour; more silver gives a softer pink. Rose gold needs no plating like white gold, because its colour comes from the alloy itself. The copper in the alloy hardens the gold and increases its durability.

White and rose gold compared: care

The difference between white and rose gold shows most clearly with long-term wear. White gold needs maintenance at intervals because its rhodium plating wears over time. Frequent hand washing, detergent, perfume, hand cream and sweat gradually thin the plating. When it thins, the alloy's own slightly yellowish tone starts to show.

This does not mean the gold is damaged; re-plating with rhodium at a jeweller restores its original whiteness. Rose gold has no plating to wear off. Because its colour is the alloy itself, it keeps its basic pink. Over many years the surface may darken slightly, which a simple polish removes. We explain methods you can use at home in how to clean gold jewellery.

Colour choice for stones, and allergies

If you do not want a diamond solitaire to look more yellow than it is, choose a setting whose prongs are white gold. A white base supports the whiteness of the stone. Yellow and rose gold settings create a warm harmony with coloured stones. We cover choosing a stone in our diamond buying guide.

Another point is skin sensitivity. Some white gold alloys may contain nickel, which can irritate the skin of people sensitive to it. If you have such a sensitivity, ask whether the alloy contains nickel when buying.

Does colour affect the price?

The colour of gold is not the main factor in its value. The basic value of a gold piece is set by the amount of pure gold it contains, that is its weight and karat, plus craftsmanship. A 5 gram 14 karat white gold ring and a 5 gram 14 karat rose gold ring contain the same amount of pure gold.

Both contain 585 parts per thousand of pure gold. Any price difference usually comes not from the colour but from design, craftsmanship and any stones. Follow current gold prices on our market screen. The choice of colour is largely a matter of personal style.

Choosing gold for your skin tone

Your skin's undertone affects how a piece looks on you. Classic yellow and rose gold suit warm undertones. The warm pink of rose gold blends softly with the skin.

White gold creates an elegant contrast on cool undertones or very fair skin. On darker and olive skin, the warmth of yellow and rose gold stands out more clearly. To see designs in different colours up close, browse our catalogue or visit our store.

Gold colours compared

Whatever colour you choose, the purity of gold is always measured by its fineness. To find the design that suits you best together, reach us through the contact section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does white gold turn yellow over time?

White gold turning yellow is really the alloy returning to its own colour. The rhodium plating thins over time through friction and chemicals, and the slightly yellowish alloy shows through. Re-plating at a jeweller fixes this.

Is rose gold suitable for diamond rings?

Yes. Especially for lovers of vintage and romantic designs, rose gold makes a beautiful frame. The white sparkle of the diamond and the warm tone of rose gold complement each other.

Can I turn a yellow ring white later?

It is possible to give a yellow piece a white look with rhodium plating at a jeweller. But this is a surface coating; when it wears, the yellow shows through again, so it needs renewing at intervals.

Which gold colour is worth more when sold?

The colour of gold does not determine its resale value. Whether white, yellow or rose, the weight and karat of the piece are what count. Pieces of the same karat and weight contain the same amount of pure gold.