White Gold vs. Rose Gold
When selling or shopping for jewelry, it can be challenging to determine which products are truly worth their weight in gold. Both white gold and rose gold are precious metals with individual appeal, but not all jewelry is created equal.
Whether you’re choosing the perfect piece or exploring options for selling or pawning, discover the key differences between rose gold and white gold to better understand their value.
Similarities Between White Gold and Rose Gold
When comparing these two precious metals, you will discover that they share a few key characteristics. Let’s explore what white gold and rose gold have in common.
Base Metal
As you may have guessed, both types of metal contain gold. Both white gold and rose gold are gold alloys. An alloy is a material that combines two or more elements, where at least one of them is a metal. Both white gold and rose gold are made by combining pure gold with other metals or alloys, which change their properties and appearance.
While neither finished product shares the appearance or exact properties of pure gold, it is an integral element of both metals.
Karatage
A metal’s karatage represents the percentage of pure gold within a metal, meaning the higher the karatage, the more pure gold is present.
Karatage is measured on a scale of up to 24, where 24K — or 24 karat — is the highest, most pure form of gold, containing up to 99.9% gold. Both white gold and rose gold are typically available in 14-karat or 18-karat forms, where the 18-karat forms of either metal contain approximately 75% pure gold.
Durability
Pure gold is a relatively soft material, but the addition of harder metals, such as copper or silver, makes white gold and rose gold more durable than pure gold.
The metals and alloys added to white and rose gold make them similarly durable options. Rhodium, which is often used to plate white gold, is considered more durable than copper. However, rose gold is generally stronger and more tarnish-resistant than white gold that is not rhodium-plated.
Ultimately, the durability of the two metals is similar but depends on the specific piece of jewelry.
Differences Between Rose Gold and White Gold
When comparing jewelry made from rose gold vs. white gold, it is important to understand how rose gold and white gold differ. From chemical composition to cost, there are multiple characteristics that set the two golds apart.
Composition and Color
Although both metals contain pure gold as a base metal, rose and white gold contain different additional metals and alloys that determine the metals’ properties and colors.
Rose gold is an alloy made primarily from a combination of pure gold and copper. Occasionally, rose gold will also contain silver, which alters the metal’s shade. In general, the more copper present in rose gold, the pinker its color appears. Higher copper levels also result in a stronger overall metal.
White gold, on the other hand, is an alloy made from pure gold and white metal alloys, such as palladium, silver and nickel. White gold is commonly plated with a layer of rhodium, which protects the more reactive alloys beneath and contributes to the gold’s distinctive white sheen.
Maintenance
Although rose gold and white gold are both durable metals, they each have their own unique characteristics and require different levels of care.
The rhodium plating used to coat white gold jewelry can wear down with use. Be it from regular friction or contact with chemicals, such as soaps and perfumes, rhodium plating weakens over time and usually needs replacing every one to three years. If the rhodium plating is not replaced, the more reactive metals beneath it can start to oxidize and tarnish, so proper maintenance of white gold is essential.
Rose gold, on the other hand, requires no frequent or costly maintenance. However, over long periods of time, the copper within rose gold can start to oxidize, leading to the development of a patina on the metal’s surface. A patina is a natural sign of aged metal, manifesting as a slight darkening of the metal’s hue. Many people appreciate the vintage appeal of rose gold’s patina, but for those wanting to maintain its signature shine, darkening can be avoided with regular cleaning and polishing.
Price
Although both metals are initially priced primarily on their gold content, or karatage, there are multiple elements that make white gold a more expensive investment.
The price of these metals is not only based on their gold content, but also on the value of the other metals they contain. Due to the affordability of copper compared to silver, palladium, rhodium and nickel, the initial cost of rose gold is often lower than that of white gold. As a long-term investment, rose gold is also generally more affordable, as the required maintenance of rhodium plating incurs additional costs every few years.
If you are looking for an affordable jewelry option, rose gold is generally less expensive than white gold.
Hypoallergenic
Although neither type of gold is considered hypoallergenic, rose gold is generally more suitable for those with sensitive skin. This is because some types of white gold contain nickel, and it is estimated that more than 18% of people in North America are allergic to this type of metal. Luckily, you can find nickel-free white gold if you are allergic.
Frequently Asked Questions About White and Rose Gold
Explore these frequently asked questions to understand more of the nuances between different metals.
What Is the Difference Between Platinum vs. Rose Gold?
Whereas rose gold is an alloy made from gold and copper, platinum is a pure chemical element that often contains upward of 90% pure platinum. Platinum has a much higher density than rose gold, making it much more durable.
These metals differ chemically and exhibit distinct physical appearances. While rose gold is famous for its pink hue, platinum is naturally silvery-white in color. Compared to gold, platinum is extremely rare, making it significantly more expensive than rose gold.
What Is the Difference Between Yellow Gold vs. Rose Gold?
Although both yellow gold and rose gold are gold alloys, they have very different compositions and appearances. Yellow gold commonly contains a mix of gold and metal alloys, usually silver and copper, but it can contain up to 99.9% gold. It has the warm, yellow glow associated with pure gold, but is generally stronger than pure gold thanks to its added alloys.
Rose gold, on the other hand, is an alloy containing gold and copper and sometimes silver. It has a pink hue, and its color and strength are dependent on its copper content.
Which Color Gold Is Most Expensive?
Generally, yellow gold is the most expensive type of gold because of its timeless and classic appearance and high gold content. Yellow gold can either be a combination of pure gold and metal alloys or up to 99.9% pure gold, and the higher its pure gold content, the more valuable it is.
Buy and Sell Gold Jewelry at Low Prices at The Vault Jewelry and Loan
At The Vault Jewelry and Loan, we buy and sell high-quality gold products at premium prices. Whether you’re looking to sell or pawn your preloved gold or invest in new jewelry pieces, we deal with a wide array of luxury gold items, including bullion, coins, rings, necklaces, bracelets and more.
Ready to shop our products or get a professional appraisal? Find your nearest location online today!
Linked Sources:
- https://thevaultloans.com/luxury-products/jewelry/
- https://thevaultloans.com/luxury-products/precious-metals/
- https://thevaultloans.com/luxury-products/precious-metals/silver/
- https://thevaultloans.com/luxury-products/jewelry/
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/insider/nickel-allergy
- https://thevaultloans.com/luxury-products/precious-metals/platinum/
- https://thevaultloans.com/luxury-products/precious-metals/gold/
- https://thevaultloans.com/browse-our-stores/
Jamie Furman
James (Jamie) F., is the manager of our Centerpointe Way location in Woodbridge, VA. With over 14 years in the pawn business, he is an expert in Diamonds, Gold, and Luxury Watches. He is fluent in Spanish and English and enjoys helping customers’ find the item they want at a great deal. Banks and Big Box stores have convinced many that new and expensive is the only way to buy. He aims to change that paradigm and provide exceptional service and quality products at a bargain price to every person who walks through our doors.
