Yellow, White and Rose Gold: How to Pick a Color
Start with the color you already wear. Look at your watch and your rings.
Yellow gold is the warmest. It is gold in its own color.
White gold is cool and bright. A thin white coat sits on top of it.
Rose gold is pink. Copper in the mix gives it that blush.
All three are real gold. The color comes from the other metals mixed in.
Karat is a separate choice. At the same karat, all three hold the same gold.
So color is about taste. Karat is about how the piece wears.
Still torn? See the three colors side by side.
Gold Karats, Platinum and Sterling Silver: Purity and Price
Karat tells you how much of a piece is pure gold. It is a number out of 24.
24K is 99.9% gold. It is soft, so it is rare in daily jewelry.
18K is 75% gold. The color is rich and the price is higher.
14K is 58.3% gold. It is the US fine-jewelry standard. It balances color, hardness and cost best.
10K is 41.7% gold. It is the hardest gold and the palest.
More gold means richer color. Less gold means a harder piece.
Price runs roughly in this order: platinum, then 18K gold, then 14K, then 10K, then sterling silver.
Platinum is heavy and never needs a coat. Silver is bright and costs far less. Read how the two differ.
White gold is the one metal with upkeep. Here is what it is made of, and how to look after it.
Buying a ring you will wear every day? Our ring metal guide works that choice through.
