Going for the Gold: Understanding Rose Gold, Metal Karats, + Precious Metal Alloys
In an era of trends that enter the market as quickly as they become a staple, rose gold has had a stronghold on the jewelry market for close to a decade. With origins in Russian Fabergé eggs and an uptick in popularity during the 1920’s, rose gold has ebbed and flowed in popularity for years, and with the return of vintage aesthetics, so comes the return of rose gold. From wedding bands to engagement rings to earrings, rose gold’s versatility has made it an essential offering for all occasions, but what is it, how is it made, and how can it be distinguished from other precious metals? With so many offerings on the market, it’s important to know the details of what you’re getting into before you take the dive, and to know the differences between precious metals before you make design decisions.
What Is Rose Gold?
Yes, rose gold is real gold. Like white gold or yellow gold, rose gold is an alloy, meaning it’s a combination of pure gold with other metals that change the color and carat. By combining gold with different metals, you get different tones— from rose-tints to buttery yellow— and with those different tones and karats, you also get different levels of durability. Rose Gold is made most commonly by blending gold with copper at different ratios, making it either an 18 karat or 14 karat precious metal. Karats are measured by the percentage of gold in an alloy, with more gold making it a higher karat. 24 karat gold is pure gold, 14 karat gold is 58.3% gold, 18 karat gold is 75% gold. Copper gives rose gold its iconic pinkish hue, whereas our white golds are blended with nickel, copper and zinc to give it a cooler, silvery hue. Rose gold and other alloys such as white gold will offer a distinct color, even at a higher karat. Although rose gold contains copper, it does not tarnish in the same way due to the gold content and can be easily cleaned just like other shades of gold.
Bario Neal's Rose Gold
As always, the metals that we work with all meet our strict criteria for quality, durability, and sustainability. We proudly offer Fairmined and recycled gold options extracted by small-scale and artisanal miners and US refineries to ensure that our precious metals are not only of the highest quality, but sourced with the highest ethical standards. At Bario Neal, our rose gold is recycled with no new mining involved, which is a factor for many clients concerned about what extractive industries do to the environment. Bario Neal sources from two domestic refineries that work only in recycled precious metals, prioritize environmentally sustainable practices and are very conscious of their carbon footprint. The refiners have many sources for their recycling process and jewelers like Bario Neal send in studio materials. This includes anything from broken jewelry to the hand towels that our jewelers use to wash their hands or the filters from our air cleaning system. Anything in the studio that might have precious metal dust on it gets sent. The refiners burn these materials (nothing toxic though!) in big furnaces and the melted metal that remains is separated by type. After further processing, it gets poured into ingots or forms suitable for jewelry making.
Choosing the Right Karat
While people generally think of higher karats as being better, this is not necessarily the case, especially depending on what kind of wear you expect your jewelry to get. Gold, when not alloyed with other metals, is very soft, and while 24kt gold implies that the gold is at its purest, that also means it is at its softest and most likely to see wear more quickly. When choosing between 18kt and 14kt precious metals, there isn’t too much variation in terms of durability, however you might expect to see some wear just slightly earlier on an 18 karat precious metal. We typically recommend a 14kt gold for a very delicate setting and 18kt gold for clients who want a bolder, more buttery finish.
Another big factor in determining what precious metal to choose, be it for a custom wedding band or an everyday-wear pair of earrings or necklace, is how active your lifestyle is. If your day-to-day doesn’t involve working with your hands all too much, then a precious metal with a higher karat could be a perfect fit. If your lifestyle involves a lot of moving around and a lot of potential for wear and tear, we recommend a more durable choice that won’t give as easily, such as platinum. Platinum is also an excellent choice for those who need a hypoallergenic option; its purity makes it an easy option for sensitive skin. Each precious metal offers its own set of unique properties that can work for your lifestyle.
At Bario Neal, all jewelry is made to order and available for customization. We provide virtual and in-store appointments at both our Philadelphia and New York locations to ensure that every customer can have their questions answered, and take home jewelry that is right for them. So if you’re hopping on the rose gold train, or just looking for something with the greatest durability, Bario Neal will help you find something to suit your style and wear needs!