Gold jewelry of a rosier color
While yellow gold jewelry is the most well-known type of gold jewelry, rose gold is a unique alternative. Rose gold was actually one of the most popular choices for gold jewelry at one time, though it has become somewhat more obscure today. White gold jewelry is also becoming increasingly popular in today's market, but rose gold is something different from the rest of the pack. The color of yellow gold jewelry is what many people think of when they thing of a golden color, but it is only one of many gold hues.
Yellow gold jewelry is what people consider "pure gold," though it is soft and not very durable. People started adding other metals to gold to make it more durable or less expensive and gold jewelry makers soon discovered they could use different colored metals to make different colors of gold. White gold jewelry, today's most popular choice, is made by adding platinum, for example. Rose gold is formed by adding copper, which tints the gold to a pinkish color.
Copper has a naturally reddish color, but does not overpower the natural color of the yellow gold jewelry. Rose gold requires a relatively small amount of copper in order to color it, so rose gold can be very pure. The highest quality of rose gold is 22 karat gold, although this is not usually used for gold jewelry. Most rose gold jewelry is either 18k or 14k. Silver may also be added to the alloy to strengthen the material and modify the color of rose gold, so it isn't too delicate or brassy. Rose gold jewelry may not be as common today, but it was very popular in the 19th century and early 20th century, when rose gold rings and necklaces were popular with women because of their warmth and unique tone.
Rose gold was even seen in engagement rings, which is not common today. In fact, rose gold used to be even more popular than white gold. White gold was originally developed in the 1920s as a substitute for platinum, and it eventually became popular enough that it had its own following. Rose gold was specifically created to have the warm, pinkish tone that it has, though, and not as a substitution for anything. Though rose gold is not as popular as it once was, rose gold is still available for people who want to find a unique piece of jewelry that will stand out in a crowd. Rose gold pieces can often be found at estate sales, pawn shops and antique jewelry stores. The demand for rose gold is having a slight comeback in traditional retailers, as well. With so many pieces of gold jewelry on the market that look the same, especially white gold jewelry and yellow gold jewelry, rose gold is a great alternative.
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