Gold has been one of the most popular precious metals for making jewellery for centuries. Several trends have been observed over the years. In addition to the classic yellow gold, two other types of gold were also created. Read more about the different types of gold and find out which one suits you best.

 

 

Three types of gold

There are three different types of gold: yellow gold, white gold and red gold. They each have a different colour and composition.

  1. 14 or 18 carat yellow gold
  2. White gold with a colour such as platinum or silver
  3. Red gold with a soft red colour



All types of gold contain gold at the base. To obtain their colours, they are supplemented with other metals such as palladium, zinc, silver or copper.



The quality of gold is expressed in carats. This term indicates the amount of fine gold that is incorporated into the gold jewellery. Pure gold is 24 carat or 100% fine gold, but you can't make jewellery from it because the material is too weak. We mix gold with other materials to make it stronger and turn it into jewellery. The more carats, the yellower the jewellery
yellow gold engagement ring - A 14 carat yellow gold engagement ring consists of 14 out of 24 parts made of fine gold.

Yellow gold

Yellow gold is the most classic form of gold. Yellow gold jewellery is usually  14 or 18 carats. Pure 24 carat gold is only found in gold bars because it is too soft to make jewellery. To make jewellery from yellow gold, we add other materials, such as copper and zinc.



With an 18 carat ring, 18 of the 24 parts are made of fine gold. For jewellery with a yecolourgold colour, we compose the alloy in such a way that the original yellow color is preserved. Jewellery in 18 carat gold will therefore have a yellower colour than jewellery in 14 carat gold.

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white gold engagement ring - A white gold ring exudes luxury and elegance, is timeless and trendy.

White gold

White gold resembles platinum or silver, but is made by combining fine gold with an alloy containing palladium, silver or zinc. This gives the yellow gold a white colour. In addition, a layer of rhodium is applied around the precious metal. This method is the same as when gold-plating or silver-plating jewellery but bear in mind that the jewellery may exhibit wear after a while.



White gold is proving very popular as a choice for wedding rings, both among men and women. It exudes luxury and elegance and gives a sublime shine to a contemporary look. White gold is timeless yet trendy and therefore a good choice for your wedding ring.

Discover this white gold engagement ring at BAUNAT

Red gold ring - Discover red gold engagement rings at BAUNAT.

Rose gold or red gold

Rose gold has a soft red-pink colour due to an alloy with copper and silver. The higher the copper content, the redder the jewellery is. For rose gold, 18 carat is the highest purity level, this jeweller is then known as Crown Gold. The composition of rose gold is most commonly 75% pure gold to 25% other precious metals, which makes 18-carat rose gold.



In addition to rose gold, there is also red gold and the difference between the two is hard to see. They are both an alloy with copper. Gold with only copper is  red gold, but when supplemented with silver, it is rose gold. The standard alloy for 18 carat red gold consists of 75% fine gold and 25% copper. Red gold jewellery  was introduced in the 19th century and is therefore still fairly new.



Red gold is a popular choice among women. It is easy to combine with different styles and colours. Red gold is unique, gives off a warm glow and has a vintage look.

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Platinum ring - Discover this platinum ring at BAUNAT

What is platinum?

Platinum is very similar to white gold, but differs in a number of aspects. Where white gold is an alloy with another precious metal, platinum is a pure raw material. Platinum jewellery is made from pure platinum ore. It is stronger, more resistant to scratches and colour changes, but also weighs more. Platinum jewellery is hypoallergenic and more durable. Platinum also has a slightly greyer tint than white gold.



Platinum is more difficult to melt and work with than gold. In addition, it is heavier, so a ring made of 18 carat gold will be less heavy than the same ring made of platinum. In addition, platinum is rarer than gold. That also makes jewellery made from platinum more expensive.

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Discover more about precious metals and their value

Precious metals are metals that are not or only slightly subject to oxidation. In addition to gold, platinum and silver, there are several other precious metals. They can be used to add other colours to yellow gold or to make the gold more solid. For example, it is also possible to create green, blue or purple gold by adding specific other metals.

 

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