Is Rose Gold Real Gold? Rose gold is a mix of 24-carat yellow gold, copper, and silver. All gold tones and grades are based on pure 24-carat yellow gold, although it is too delicate to be utilized in jewelry in its pure form.
To make it strong enough to wear, it would need to be fused or bonded with other metals. All forms of metals used in jewelry, such as platinum, yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold, are colored and determined using different alloy formulas.
In this article, we’re going to emphasize rose gold, to discover what it truly is, in comparison to other alloys of gold and as well as pure gold itself.
History of Rose Gold
Rose gold, often known as Russian Gold, was initially utilized in the 19th century in Russia by renowned jeweler Carl Faberge in his fabled Faberge Eggs. Rose gold became fashionable in the United States during the opulent and feminine 1920s and was used in wedding rings and exquisite jewelry.
Cartier was a driving force behind the trend, creating sumptuous rose gold fine jewelry studded with beautiful gems and diamonds. One piece, in particular, the “Trinity Ring,” a simple ring of 3 golden colors interlaced, contributed to the resurgence of rose gold as jewelry.
Jean Cocteau, the famous French writer, artist, director, and playwright who prominently wore his Cartier ring jewelry on his pinkie, requested Cartier to create this piece.
Rose gold’s prominence has ebbed and flowed throughout the years, largely due to fashion and celebrity endorsements. Today, rose gold has reclaimed its proper place in the fashion pages of your preferred magazines, on the wrists of fashionistas, and on the hands of future brides.
Is Rose Gold Plated Or Real Gold?
There have been a few conspiracy theories about rose gold being plated with copper and another type of metallic alloys due to its copper-tinted look and also being real gold.
It isn’t far from the truth though, since rose gold possesses pure gold and copper which serves as the alloys responsible for the creation of rose gold, But the truth of the matter is that Copper as well as other metals are not plated (or coated) on Rose Gold.
The copper-like tint is due to what’s within the gold, not something on the surface of it. It’s a good thing that Rose Gold isn’t coated because coated rings are not known for their longevity.
With this in mind, we could denote that rose gold is not plated with copper, nor is it real or pure gold.
What is Rose Gold Made of?
Rose gold is a metal alloy made up of a mix of copper and pure gold. The combination of both metals alters the hue and karat of the finished version.
What are Some Similarities Between Rose Gold and Gold?
Rose gold and gold have certain things in common. Both rose gold and gold are known to be malleable and scarce metals.
They also contain variable amounts of gold. They’ve also been utilized as coinage and jewelry.
What is the Difference Between Gold and Rose Gold?
Although the two metals have some similarities, they also have some distinctions, such as the ones listed below:
1. Rose gold is a combination of two metals, whilst pure gold is a single metal with different levels of impurities.
2. Copper-contaminated rose gold is more bendable than pure gold.
3. The hue of gold is yellowish, however, the color of rose gold is pinkish or reddish.
Pros and Cons of Rose Gold
Pros
- Owing to its reddish/pinkish color, it is a favorite choice among celebs and is thought to be romantic.
- Due to the low cost of copper, a rose gold jewelry design can be slightly less expensive than other alloys of gold.
- The copper in rose gold makes it more resilient than most other alloys of gold. Olive, Mediterranean, and darker complexion tones look great with this color.
Cons
- It is not a hypoallergenic material and might induce allergy reactions in some people. This is not as widespread as most other alloys of gold, but a pale complexion with red undertones may not be a suitable match.
Why is Rose Gold Expensive?
Rose gold isn’t really expensive when compared to other varieties of gold or pure gold itself. It is known as one of the most inexpensive alloys due to its constituent alloys.
Rose gold is less expensive than other alloy metals because of the copper used to make it, which made it less expensive. As a result, rose gold is likely to be way less costly than pure gold and slightly less costly than other varieties of gold.
However, keep in mind that the price is mostly determined by the quantity of pure gold present, not the alloy.
How to Tell if Rose Gold is Real?
Rose gold is fashionable, attractive, and adaptable, and it is without a doubt, one of the best types of jewelry available today. Rose gold is used in a variety of jewelry, including wedding and engagement rings, wristbands, pendants, and other fashionable and fine jewelry.
But how do you know if indeed the rose gold you’re looking at is genuine?
Below are the methods you could use to check if the rose gold you’re looking at is real:
A. First Method: Visually Inspect and Look for Hallmarks
To begin, examine the etched markings on the piece of rose gold. In essence, any genuine gold jewelry would have the symbol K next to it, along with a certain number.
Karatage is represented by the letter K. The 10k hallmark will appear on 10K rose gold, whereas the 24k hallmark will appear on 24K gold.
You should also check the gold’s official number. The hallmark on the gold tells you how much gold is in the piece.
The hallmark is usually printed all around the closure or on the ring’s inner strands. From the jewelry’s surface, the hallmark would certainly be apparent. The stamp value will vary from 1 to 999, with karats ranging from 0 to 24.
To recognize the hallmark, you’ll need a magnifying lens. Because it can be difficult to see the hallmark with your bare eyes, particularly on tiny gold objects like rings, you’ll need a magnifying lens.
There may be no apparent hallmark indications on older pieces, however, they may wear off over time. In other situations, the item might not have had a hallmark while hallmarking rose gold became the usual activity in the 1950s.
Hallmarking became a legal necessity in other regions of the world, such as India, only in 2000.
1. Making Use of Number Markings
Because most coins and jewelry are made of mixed metals rather than pure gold, you’ll need to utilize the numerical rating system to determine authenticity. The numbering system used in Europe ranges between 1 and 999, with 999 being utilized mainly for pure gold.
The numerical rating system in the United States, for example, spans from 0 to 24K, with 24K being used for pure gold.
Figure 375, for example, indicates that the item is constructed of 37.5 percent gold using the numerical rating system. However, in the United States, 37.5 percent gold is equal to 9K gold.
2. Letter Markings
Letter marks rather than numbers or karatage are sometimes found on rose gold jewelry. Letter marks are frequently used to indicate that a gold item is tainted.
GP, which refers to gold plated, and GEP, which stands for gold electroplated, are two examples of these letter designations. Even though they come from various parts of the world, the markings are likely to be similar in most circumstances.
3. Keep an Eye Out for Color Deterioration
Look for significant discolorations where the rose gold has worn away. You can tell whether the item is coated or composed of pure gold by looking at the surface of the jewelry.
B. Second Method: Magnetism and Property Testing
1. Rusting Test
When subjected to moisture, true gold jewelry will not rust or tarnish, but plated jewelry will.
2. Magnetic test
Gold isn’t magnetic, thus it won’t stick to the strong molybdenum magnet. Unfortunately, this isn’t a reliable method because some real gold pieces may contain iron, making them magnetic.
3. Water Test
Place the piece of gold into a container of water and see whether it sinks. Because real gold is thick, it sinks to the bottom of the container, whereas plated or counterfeit gold floats due to its lesser weight.
4. Scratch Test
This is a method of determining whether or not something is worth doing. Rub the gold piece against/on unglazed porcelain in this test; if it forms a lovely gold streak, it’s made of real gold.
You must use a bit of unglazed earthenware for this project. To obtain the streak, drag the piece over the surface until you see gold bits.
If you see a black streak, the item isn’t real gold; fake gold reacts with the ceramic tile’s base, leaving a black or green gleam. This scratching guard will wipe off some amount of gold, but it’s a pretty safe solution.
Conclusion
Rose gold is a unique variety of gold that is adorned by many people across the world, but as much as it isn’t pure gold, it is the best type of gold you could find out there.
