Rose gold is created by alloying yellow gold with copper and sometimes silver. The proportion of copper dictates the intensity of the pink hue.
The Process of Making Rose Gold
Here's a breakdown of how rose gold is made:
- Start with Pure Gold: Pure gold (24 karat) is too soft for most jewelry applications.
- Add Copper: Copper is the primary metal added to gold to create rose gold. The more copper, the redder or pinker the gold.
- Optional: Add Silver: Silver is sometimes added to further adjust the color and improve the alloy's properties. It can soften the reddish hue slightly.
- Melt and Mix: The metals are melted together at high temperatures to ensure a homogenous mixture.
- Cooling and Solidifying: The molten alloy is then cooled and solidified.
- Fabrication: The resulting rose gold alloy can then be used to create jewelry or other items through various fabrication processes like casting, forging, or machining.
Composition Examples
The karat of the gold determines the percentage of pure gold in the alloy. Here are a few common rose gold compositions:
| Karat | Gold (%) | Copper (%) | Silver (%) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18K | 75% | 25% | 0% | Rich, noticeable pink color |
| 18K | 75% | 22.25% | 2.75% | Slightly softer pink color |
| 14K | 58.3% | 41.7% | 0% | Deeper, more reddish-pink color |
| 14K | 58.3% | 32% | 9.7% | A balanced pink color |
- 18K Rose Gold: Contains 75% pure gold and 25% other metals (primarily copper). This is a popular choice for jewelry because it offers a good balance of color and durability.
- 14K Rose Gold: Contains 58.3% pure gold and a higher percentage of copper (around 41.7%). This will have a more pronounced reddish-pink hue than 18K rose gold.
Terminology
- Rose Gold: A general term for gold alloys with a pinkish hue.
- Red Gold: An alloy with a higher copper content, resulting in a more pronounced red color.
- Pink Gold: An alloy with a slightly lower copper content compared to rose gold, resulting in a softer pink hue.
In summary, you make rose gold by melting pure gold with copper and, sometimes, silver. The specific proportions of these metals determine the final color and karat of the rose gold.
