What is rose gold?
The precious metal, rose gold, is an alloy made from a mixture of pure gold and copper. The blend of these two metals alters the colour of the end product, as well as its carat. The term ‘alloy’ refers to the other metals that are added to the gold to produce the desired colour. For example, in the case of rose gold, it can be alloyed with both gold and silver. Although mixed with other precious metals to create a beautiful colour, rose gold is made from real gold and the lower percentage of pure gold in this metal has other benefits such as being more durable.
Most commonly, the alloy of rose gold is 75% pure gold to 25% copper, which makes a beautiful, pink blushed, 18k rose gold. This also links to the carat, as a change in the percentage of a metal alloy leads to a change in the carat.
Typically, a direct combination of both copper and gold creates a pinkish-red colour. The higher the copper content within the mixture, the more depth of colour there is in the pink hue of the rose gold. A small amount of silver can also be added to form a lighter, more subtle rose tint, which is referred to as ‘pink gold’.
Discover our gold guide to find out everything you need to know about gold jewellery.
What makes rose gold so popular?
In recent years, rose gold has risen to popularity within various forms of jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings, particularly wedding and engagement. Enticed by the warm, feminine, pink glow, of rose gold, younger generations are opting for this metal as their choice of wedding ring, looking for something unique, stylish and personal to them.
Rose gold is also a popular choice for wedding rings due to its romantic appeal, as pink is a colour deeply associated with love. Rose gold pieces also make for both modern and classic designs, displaying timeless beauty and a vintage charm, which is very on trend, as well as a sleek, more present-day, contemporary feel.
For years, rose has always been known as a subtle and gentle colour with a calming demeanour, consistently displaying effortless luxury and glamour. However, only in recent times has rose gold become a widely spread metal option, and it is obvious that this choice will continue to grow in popularity for years to come. In fact, the most pinned engagement ring on pinterest is a stunning rose gold solitaire! Therefore, the simplicity and timeless elegance of rose gold has made it one of the most popular choices of precious metals.
Is rose gold a good choice for wedding rings?
Yes! There are many great precious metals for jewellery with gold jewellery for special occasions being a great accessory but here are 10 reasons why rose gold is a good choice for wedding rings…
1- Rose gold is more durable than yellow or white gold
Due to the presence of copper in its mixture, rose gold is a naturally heavy and tough material. Yellow gold is a soft metal, and white gold is slightly stronger, but it is believed that rose gold is the strongest of all metal variations! This means that rose gold is highly durable, and is less likely to become scratched, making this precious metal a suitable choice for everyday wear, especially in pieces such as wedding bands.
2- It is affordable
Compared to yellow gold, a rose gold ring setting is known to be more affordable thanks to its mixture of alloys. The low price of copper, as well as this metal requiring a smaller ratio of pure gold, leads to it becoming a cheaper option, without compromising the excellent quality and stunning appearance of a wedding ring.
3- Rose gold doesn’t require rhodium plating
Rhodium plating is a form of metal plating that can protect your jewellery from damage, as well as significantly enhancing the overall look and colour quality of a piece, which is very important. However, as the colour of rose gold intensifies with age, its colour quality improves with time, meaning that rhodium plating is not required. This makes rose gold very special, ensuring endless beauty and also saving time and money on future refurbishments such as rhodium plating.
4- Compliments all skin tones
Rose gold is perfect for all skin tones! The warm vibrancy of a rose gold wedding band seems to glow stunningly on every person’s hand. It is also possible to customise the amount of copper in your ring, to tint the colouring to perfectly match your skin tone. It is also a good choice if you and your partner are looking for matching bands but may differ in skin tones, as rose gold can be adjusted differently for both to fit this desire, making your rings truly one of a kind, and deeply personal to a couple.
5- Does not rust or corrode
Rose gold is made from pure gold, copper and silver metal alloys that don’t tarnish. Therefore, there is no need to worry about your rose gold wedding ring reacting with chemicals in the air and becoming tarnished, rusted or corroded. Of course, it is still very important for you to treat your rose gold jewellery with great care and consideration, but you will not have to worry about your ring tarnishing.
6- Rose gold is a unique and trendy choice
Although rose gold is super trendy at the moment and is not likely to go out of style anytime soon, it still isn’t as widely used within wedding rings as the classic yellow gold and white gold bands. Therefore, this makes for unique, personal pieces that no one else will have, and that will also not go out of fashion.
7- It is easy to maintain
Rose gold wedding rings are high quality, durable and hardly require much maintenance. For example, for white gold to keep its shine, it needs to be professionally dipped in Rhodium every couple of years. But as previously mentioned, rose gold doesn’t need this type of attention. As long as you take regular care of your ring, it will keep its shine. All you need to do is keep it nicely cleaned using mild soap, warm water and a dry, soft cloth. There are many quick, simple but effective home cleaning methods to keep your jewellery looking its best. Find out more about how to clean your jewellery here!
8- Versatility
Due to the malleable nature of rose gold, it can be made to suit all shapes and styles, and can be formed into more intricate shapes and designs than the other metals. So if you are looking for a more distinctive, decorative wedding ring, then rose gold is the perfect choice. Our bespoke jewellery service is the best way to create this one-of-a-kind piece. You can be sure that any design, setting or style of wedding ring will look stunning in rose gold!
9- Lasting beauty
As rose gold doesn’t tarnish, it keeps a lasting beauty! Some metals can lose their lustre, darken and rust due to chemical reactions with the air, but rose gold doesn’t do this. It can, however, begin to appear slightly darker or redder after years of everyday wear due to the copper within the ring. There is no need to worry though, as this takes a long time to happen, and is very subtle and hard to notice, meaning that it will not affect the original look of your wedding ring. This advantage of lasting beauty has led to rose gold becoming an increasingly popular precious metal.
10- Rose gold is perfect for both men and women
In recent years, rose gold has become a popular colour palette for both men and women. Not only does it look stylish on both, but there are other factors such as being easily able to match it to different skin tones, its versatility, strength, as well as price point. Many couples are also deciding to get coordinating rose gold rings so that they can match with each other, and with their existing jewellery and watches.
What are the disadvantages of rose gold wedding rings?
The only real disadvantage of rose gold is that it is not hypoallergenic due to the copper in the alloy. This means that people who are allergic to copper, or those that have sensitive skin, may have a skin reaction upon wearing a rose gold ring. If this is the case with you or your partner, then this is not the metal for you. However, if you do not have an allergy or have never had a serious reaction previously, then there is nothing to worry about!
Wedding Rings at Sonny’s Jewellers
Book an in-store appointment for help choosing your wedding ring on 01212362426, or by getting in touch with a member of our team via our online contact form. Our design experts and in-house gemologists can guide you through your choice of wedding rings, metal choices and our bespoke design process. We look forward to hearing from you!
