Gold Types

LIVING OUR LIFE LIKE IT’S GOLDEN..

Yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum- Which should you choose and why? Choosing a type of gold should be an educated and aesthetic decision to best suit you, your lifestyle, how you use your hands, and even your skin tone. 

For centuries, gold has been the most sought after metal for use in jewelry. In the modern world, The most common types of gold and karat are - 14k yellow, 14k white and 14k rose gold-- all of which are formed by mixing the natural metal with alloys to strengthen it and make it suitable for use in everyday wear. The karatage (defined by the ‘K’)  is an indication of how much metal in the piece is, in fact, gold. In terms of standard percentages, there is 58.3% pure gold in 14K, 75% gold in 18K with 100% gold being present only in 24K gold. For this reason, 14 karat gold is stronger, less resistant to malleability, and is more durable than any higher karat gold since there is more alloy (strengthener) in 14K gold. 

WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

Yellow gold, the most popular gold, occurs naturally and is the purest form of the metal. It is strengthened for jewelry by combining pure gold with elements such as zinc or copper.  Similarly, white gold is mixed with palladium or nickel to give it a color close to silver. It is also plated (covered by another metal) with rhodium which requires some down the road. Lastly, rose gold contains about 25% copper, giving it a pinkish color.

Another metal option is called Platinum. Platinum is even more rare than gold! It occurs in its purest form in very scarce amounts and is generally formed during the mining process of nickel and copper. It is a type of naturally white metal, mixed with alloy. However, it is not plated and therefore develops a 'patina' style wear over time that requires polishing. Platinum is the strongest and most durable of the metals.

HOW WILL IT LOOK ON ME?

There is also an aesthetic side of determining which gold is best for you! At Kasia Jewelry, a majority of our pieces feature 14K yellow gold. This is because yellow gold is classic, timeless, and suits the majority of skin tones. If pink undertones are present in your skin, choosing rose gold could potentially draw out those tones and cause the metal to visually fade into your skin. Whereas yellow gold, with its universal warmth, adds depth and shine to any skin tone. We highly encourage all our clients to follow their hearts when choosing their metal - if you adore rose gold, go for it! We are happy to create any piece in your metal of choice. 

HOW DOES IT LOOK WITH EVERYTHING ELSE?

Another element of choosing the type of metal for your precious piece is the type, color, and clarity of your center stone(s). Ironically, a diamond that has more of a yellow tint would be best-suited for yellow gold to add warmth around the stone and cause it to appear brighter and whiter. In contrast, if you put the same stone in white gold, platinum, or rose gold, the yellow tint of the diamond might be significantly more visible due to the contrast of colors. If your center stone is a Salt and Pepper Diamond, yellow gold will create more of a contrast combining the coolness of the stone along with the warmth of yellow gold which adds shine and depth. White or even rose gold will bring out more drama out of the cold hued Salt & Pepper Diamonds! Champagne diamonds, often sourced by Kasia to fall within neutral range, are appropriate for all color metals.

Choosing a type of gold for your jewelry is a very personal choice and varies from person to person. The decision also involves your style (classic, edgy, feminine, etc), undertones in your skin, and other metals already present (or soon-to-be) in your collection. Our informed stylists can easily help educate and guide you toward the right gold for you when choosing your new treasure. Schedule an in-person showroom or virtual appointment to see the amazing variety present in our collection, and don’t forget, we can create any piece in your specific metal choice!