Gold is one of the most popular jewellery metals of all time. But rose gold has slowly caught up. If you’ve been paying any attention to trends – most noticeably in the 2010s – you’ll have noticed that rose gold is everywhere and not just in fashion. Phones, cakes and even cars are taking on the colour!
Rose gold jewellery is one of the most popular styles today. But did you know that it used to be called Russian gold? Or that it’s become an essential gender-neutral colour? Here’s everything you need to know about rose gold and its ever-growing popularity.
What is rose gold?
Rose gold is a type of coloured gold. It’s a blend of pure gold, silver and copper, which when mixed makes rose gold. It’s also called red or pink gold by some but was originally called Russian gold.
Rose gold dates back to 19th Century Imperial Russia. Jeweller Carl Faberge discovered that mixing yellow gold and copper together made a pink blush colour and called it Russian gold. He used it to decorate his famous Faberge eggs. When it became more popular and adopted by other countries (particularly in USA during the 1920s), it was renamed rose gold.
How is rose gold made?
Rose gold is made by mixing pure gold with copper and silver alloys. The strength or depth of colour depends on the ratio of gold to copper. If you have less yellow gold with a high copper content, you’ll get more of a red colour. If you use less copper to gold, then you’ll get a more yellow champagne hue.
A standard mix for rose gold is roughly 75% gold to 25% copper, which makes 18ct rose gold. To give you an example: 14ct rose gold will have more of a pink rosy colour compared to 18ct, which will have more gold undertones due to its higher gold content. These ratios affect the quality of rose gold as the metal is measured in carats. Rose gold carats range from 9ct, 10ct, 14ct and 18ct.
Why is rose gold so popular?
Now we’ve explained where rose gold comes from and how it’s made, there’s one question that still needs to be answered: why is it so popular? Rose gold’s popularity has continued for quite some time and there are many reasons why.
The blush pink colour of rose gold is the main attraction. It’s ultra-feminine and serves as a great starter piece of jewellery to a new jewellery wearer. If you’re looking for a meaningful jewellery gift for someone who’s just started to get into jewellery, rose gold is your best bet. It’s beautifully coloured and a reasonable price. Rose gold is also a more modern jewellery choice, which is why it’s so attractive to buyers. Compared to classic and traditional yellow and white gold, rose is a happy balance of the two and is a newer option for those looking for something different.
More recently, rose gold has been applauded as a fashion-forward gender-neutral colour. Pink clothes and accessories have become more accessible to men and both sexes have become more adventurous with fashion and jewellery over the years. Rose gold is a key component in this and both men and women are drawn to its subtle blush tones.
Rose gold has a romantic feel to it and has quickly become a firm favourite for fine jewellery and engagement rings. Pink and red are the colours of love and romance, so it seems fitting to pop the question with a rose-coloured ring!
How to style rose gold jewellery
The soft colour of rose gold means its easy to style and pair with other shades and jewellery pieces. It’s all up to personal preference but here are three of our favourite ways to style rose gold.
1. Keep it pink
If you’re looking to keep your look simple and all one colour, pile on the pink with multiple rose gold accessories. This creates a very pink feminine look, which adds a great pop of colour to any toned-down casual outfit. If you’re sticking with the same colour, try and break out the box a little by introducing different textures. For example, pick a plain band and pair it with a woven style ring to create more structure and dimension.
2. Mix your metals
Some say you should never mix metals – but we disagree! The soft colour of rose gold means you can easily pair it with other metals. Rose and white gold or silver go well together to create a clean sharp look that allows the pink to emerge as the star of the show. For a more bright and powerful look, pair it with yellow gold. Combining all three together – white, rose and yellow – is a true celebration of gold, love and happiness.
3. Add gemstones
Adding a gemstone to rose gold gives it more sparkle and colour. Rose gold and diamonds are extremely popular, especially for engagement and wedding rings. Pearls give the rosy tones a subtle and classic look, whereas morganite or rose quartz makes the ensemble even pinker!
