Once you have a basic design in mind for your engagement ring, your next big decision is choosing the right metal. The colour of the gold doesn’t just change the look of the ring; it also affects its durability, maintenance, and how it complements your chosen gemstones.
Pure gold is always yellow, but it is too soft to use in everyday jewellery. To make it strong enough for an engagement ring, it is mixed (alloyed) with other metals. By changing the mix of that remaining percentage, jewellers can create distinctly different colours.
Here is what you need to know about the three most common gold colours for engagement rings.
Yellow Gold: The Timeless Classic
Yellow gold offers the traditional look that has been celebrated for centuries. It achieves its warm, luxurious glow by mixing pure gold with silver and copper.
- Pros: It is the most hypoallergenic of the three colours and is highly resistant to tarnishing. It also complements diamonds with lower colour grades (like J or K), as the warm metal hides slight yellow tints in the stone.
- Best for: Those who love vintage styles, classic aesthetics, and warm tones.
White Gold: Modern and Brilliant
White gold was developed as an affordable alternative to platinum. It is created by mixing pure gold with white metals like palladium, silver, or manganese. Because raw white gold still has a slight yellowish tint, almost all white gold rings are plated with a rare metal called rhodium to give them a bright, mirror-like platinum finish.
- Pros: It beautifully complements high-colour-grade diamonds (D-F) by enhancing their bright, icy brilliance. It is also generally less expensive than platinum.
- Cons: The rhodium plating wears off over time. You will need to have the ring replated every 12 to 24 months to maintain its bright white look.
- Best for: Sleek, modern designs and maximising the sparkle of white diamonds.
Rose Gold: Romantic and Durable
Rose gold gets its romantic, vintage pink hue from a high percentage of copper mixed into the alloy. Modern, high-quality rose gold alloys also include noble metals to ensure the copper doesn’t leach or discolour over time.
- Pros: Thanks to the strength of copper, rose gold is the most durable of the three options and is highly resistant to scratching. It also looks beautiful against almost all skin tones.
- Cons: Because it contains copper, it is not hypoallergenic. If your partner has a known nickel or copper allergy, this might not be the best choice.
- Best for: Unique, romantic, or vintage-inspired engagement rings.
Changing just 25% of the alloy completely transforms the final look of the piece.
Let’s Design Your Perfect Engagement Ring in Sydney
Choosing the right gold colour is much easier when you can see the metals against your skin and alongside actual gemstones.
If you are looking for a custom engagement ring, we invite you to visit the Erebouni Jewellery workshop. Come in for a no-obligation, friendly chat with our master jewellers. You can find us on Level 4 of the historic Dymocks Building at 428 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000.
Ready to begin? Get in touch with our team to book your no-obligation consultation.