(Newswire.net — November 14, 2018) — Have you ever wondered how many different colors of gold are there in the market? Well, there are various colors of gold. The original color of gold is slightly reddish and 24 karats (K) by definition. 18k, 14k and 10k are not pure golds. Pure gold is pliable and soft and is rarely used for rings or other jewelry items. Other metals (alloys) are used to change the color of gold and strengthen it. Below is a list of the different colors of gold and what their properties are.
How Many Different Colors of Gold Are There?
1) Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is an amalgamation of gold, silver and copper. It’s the only kind of gold that we can say it’s pure gold. All other types of gold available in the market are mixed with alloys. That said, you can hardly find 24K and 22K yellow gold because they are rarely used in the US. The most common yellow gold you will see are the 10K, 14K, and 18K.
2) White Gold
White gold is a mixture of gold and one or even more white metals. Nickel, Manganese, Palladium and Zinc are the most popular white metals. Since these white metals have different qualities, each metal has a different recipe. Just like yellow gold, the most popular pieces are 18K and 14K.
3) Rose Gold
Rose gold is an alloy of gold and copper. The more copper is used, the darker “red” this rose gold will appear. Like white and yellow gold, you will have two options to choose from rose gold; 18K and 14K. The 18K gold has a soft color, similarly like rose-tinged champagne while 14K seems warm and rosy.
4) Purple Gold
If you think purple gold is only for extraterrestrials, then you are mistaken. We have it right here on earth. It’s intermetallic gold consisting of 79% gold and 21% aluminum. They are, in most cases, brittle hence making their use less desirable in jewelry. This type of gold can be faceted and also used as inlays or gemstone.
5) Blue Gold
Here is another stunning intermetallic compound with an eye-catching color. It’s made of gold (46%) and indium (54%). It has a slight bluish cast. Some artists are creative to make different blue gold. For instance, a deep sapphire blue is a mixture of gold, rhodium, ruthenium and other elements. When blue gold is exposed to sweat, the surface can leach or discolor.
6) Green Gold
This is the type of gold that has been known as electrum since Antiquity. And Electrum is a naturally-occurring amalgam of gold and silver. It’s not green as the name suggests, but it’s greenish-yellow. This kind of gold is unique from other gold types. It is reasonably soft, and the greenish tinge is simply perceptible. Zinc has been recently mixed with gold to give harder green gold.
7) Black Gold
Believe it or not, there is also black gold. It can be created by different methods like electroplating ruthenium or rhodium, oxidation, and patination. Cobalt can be mixed with pure gold and then heated in a specific temperature to produce black oxide layer. Chronium can be added to the recipe also.
Bottom Line
Gold is one of the most sought-after metals we have. They make luxurious rings, bracelets and necklaces. One of the common things to consider before buying is the color. So, how many different colors of gold are there? There are relatively about seven different colors of gold ranging from the original yellow gold all the way to black gold. Therefore, the next time you’ll be purchasing your necklace, engagement ring, or bracelet, consider the color and its alloys.
Gold is a very useful commodity. You can also transfer gold to an IRA and have it vested in your retirement account.