What Is Green Gold?
Green gold (electrum) is a natural alloy of gold and silver that produces a subtle olive-green hue. Learn its ancient history, exact composition, and how it's used in modern jewellery.
Volume visualization — gold vs. silver
Each droplet = same volume. Silver (10.5 g/cm³) is lighter than gold (19.3 g/cm³), so silver needs significantly more droplets for the same weight.
18K Green Gold | 75.0 wt%
18K Green Gold
14K Green Gold | 58.3 wt%
14K Green Gold
10K Green Gold | 41.7 wt%
10K Green Gold
The green gold recipe
More silver = greener and paler. Cadmium intensifies the green but is rarely used due to toxicity.
What makes it green?
Silver absorbs more blue and red light than gold. When mixed with gold, it shifts the color toward green-yellow. The more silver, the greener the result.
Ancient history
Electrum — a natural gold-silver alloy — was used in ancient coinage as far back as 600 BC in Lydia (modern Turkey). One of the oldest monetary metals known.
Cadmium caution
Some older formulas used cadmium to intensify the green. Cadmium is highly toxic and is now banned from jewelry in many countries, including the EU.
Where you'll see it
Green gold is rare in everyday jewelry but popular in high-end multi-tone pieces — rings or pendants that combine yellow, white, rose, and green gold for a nature-inspired look.