Types of Gold
Yellow, white, rose and green — what's the difference?
Gold's color comes from what it is alloyed with. Pure 24K gold is always yellow. Add copper and it turns pink. Add silver and it turns greenish. Add white metals and plate with rhodium and it looks white. The karat tells you how much gold; the alloy tells you what color.
All four gold types at a glance
- Alloy metals
- Silver + copper
- Maintenance
- Low — no plating needed
- Best for
- Vintage styles, warm skin tones, traditional jewelry
- Alloy metals
- Nickel or palladium + rhodium plating
- Maintenance
- Re-plate every 1–3 years
- Best for
- Diamond settings, cool skin tones, modern styles
- Alloy metals
- Copper (+ small silver)
- Maintenance
- Low — color is in the alloy
- Best for
- Romantic styles, warm/neutral skin tones
- Alloy metals
- Silver (+ optional cadmium)
- Maintenance
- Low
- Best for
- Unique accent details, two-tone designs
Karat applies to all gold types
Regardless of color, the karat grade measures gold purity. 18K white gold and 18K yellow gold both contain 75% pure gold — they just use different alloy metals for the remaining 25%. See the full karat guide for purity breakdowns from 8K to 24K.
| Karat | Gold % | Available in |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | Yellow only (too soft for jewelry) |
| 22K | 91.6% | Yellow, rose |
| 18K | 75.0% | Yellow, white, rose, green |
| 14K | 58.5% | Yellow, white, rose, green |
| 10K | 41.7% | Yellow, white, rose |
Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of gold?
Gold comes in four main color varieties: yellow gold (classic, alloyed with silver and copper), white gold (alloyed with nickel or palladium, rhodium-plated), rose gold (alloyed with copper for pink color), and green gold (alloyed with silver, producing an olive hue). Each can be made at different karat levels (10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K).
Is yellow gold or white gold better?
Neither is objectively better — it depends on skin tone preference and maintenance willingness. Yellow gold requires less maintenance. White gold needs rhodium re-plating every 1–3 years but suits cooler skin tones and pairs well with diamonds.
What is rose gold made of?
Rose gold is made by alloying gold with copper. More copper produces a deeper pink. 14K rose gold typically contains about 58.5% gold and 30% copper. 18K rose gold is about 75% gold and 20% copper.
Is green gold natural?
Green gold (electrum) can occur naturally when gold and silver mix in the earth, producing an olive-green color. In modern jewelry, it is deliberately made by alloying gold with silver in controlled ratios, sometimes with cadmium for deeper green tones.