Gold Colours Guide: Yellow, White & Rose Gold
Is white gold worth more than yellow gold? Does rose gold have less gold in it? The answers may surprise you — all three colours contain exactly the same amount of gold at equivalent karat. The colour difference comes entirely from the alloy metals mixed with the pure gold.
The Quick Answer
White, yellow, and rose gold of the same karat (e.g. all 18ct) contain identical gold content and have the same scrap value. The colour difference comes entirely from the alloy metals mixed with the pure gold. A 9ct white gold ring is worth exactly the same per gram as a 9ct yellow gold ring when sold for scrap.
Why Does Gold Come in Different Colours?
Pure gold — 24 carat — is naturally a rich, warm yellow. It is also extremely soft, far too soft for most jewellery. To make gold durable enough for rings, chains, and bracelets, jewellers mix it with other metals to create an alloy.
The specific metals chosen for the alloy determine the final colour. Mix gold with silver and copper in balanced proportions, and you get yellow gold. Swap in palladium or nickel, and the result is white gold. Increase the copper content, and the alloy takes on the warm blush of rose gold.
Crucially, the proportion of pure gold stays the same regardless of colour. An 18ct yellow gold ring and an 18ct white gold ring both contain exactly 75% pure gold. The remaining 25% is simply a different recipe of alloy metals. This is why all three colours have identical scrap value at the same karat — dealers pay for the gold content, not the colour.
Yellow Gold
The classic, natural colour of pure gold
Yellow gold is the most traditional form of gold jewellery and the closest in appearance to pure gold. Its warm, rich hue has been prized for thousands of years, from ancient Egyptian burial masks to modern wedding bands. In the UK, yellow gold remains the most popular choice for classic jewellery designs.
How Yellow Gold Is Made
Yellow gold alloys typically combine pure gold with silver and copper in roughly equal proportions. The silver helps maintain the yellow colour while adding strength, and the copper adds durability and a slight warmth. A typical 18ct yellow gold alloy is 75% gold, 12.5% silver, and 12.5% copper.
Yellow Gold by Karat
37.5% gold. Paler, lighter yellow. Most affordable and durable. The UK's most popular everyday gold.
Hallmark: 37558.5% gold. Warmer yellow than 9ct. Popular in the US, gaining ground in the UK. Good balance of colour and durability.
Hallmark: 58575% gold. Rich, warm yellow. The standard for fine jewellery, engagement rings, and luxury pieces.
Hallmark: 75091.6% gold. Deep, intense yellow. Used for Gold Sovereigns and traditional Asian jewellery. Too soft for delicate designs.
Hallmark: 91699.9% gold. The brightest, most saturated yellow. Investment bars and bullion coins. Too soft for jewellery.
Hallmark: 999Yellow Gold: Key Facts
- • Most traditional choice for UK wedding bands and signet rings
- • No special coating or plating needed — the colour is inherent to the alloy
- • Lower karats (9ct) appear paler; higher karats (22ct+) have a deeper, richer yellow
- • Generally the lowest maintenance gold colour — no re-plating required
- • Complements warm skin tones particularly well
White Gold
Gold alloyed with white metals for a silvery finish
White gold was developed in the 1920s as an affordable alternative to platinum. By alloying pure gold with white-coloured metals — primarily palladium or nickel — jewellers created a gold alloy with a silvery appearance that could hold diamonds and gemstones without the yellow tint. Today, white gold is one of the most popular choices for engagement rings and modern jewellery in the UK.
How White Gold Is Made
White gold uses alloy metals that counteract gold's natural yellow colour. The two main alloy types are:
The premium option. Palladium is a naturally white precious metal that produces a warmer, slightly grey-white colour. Palladium white gold is nickel-free, making it safe for people with nickel allergies.
- ✓ Hypoallergenic (no nickel)
- ✓ More expensive alloy
- ✓ Warmer grey-white tone
The more common, budget-friendly option. Nickel produces a harder, cooler white colour. However, nickel causes allergic reactions in 10-15% of people, making this a poor choice for anyone with sensitive skin.
- ✗ Can cause allergic reactions
- ✓ Harder and more durable
- ✓ Cooler, brighter white tone
Rhodium Plating: The White Gold Secret
Here is something most people do not realise: white gold is not naturally bright white. Without treatment, it has a slightly yellowish or greyish tint. To achieve that bright, mirror-like silvery finish you see in jewellery shops, virtually all white gold is rhodium plated.
Rhodium is a platinum-group metal that is extremely hard, highly reflective, and naturally bright white. A thin layer is electroplated onto the white gold surface. This gives white gold its characteristic brilliant shine — but it wears off over time.
Rhodium Plating: What to Expect
- • Lifespan: 1-3 years depending on wear
- • Cost to re-plate: typically £30-£60 per ring
- • Process: usually done while you wait at a jeweller
- • Rings wear fastest (constant contact with surfaces)
- • Earrings and pendants last much longer
- • Worn-off plating reveals pale yellow — perfectly normal
White Gold by Karat
37.5% gold. More alloy metal means a naturally whiter base colour. Very durable. Budget-friendly choice.
Hallmark: 37558.5% gold. Good balance of whiteness and gold content. Increasingly popular in UK engagement rings.
Hallmark: 58575% gold. The classic choice for engagement rings and fine jewellery. Slightly warmer undertone under rhodium.
Hallmark: 750White Gold: Key Facts
- • Most popular choice for engagement rings in the UK — pairs beautifully with diamonds
- • Requires rhodium re-plating every 1-3 years (£30-£60 per ring)
- • If your white gold has turned yellowish, that is normal — the rhodium has worn off
- • Ask your jeweller whether the alloy uses palladium or nickel if you have sensitive skin
- • Not the same as platinum — platinum is a different, rarer, and more expensive metal
Rose Gold
Gold alloyed with copper for a warm pink hue
Rose gold — sometimes called "pink gold" or "red gold" — gets its distinctive warm, blush colour from a higher proportion of copper in the alloy. First popularised in early 19th century Russia (where it was known as "Russian gold"), rose gold has seen a massive resurgence in popularity since the early 2010s, accelerated by Apple's launch of the Rose Gold iPhone in 2015 and the Apple Watch in rose gold.
How Rose Gold Is Made
Rose gold alloys are among the simplest: pure gold mixed primarily with copper, sometimes with a small addition of silver. The copper is what gives the alloy its pink colour. The more copper in the mix, the deeper and redder the tone. A small amount of silver can be added to soften the colour towards a lighter blush.
| Alloy Type | Gold % | Copper % | Silver % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18ct Rose Gold | 75% | 22.5% | 2.5% | Subtle, elegant blush pink |
| 18ct Red Gold | 75% | 25% | 0% | Deeper, more pronounced pink-red |
| 14ct Rose Gold | 58.5% | 35% | 6.5% | Noticeable pink, warm tone |
| 9ct Rose Gold | 37.5% | 52.5% | 10% | Deepest copper-pink colour |
Notice the counterintuitive pattern: lower karat rose gold actually has a deeper pink colour because it contains more copper relative to gold. An 18ct rose gold ring has a subtle blush, while a 9ct rose gold ring has a much more pronounced copper-pink appearance.
Rose Gold by Karat
37.5% gold. Deepest pink colour due to highest copper proportion. Very durable. Most affordable rose gold.
Hallmark: 37558.5% gold. Warm, noticeable pink. Good balance of colour intensity and gold content.
Hallmark: 58575% gold. Subtle, delicate blush. The classic choice for fine rose gold jewellery and luxury pieces.
Hallmark: 750Rose Gold: Key Facts
- • No rhodium plating needed — the colour is part of the alloy itself
- • Generally hypoallergenic — copper alloy contains no nickel
- • Slightly harder than yellow gold of the same karat (copper adds hardness)
- • The colour may deepen very slightly over years as the copper develops a patina
- • Trendy since early 2010s, with the Apple Rose Gold effect peaking around 2016-2020
- • Complements all skin tones, particularly popular with those who find yellow gold too warm
Value Comparison: All Colours Are Equal
This is the single most important takeaway from this guide. When it comes to scrap value and dealer buyback prices, gold colour makes absolutely no difference. A gram of 18ct gold is worth the same whether it is yellow, white, or rose. Here is the comparison:
| Karat | Yellow Gold / g | White Gold / g | Rose Gold / g | Scrap Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9ct (375) | ~£26 | ~£26 | ~£26 | Identical |
| 14ct (585) | ~£41 | ~£41 | ~£41 | Identical |
| 18ct (750) | ~£52 | ~£52 | ~£52 | Identical |
Why Dealers Pay the Same
When a dealer buys your gold, it goes to a refinery where the pure gold is separated from all alloy metals — copper, silver, palladium, nickel, zinc. The colour of the original piece is completely irrelevant to this process. Refiners extract the same amount of pure gold from a gram of 18ct white gold as from a gram of 18ct yellow gold. That is why dealers pay the same price per gram regardless of gold colour.
Approximate prices shown above are indicative. Use our gold calculator for today's live prices.
Retail Price vs Scrap Value: An Important Nuance
While scrap value is identical across colours, there is an important distinction at the retail level. When you buy gold jewellery, the colour can affect the price you pay — though not because of the gold content.
Generally the baseline price for gold jewellery. Standard alloy metals (silver, copper) are inexpensive, and no special plating is required.
Manufacturing cost: Standard
Often slightly more expensive to buy. Palladium alloy costs more than copper/silver, and rhodium plating adds to the manufacturing cost. Ongoing re-plating is an additional lifetime expense.
Manufacturing cost: Higher
Often slightly cheaper to manufacture because copper is an inexpensive metal and no plating is needed. However, designer premiums may apply when rose gold is particularly fashionable.
Manufacturing cost: Lower
The Bottom Line for Sellers
If you are selling gold, the colour is irrelevant. You may have paid a premium for white gold jewellery at retail, but when selling for scrap, you will receive the same price per gram as an equivalent karat yellow or rose gold piece. The retail premium disappears at resale — only the gold content matters.
Similarly, if rose gold commands a higher designer premium at retail due to fashion trends, that premium is not recoverable when selling for scrap. The trend cycle does not affect melt value.
Which Gold Colour Is Best For...
The right gold colour depends entirely on your purpose. Here is a practical guide:
Yellow 9ct or rose gold — both are durable and low maintenance. Yellow gold never needs re-plating, and rose gold's copper content makes it slightly harder than yellow gold of the same karat.
- ✓ No plating maintenance
- ✓ Scratch-resistant at 9ct
- ✗ Avoid white gold for daily rings — plating wears quickly
White gold 18ct for a modern look that pairs beautifully with diamonds, or yellow 18ct for a classic, timeless aesthetic. Rose gold 18ct is a romantic, distinctive alternative.
- • White gold makes diamonds appear brighter
- • Yellow gold is the traditional UK choice
- • Rose gold offers a unique, romantic look
Colour is irrelevant. For investment, buy 24ct bars or coins (Sovereigns, Britannias) where the value is almost entirely in the metal content. Investment gold does not come in white or rose — it is pure yellow gold.
- • Bars: 24ct (999.9 fine) — lowest premiums
- • Coins: 22ct Sovereigns — CGT-free
- • Coins: 24ct Britannias — CGT-free
Rose gold or palladium white gold — avoid nickel white gold at all costs. Rose gold uses a copper alloy with no nickel, making it naturally hypoallergenic.
- ✓ Rose gold (copper alloy, no nickel)
- ✓ Palladium white gold (nickel-free)
- ✓ 18ct+ yellow gold (less alloy metal)
- ✗ Nickel white gold (allergenic)
Colour is completely irrelevant. Dealers test karat (purity) and weigh your gold. They pay the same rate for yellow, white, and rose gold at the same karat. Don't expect a premium for any colour.
- • All colours valued equally per gram
- • Dealers test purity, not colour
- • Use our calculator to check value
Yellow gold or rose gold. Both colours are part of the alloy itself and never need re-plating. White gold requires ongoing rhodium maintenance, adding £30-£60 per re-plate to the lifetime cost.
- ✓ Yellow gold: zero maintenance
- ✓ Rose gold: zero maintenance
- ✗ White gold: re-plating every 1-3 years
Durability Comparison by Colour
Gold colour affects durability because the alloy metals have different hardness properties. At the same karat, the three colours are not equally scratch-resistant.
| Property | Yellow Gold | White Gold | Rose Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch Resistance | Standard | Slightly harder (palladium alloy) | Hardest (copper alloy) |
| Surface Maintenance | None needed | Rhodium re-plating needed | None needed |
| Tarnish Resistance | Good (18ct+), fair (9ct) | Excellent (rhodium protects) | Good; may develop subtle patina |
| Bend Resistance | Standard | Good | Best |
| Overall Durability | Good | Good (but plating wears) | Best |
Rose Gold: The Most Durable Colour
Rose gold is technically the most durable of the three gold colours. Copper is a harder metal than silver or palladium, so rose gold alloys tend to be more scratch-resistant and less prone to bending than their yellow or white counterparts at the same karat. Combined with zero maintenance requirements (no re-plating), rose gold is an excellent practical choice for jewellery worn daily.
How to Identify Gold Colour When Selling
If you are selling gold jewellery, you might wonder whether you need to identify the colour before approaching a dealer. The short answer: you do not need to. Dealers test karat and weight — colour is irrelevant to them.
What Dealers Actually Test
Using acid testing or XRF (X-ray fluorescence) machines, dealers determine whether your gold is 9ct, 14ct, 18ct, etc. This is the primary factor in pricing.
Precise weight in grams, measured on calibrated scales. Combined with purity, this determines the gold content and therefore the value.
The hallmark (375, 585, 750) confirms the karat. Hallmarks are the same regardless of whether the gold is yellow, white, or rose.
White Gold That Looks Yellow
If your white gold ring has lost its rhodium plating and now looks pale yellow or greyish, this is perfectly normal and does not affect its value. The underlying gold alloy is showing through — this is what white gold naturally looks like without its rhodium coating. A dealer will test the purity and pay the standard rate. There is no need to re-plate white gold before selling it.
Hallmarks Are Colour-Blind
UK hallmarks do not indicate gold colour — only purity. A 750 hallmark means 75% gold (18ct) whether the piece is yellow, white, or rose. You may see additional marks from the assay office and the maker's mark, but none of these indicate colour. For a full guide to reading UK hallmarks, see our Hallmarks Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is white gold more valuable than yellow gold?
No. White gold and yellow gold of the same karat contain identical amounts of pure gold and have the same scrap value per gram. White gold may cost slightly more at retail due to manufacturing costs (palladium alloy, rhodium plating), but when selling to a dealer, you will receive the same price per gram as yellow gold of the same karat.
Is rose gold real gold?
Yes, rose gold is absolutely real gold. It is pure gold alloyed with copper (and sometimes a small amount of silver) to give it a distinctive pink hue. An 18ct rose gold ring contains exactly 75% pure gold — the same as 18ct yellow or white gold. The copper simply changes the colour, not the gold content or value.
Why does white gold turn yellow?
White gold turns yellow because the rhodium plating on its surface wears off over time, revealing the natural pale yellow colour of the gold alloy underneath. This is completely normal and does not mean the ring is fake or damaged. Any jeweller can re-plate it with rhodium, typically for £30-£60, restoring the bright white finish. Rings worn daily usually need re-plating every 1-3 years.
Can I sell rose gold to a dealer?
Yes. Gold dealers buy all gold colours — yellow, white, and rose — at the same rate per gram for a given karat. When gold is refined, the alloy metals are separated out regardless of colour. A dealer will test the karat (purity) and weigh your item; the colour makes no difference to the price they offer.
Is 18ct white gold the same as platinum?
No. They are completely different metals. 18ct white gold is gold (75% pure) alloyed with white metals like palladium or nickel, then coated with rhodium plating. Platinum is a naturally white, much rarer metal, typically 950 parts per thousand pure. Platinum is denser (heavier for the same size ring), more durable, and generally more expensive than white gold. They look similar but are chemically and commercially distinct. For a detailed comparison, see our Platinum vs White Gold Guide.
Which gold colour holds its value best?
All gold colours hold identical value per gram at the same karat, because scrap value is based purely on gold content. Retail resale value may vary slightly depending on fashion trends — rose gold commanded higher designer premiums during its peak popularity around 2016-2020 — but the underlying metal value remains the same. For long-term value, the karat matters far more than the colour.
How much does rhodium re-plating cost?
Rhodium re-plating typically costs £30-£60 per ring at a UK jeweller, depending on the size of the piece and the jeweller. Many high-street jewellers and independent shops offer the service, often while you wait. Most white gold rings need re-plating every 1-3 years depending on how frequently they are worn. Earrings and pendants last much longer between re-platings as they experience less friction.
Is rose gold hypoallergenic?
Generally yes. Rose gold is considered hypoallergenic because its alloy uses copper rather than nickel. Nickel is the most common metal allergen, affecting 10-15% of the population. Since rose gold contains no nickel, it is a safer choice for sensitive skin than nickel-based white gold. If you want white gold but have a nickel allergy, choose palladium white gold specifically — it is nickel-free and also hypoallergenic.
What's Your Gold Worth?
Yellow, white, or rose — find out the scrap value of your gold today. All colours, same price per gram.
Related Guides
Complete karat chart with purity percentages, fineness numbers, and price comparisons.
View Chart →What 375, 585, 750, and 916 mean — how to read the numbers stamped on your gold.
Read Guide →9ct vs 18ct vs 24ct — understanding gold purity, alloy chemistry, and how purity affects price.
Read Guide →Detailed comparison of platinum and white gold — cost, durability, appearance, and value.
Read Comparison →Learn to read hallmarks, identify assay office symbols, and verify gold authenticity.
Read Guide →Calculate the scrap value of your gold by weight and karat using live UK prices.
Calculate Now →Sources and References
UK hallmarking standards: The Hallmarking Act 1973. Source:legislation.gov.uk
Gold alloy compositions and properties: World Gold Council.gold.org
Assay office information:London Assay Office,Birmingham Assay Office
Last updated: March 2026
Founder & Market Researcher
Taro has been actively investing in precious metals and financial markets for over 15 years. Frustrated by the lack of transparent, accurate gold pricing information in the UK, he built London Gold Exchange as a data-driven resource for fellow investors. The site combines real-time market data, verified dealer information from 242+ UK businesses, and insights drawn from years of hands-on experience in the gold market.
- ✓15+ years investing in precious metals & equities
- ✓Built verified database of 242+ UK gold dealers
- ✓Daily market data analysis and price tracking
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about gold colours, alloys, and value. Actual gold values depend on current market prices and dealer rates. Approximate scrap values shown are indicative and based on typical UK dealer rates at time of writing. For accurate valuations, use our calculator with live prices or consult a professional gold dealer. This content does not constitute financial advice. Information current as of March 2026.
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