When people think of Jewelry, they usually think of Gold. For thousands of years, Gold has been held as one of the most precious of metals. Gold has been used in Jewelry Craftsmanship, coinage in trading and commerce, and many other uses, from time immemorial.

There are actually many different types of Gold. So what are the different types and different colors of Gold?

Gold, in its purest form, is a chemical Element with the symbol Au (from the Latin aurum) on the Periodic Table of the Elements, atomic number 79. In its purest form, Gold is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable metal--which is what first attracted people to it.

Gold's low reactivity with other Elements and to acids means that Gold became perfect for day-to-day use in jewelry. However, as with pure silver, pure gold is actually too malleable to be used by itself, so it is combined with other metals in alloys, to increase its strength.

Alloying can and does change the appearance of Gold. Alloying has the effect of making Gold appear a different Color than its natural state. Gold Jewelry is usually alloyed with Silver, Copper, Zinc, Palladium, and Nickel to create the various Colors of Gold. The most common of these Colors are Yellow, White, and Rose (there are actually several more that are growing in popularity).

The amount of an alloy metal blended with Gold also affects the Karat of Gold Jewelry. Karats are a fractional measure of Purity for Gold alloys, measured per 24 parts whole, i.e., one Karat is 1/24 of the mass, so 24-Karat Gold is Pure Gold. 18-Karat Gold is 18/24, or 3/4 Gold, and 1/4 other metals, in alloy.

This is a triangular graph demonstrating how the various alloys blended with Gold affect the Coloring of Gold:

Gold Colors

• Yellow Gold. Usually, when referring to Gold Jewelry, one refers to Yellow Gold. Yellow Gold is naturally occurring and is the purest form of the metal. To Craft Jewelry, Yellow Gold is made an alloy by combining such Pure Gold with Elements such as Silver, Zinc and Copper. Examples of the common alloys for 18K Yellow Gold include:
  
  18K Yellow Gold: 75% Gold, 12.5% Copper, 12.5% Silver
  18K Yellow (darker) Gold: 75% Gold, 15% Copper, 10% Silver

• Rose Gold. Rose Gold, also known as "pink gold" or "red gold", is a result of alloying Pure Gold with copper, as copper has a reddish tinge to it. The precise shade of Rose Gold also varies depending on the proportion of Copper blended with the Gold--the greater the content of Copper, the redder the final color is. A common combination in jewelry for Rose Gold is 75% Gold blended with 25% Copper. Rose Gold is more affordable than the other Gold Colors because the Gold is combined with less-expensive Copper for its Coloring. Due to its Copper content, Rose Gold is also more durable than Yellow Gold or White Gold.

• White Gold.  White Gold is made by combining Pure Gold with "white" metals such as Palladium or Nickel, followed by a Rhodium plating to enhance its bright, silvery appearance. This combination results in a metal that is both durable and beautiful, making it a popular choice for fine jewelry.

Which Type Of Gold Is The Most Popular?

Since it was first discovered in the earth in its natural state, the most common type of Gold found throughout history is, of course, Yellow Gold. In ancient items, such as Jewelry or religious artifacts, Yellow Gold is the most common due to its availability and the limited methods of alloying gold.

Due to advances in Science, however, and as the knowledge of blending Gold with other metals has grown, different Gold colors have seen different intervals of popularity over the years. Of course, this can also depend on the fashion trends of the day.

The most significant choice that most people have to make when it comes to choosing a type of Gold is Color. Of course, much of it is personal preference. Which Color Gold do you prefer? Which matches the best with your skin tone and fashion style?

Another factor to consider is the purpose of the Gold. The properties of Gold can vary based on the metals and quantities used in the blend. The decision about the quantities of other metals with Gold is based on their purpose, and affects cost. For example, if Gold is blended with an even softer metal such as palladium, it is ideal for gemstone settings in which a malleable gold alloy is needed.

The quantity in Karat Gold also affects its cost and durability. For example, take 10K Gold versus 14K Gold: 10K Gold will have been blended with more alloy metals--which makes it more durable for daily wear, but results in less Gold content than 14K Gold. 14K Gold has more Gold, which will be subject to daily wear more, compared to 10K Gold, although it has greater value.

In terms of fashionable popularity, Gold has also seen different periods. From the 1960s to 1980s, Yellow Gold was very popular. Then, in the 1990s, the popularity of White Gold attained greater popularity. Recently, the popularity of Rose Gold has started to assert itself.