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Rose Gold

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The Most Elegant Gold

Rose Gold has a warm elegance that's been appreciated for centuries. This lens is a source for metal smiths and jewelry makers looking to expand into working with this most beautiful fine metal.

Why Work With (Or Wear) Rose Gold?

The combination (or alloy) of gold and copper gives rose gold both strength and beauty, making it the standard for fine watches and vintage jewelry. Rose gold jewelry has a subtle richness that is best shown off with elegant, timeless designs. It also adds color to white gold and platinum designs without the brassy quality of yellow gold.

The Composition of Rose Gold By Karat

The term "karat" refers to parts pure gold out of 24. So, 18K Gold means that 18 parts out of 24, or 75%, are pure gold. 24K (24 carat) gold would be 100% pure gold, bit since gold is a soft metal, it would not withstand normal use. This is why gold jewelry is created using alloys, or metal mixes.

Copper is a harder metal than gold and similar in color, so it is added to give gold strength. Silver may also be added in small amounts to brighten the color and because it is stronger than gold but more flexible than copper.

Karat is sometimes spell "carat", and is designated by the letter "K", as in 24K Gold.
  • 22 Karat Rose Gold
    A 91.6% gold/8.4% copper alloy with a slight rose blush.
    (Also known as Crown Gold, 22K Rose Gold, or 22 Carat Rose, Red, or Pink Gold.)
  • 18 Karat Rose Gold
    An alloy varying from 75% gold/25% copper to 75% gold/16% copper/9% silver alloy.

    The higher the copper content, the redder the alloy will be. A 75% gold/16% copper/9% silver alloy will produce a pink gold, whereas a 75% gold/20.5% copper/4.5% silver alloy will produce a more red gold.

    (Also known as 18K or 18 Carat Rose, Red, or Pink Gold.)
  • 14 Karat Rose Gold
    An alloy made of copper, gold, & silver, usually in a 58.5% gold/32.5% copper/9% silver ratio.

    (Also known as 14K or 14 Carat Rose, Red, or Pink Gold.)
  • 9 Karat Rose Gold
    An alloy of 42% copper/37.5% gold/20% silver.
    The red gold version of this alloy is a 55% copper/37.5% gold/7.5% silver mix.
    Low carat Rose Gold may contain zinc and/or nickel.
    (Also known as 9K or 9 Carat Rose, Red, or Pink Gold.)

Rose Gold Findings

Rose Gold Jewelry.com
14k Rose Gold leverbacks, jump rings, ear nuts, basic claps, and quad & hex beads.

uBeads
14k rose gold leverbacks and shepard's hooks.

Rose Gold Ring Mounts

Rose Gold jewelry.com
14K Rose Gold ring mounts with pave' set diamonds.

Rose Gold In Literature & Mythology

Sacred Texts.com
"It was not long after that, two other birds came on the lake, and they linked together with a chain of red gold, and they were singing soft music that went near to put sleep on the whole gathering."
"Cuchulain of Muirthemne", 1902 translation by Lady Augusta Gregory.
Packard Humanities Institute ~ Persian Literature in Translation
"A ring of gold cast for the purpose
Hung from the ceiling of the cupola,
page 404 And from the ring a chain of ruddy gold
With jewelled links. Whene'er the king of kings
Ascended to his throne of ivory
They used to hang the crown upon this chain..."
from "How Khusrau Parwíz built the Palace, of Madá'in"

Where To Buy Rose Gold Wire

14kt Rose Gold Wire Hard 28 Gauge 14k
Sold in 6" lengths ~ uMetals
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21 Gauge Square Half Hard Rose Gold Filled Wire
Sold in 1 Ounce weight ~ Wire Sculpture
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21 Gauge Square Dead Soft Rose Gold Wire
Sold in 1 Ounce (20 ft) increments ~ Wire Sculpture
~
21 Gauge Round Half Hard Rose Gold Filled Wire
Sold in 1 Ounce weight ~ Wire Sculpture
~
21 Gauge Round Dead Soft Rose Gold Filled Wire
Sold in 1 Ounce (22 ft) increments ~ Wire Sculpture
~
21 Gauge Half Round Half Hard Rose Gold Filled Wire
Sold in 1 Ounce weight ~ Wire Sculpture

Solder for Rose Gold

Pink Gold Solder
14K soft solder (approximately 11.2k)
10K soft solder (approximately 7.1k)
14K repair solder (approximately 7.2k)

Goldsmithing & You

Just starting to work with gold, or wanting to go to the next step? Reference books can help.

14k Red Gold Sheets

14k Red Gold Flat Sheet
30 ga to 8 ga 14k rose gold sheets. Soft temper. G.S. Gold.

18k Red Gold Sheets

18K Red Gold Flat Sheet
30 ga to 8 ga 18k rose gold sheets. Soft temper. G.S. Gold.

About Rose Gold...

  • Rose gold is a gold/copper or gold/copper/silver alloy.
  • Rose gold is a common element in antique jewelry.
  • When used in modern jewelry designs, rose gold is usually used as the secondary gold color.

Rose Gold Auctions

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~` The Rose Gold Guestbook `~

  • Squidroom Nov 12, 2010 @ 5:38 am | delete
    It is really an elegant gold. Could you give some advice which gold to use for my rose gold ring?
  • Squidroom Nov 12, 2010 @ 5:38 am | delete
    It is really an elegant gold. Could you give some advice which gold to use for my rose gold ring?
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JaZilla

Hillbilly, photographer, poet, artist, mom. See my designs and art on t-shirts and gifts at JaZilla ~ Pop Culture Clothing & Gifts. JaNell Golden... more »

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