Color of yellow gold -- old vs new?

[tigerhearted]

I have just been noticing the difference in color between my 2 vintage yellow gold rings, and the new yellow gold rings we got in from Brilliant Earth the other day.

Wish the difference in color photographed better...in person the difference is more profound! The vintage rings are the left ring of each pair.

The wide band is 100+ years old, an heirloom from my fiance''s family, and is stamped 18k. The thin band on the far left is the setting from my new transition-cut diamond..I''m guessing from the style that it''s from the 20''s-40''s, and it is stamped 14k (it''s also slightly yellower than the 100+yr old ring). The new rings are each 18k yellow.

Have the alloys changed over the years, or does the color of gold "age" over time?

I actually vastly prefer the color of the vintage rings to the bright yellow of the new ones. The old rings have a lovely warmth, and against the new rings have almost a peach or subtle blush tone. Or are the vintage rings actually rose gold? Would be a pretty big coincidence for them both to be rose gold though, considering they are from different origins.

(I hope it''s ok to post this here!)

 

[Todd Gray]

There is not a consistent alloy mixture for 14k gold, the 14k designates a percentage of gold alloy in relationship to 100 parts... 14k gold is 58.3% gold and the rest is nickel, palladium, copper, zinc, etc. and the resulting color will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer (jeweler to jeweler) depending on the mixture of alloys added to achieve the gold content.

The age of the metal and the subsequent oxidation are also certainly factors which contribute to the color and appearance...

 

[tigerhearted]

Date: 2/25/2010 4:04:09 PM
Author: Todd Gray
There is not a consistent alloy mixture for 14k gold, the 14k designates a percentage of gold alloy in relationship to 100 parts... 14k gold is 58.3% gold and the rest is nickel, palladium, copper, zinc, etc. and the resulting color will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer (jeweler to jeweler) depending on the mixture of alloys added to achieve the gold content.


The age of the metal and the subsequent oxidation are also certainly factors which contribute to the color and appearance...

That''s really interesting! I was thinking there would be a standard alloy that everyone uses. Rings from a different manufacturer would have a different tone of yellow? This is also true for 18k?

Will even my new yellow gold rings age in this way?

 

[stone-cold11]

yap.true for 18k gold too.

Or any alloy for that matter.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Gold will tarnish a little over time and a gold polishing cloth will restore color and shine.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/26/2010 3:00:45 AM
Author: LisaRN
Gold will tarnish a little over time and a gold polishing cloth will restore color and shine.

Good point.

Some of my YG pieces vary in colour, some are brighter gold, others warmer in tone.

 

[coati]

Date: 2/25/2010 4:54:21 PM
Author: tigerhearted

Date: 2/25/2010 4:04:09 PM

Author: Todd Gray

There is not a consistent alloy mixture for 14k gold, the 14k designates a percentage of gold alloy in relationship to 100 parts... 14k gold is 58.3% gold and the rest is nickel, palladium, copper, zinc, etc. and the resulting color will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer (jeweler to jeweler) depending on the mixture of alloys added to achieve the gold content.



The age of the metal and the subsequent oxidation are also certainly factors which contribute to the color and appearance...

That's really interesting! I was thinking there would be a standard alloy that everyone uses. Rings from a different manufacturer would have a different tone of yellow? This is also true for 18k?


Will even my new yellow gold rings age in this way?

yep, as Stone-cold posted above, 18k alloys from different manufacturers will also vary. The jewelry world has an abundant array of gold alloys.

When you see a greenish tinge in your 14k/18k gold, it's because there is more silver in the alloy--more orange = more copper in the alloy. Your antique rings pictured above appear to contain more copper. They have also developed a light patina over the years, which results from multitudes of tiny scratches over the surface of the metal. I love the patina of older gold rings, and I also love more copper in my 18k yellow gold-to give it the more orangey hue.

Pretty rings-it's so nice to see gold on PS.

 

[tigerhearted]

Date: 2/26/2010 12:29:04 PM
Author: coatimundi


yep, as Stone-cold posted above, 18k alloys from different manufacturers will also vary. The jewelry world has an abundant array of gold alloys.


When you see a greenish tinge in your 14k/18k gold, it's because there is more silver in the alloy--more orange = more copper in the alloy. Your antique rings pictured above appear to contain more copper. They have also developed a light patina over the years, which results from multitudes of tiny scratches over the surface of the metal. I love the patina of older gold rings, and I also love more copper in my 18k yellow gold-to give it the more orangey hue.

I agree with loving the extra copper in the alloy! It's such a lovely subtle peach color. I wonder how much of the color is due to the alloy, and how much is due to the patina.

Do you know of a vendor that works with a more coppery alloy? Only 2 months left till the wedding...now I almost wish there was more time lol!

 

[Emm]

I am from Sweden and in Sweden we use red gold, which looks exactly like your vintage ring.
All my jewellery are in red gold. I am now living in Australia and have noticed the big difference in colour. Here they use what we would call yellow gold.
Trying to find an engagment ring in red gold is not easy. Personally I dont like the look of yellow gold and rose gold is to pink. Think the red gold is perfect.
In our gold in Sweden we use 75 % gold and 2/3 of the remaining 25% is copper (Sweden is very rich in copper).
I think I have to find a jeweller here in Melbourne that can melt down my own red gold and maybe create my new engagment ring.
Anyone know a jeweller in Melbourne who either use red gold or can except working with my old gold?

 

[PumpkinPie]

I love the rich pinker colour