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Gold alloy mix for brassier look?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PierreBear
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PierreBear

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Hi PS friends! Does anyone happen to know what type of alloy is added to gold to give it that brassier look instead of the yellow? I never considered gold settings until I tried on a single stone ring and learned that it looks better on my skin tone that I thought. Do all vendors generally know how to get that type of look or is this blend specific to Singlestone? I appreciate the help!
 
If you're referring to rose gold copper gives it that hue.
 
Thanks for the response Kenny. Actually, I prefer gold rather than rose gold as the main metal. Would copper still be the right alloy possibly? Attached is a photo of the ring. Perhaps it's something to even show a designer like CvB if her gold has a similar tint though it's hard to truly understand through a photo? I appreciate the help!

ss_front_view.jpg
 
There really aren't that many novel options in workable gold alloys. Most of them use mainly fine silver, and copper, to one extent or another, with a tiny bit of zinc, nickel, or palladium, in some alloys. The color is coming primarily from the gold itself, and the copper and fine silver, not the other stuff.

I suspect, since you say you've never considered gold settings, that you haven't really looked at many of them prior to now. Since most of us grew up around no jewelry, white metal, or 14k gold (very pale next to 18k), seeing higher karat gold can be a bit to get used to. It was for me - for about 12 seconds, then I was a goner. I adore high karat gold.

Eighteen k is very yellow, and 22k is very intense. And yes, 18k does look very much like bright brass, which is why art jewelry often uses brass to get that "look of gold" - it's the gold of starving young jewelry artists. ;-) Your picture is a bit hard to see, but honestly, I'm not seeing anything that would indicate anything but a pretty standard 18K gold.

My guess is SS is not making their own special alloy, but are using the ones commercially available, but you would have to ask them. But I wouldn't bet on it being too exotic, because the color you're after doesn't require it.

My suggestion is you go out to the David H. Fell website and check out their online catalog to get a feel for the descriptions of the different alloys commonly available. As I recall, this company can do custom alloys too, if you're willing to order enough.
http://www.dhfco.com

Then, do a Google image on "brass vs gold", for an online color comparison.

*** I answer this because, I have purchased gold from D. H. Fell before - I needed an alloy that I knew absolutely did NOT have zinc in it.
 
Hi, everyone-

When I first saw Pierrebear's posting, I thought that perhaps she had simply seen higher karat gold and thought that it must be an alloy because she was used to 14K gold. (I guess I am directing this at you, ksinger.) (Of course the 18K and 22K gold would have been alloys, but not the 24K.)

My first impression was to say that the more gold in the metal, the brassier it will look. Pure gold is very brassy looking to my western eyes that feasted on pale yellow 14K and, sometimes, some yellower 18K gold during my early years. 22K and 24K gold have a wild, carnival like look to me. (And I try to wear and buy only 24K as much as possible. I say this having just bought a pair of large 18K anemone earrings. I get tempted.)

I will look for a chart of gold colors to post. You also might want to check out The Gold Thread.

The Gold Thread...[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/do-you-have-a-favorite-gold-designer.29197/page-58..']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/do-you-have-a-favorite-gold-designer.29197/page-58....[/URL].

Deb/AGBF :wavey:
 
ksinger-

I just reread your posting and I think you were saying the same thing I said a few minutes later. You just said it differently and I wasn't reading carefully the first time though.

Deb
 
 
Thank you both for sharing the links and the knowledge. I'm glad I'm not the only one fascinated with gold per all the discussions on the threads.
 
Hi! :wavey:
Just wanted to add one aspect to this topic... I live in Sweden and love our color of gold. It is however a pain to buy gold jewelry in other countries because it never matches and the slight difference in hue really bothers me. If I were you I'd stick to one standard of gold used in your country, unless you know that you will always wear the ring alone or have no problem with this.
 
My experience is that it's a lot more than the alloy that makes the difference.
The manner in which the gold is finished makes a huge difference.
I know that some benches just make the gold look a lot pinker.....
 
acaw2015|1486410163|4124939 said:
Hi! :wavey:
Just wanted to add one aspect to this topic... I live in Sweden and love our color of gold. It is however a pain to buy gold jewelry in other countries because it never matches and the slight difference in hue really bothers me. If I were you I'd stick to one standard of gold used in your country, unless you know that you will always wear the ring alone or have no problem with this.
Click to expand...

What karat gold is most common in Sweden? In the US it's mostly 14K and 18K, but there is no "standard", really. In the US you should be able to find gold to match whatever intensity you like.
 
Ok! We have 18 k mostly, but some jewelers also carry 14 k and even 9 k.
The intensity/hue can differ between vendors here too, but only slightly. I think the true red gold mix is a trade secret. The difference between US yellow gold and Swedish red gold is very visible though. I read somewhere that "russian gold" is more like swedish gold.
 
acaw2015|1486412138|4124960 said:
Ok! We have 18 k mostly, but some jewelers also carry 14 k and even 9 k.
The intensity/hue can differ between vendors here too, but only slightly. I think the true red gold mix is a trade secret. The difference between US yellow gold and Swedish red gold is very visible though. I read somewhere that "russian gold" is more like swedish gold.
Click to expand...

Actually, there is not a single hue of yellow, pink or red gold that one cannot obtain here in the United States. Certainly some are more common than others, but there are goldsmiths who are willing to mix custom alloys of yellow and red golds. A goldsmith here could whip up a piece of jewelry in the color of Swedish gold, but it would have to be custom made and would, therefore, be expensive. You have probably seen this chart with pictures of peach and apricot golds before. It was in a couple of the threads for which I posted links. These are just a couple of golds on the market.

Another helpful link...https://24carat.co.uk/frame.php?url=whatisrosegold.html

AGBF

20kpeachgoldcolour_0.jpg
 
AGBF said:
acaw2015|1486412138|4124960 said:
Ok! We have 18 k mostly, but some jewelers also carry 14 k and even 9 k.
The intensity/hue can differ between vendors here too, but only slightly. I think the true red gold mix is a trade secret. The difference between US yellow gold and Swedish red gold is very visible though. I read somewhere that "russian gold" is more like swedish gold.
Click to expand...

Actually, there is not a single hue of yellow, pink or red gold that one cannot obtain here in the United States. Certainly some are more common than others, but there are goldsmiths who are willing to mix custom alloys of yellow and red golds. A goldsmith here could whip up a piece of jewelry in the color of Swedish gold, but it would have to be custom made and would, therefore, be expensive. You have probably seen this chart with pictures of peach and apricot golds before. It was in a couple of the threads for which I posted links. These are just a couple of golds on the market.

Another helpful link...<a rel="nofollow" href="https://24carat.co.uk/frame.php?url=whatisrosegold.html" target="_blank" class="vglnk"><span>https</span><span>://</span><span>24carat</span><span>.</span><span>co</span><span>.</span><span>uk</span><span>/</span><span>frame</span><span>.</span><span>php</span><span>?</span><span>url</span><span>=</span><span>whatisrosegold</span><span>.</span><span>html</span></a>

AGBF
Click to expand...


Hi AGBF!

I am sorry if my reply was interpreted to imply that this is not possible. I agree! I simply wanted to say that unless you want to make custom mixes every time you buy jewelry, I'd stick to a mix that is more readily available in your country. Since I am one of those people who own an "odd" mix (red gold), I know how annoying this can be. I only buy jewelry made in platinum (or possibly white gold) from other countries, unless it is something I buy for fun/fashion... :wavey:
 
acaw2015|1486473388|4125316 said:
AGBF said:
acaw2015|1486412138|4124960 said:
Ok! We have 18 k mostly, but some jewelers also carry 14 k and even 9 k.
The intensity/hue can differ between vendors here too, but only slightly. I think the true red gold mix is a trade secret. The difference between US yellow gold and Swedish red gold is very visible though. I read somewhere that "russian gold" is more like swedish gold.
Click to expand...

Actually, there is not a single hue of yellow, pink or red gold that one cannot obtain here in the United States. Certainly some are more common than others, but there are goldsmiths who are willing to mix custom alloys of yellow and red golds. A goldsmith here could whip up a piece of jewelry in the color of Swedish gold, but it would have to be custom made and would, therefore, be expensive. You have probably seen this chart with pictures of peach and apricot golds before. It was in a couple of the threads for which I posted links. These are just a couple of golds on the market.
Click to expand...


Hi AGBF!

I am sorry if my reply was interpreted to imply that this is not possible. I agree! I simply wanted to say that unless you want to make custom mixes every time you buy jewelry, I'd stick to a mix that is more readily available in your country. Since I am one of those people who own an "odd" mix (red gold), I know how annoying this can be. I only buy jewelry made in platinum (or possibly white gold) from other countries, unless it is something I buy for fun/fashion... :wavey:
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply, acaw. I just love talking gold! I can imagine wanting to have matching sets of gold jewelry in Sweden (what a lovely fantasy!). I do have some pieces that match, because in some cases I actually bought a pair of earrings with a necklace. (I am thinking of a 22K Yossi Harari salted pretzel necklace and earrings.) But it is not the norm for me to buy sets. Mostly I just buy high karat yellow gold and wear it together.

Everyday I wear no jewelry at all except an inexpensive ($15.00 US) watch. When I go to a family party, I put on 24K jewelry and maybe some 22K and some 18K depending on what I feel like wearing.

I do own some beautiful platinum diamond hoop earrings made by Whiteflash, so I can mix things up if I wish. But I have far more high karat gold than platinum.

Tell me about your jewelry.

Deb :wavey:
 
Deb! 24 and 22 gold sounds delicious! What pieces do you have in such high karat? I have only 18 k, but there is something very special with 22/24k imo.

I prefer gold over white metal any day. I have an emerald ring in white gold that I never wear, the rest is in red/yellow gold with the exception of some stone settings in white gold/platinum.

I always wear my studs, wedding bands and my rhr solitaire. When I go out/work I add a watch and necklace. I pretty much stick to my favourites.
 
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