What is Rose Gold Jewellery and What is the Best Way to Style It?

Jewellery is indeed one of the most romantic things that we can receive as a gift. Just thinking of its timeless elegance and charm is enough to make anyone swoon. But when you add a subtle tinge of pink to the classic gold hues, it becomes even more special. 

Identified by its iconic pink hues, rose gold jewellery is a popular choice because it exudes femininity and looks extra romantic! Plus, its distinct colour can easily elevate any outfit, making sure you’re captivating hearts everywhere you go. However, it’s time to answer what everyone has been asking since it came into the spotlight: what is rose gold actually made of? Keep reading below to find out!

What is rose gold jewellery?

Before we get started, let’s establish one thing here: rose gold is not exactly solid gold. 

But wait, if it’s not solid gold, then what is it made of?

Great question! Actually, rose gold jewellery is a blend, or an alloy, of pure 24-karat gold, silver, and copper. While pure 24-karat yellow gold is often the foundation for various gold colours and qualities, it is too soft for jewellery in its pure form. Therefore, it must be alloyed with other metals to enhance its durability. Different alloy combinations are utilized to achieve various colours and properties in metals used for jewellery, such as platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold.

Rose gold made its debut in early 19th century Russia when renowned jeweller Carl Faberge incorporated it into his iconic Faberge Eggs, initially referred to as Russian Gold. Subsequently, during the opulent and feminine 1920s in the United States, rose gold surged in popularity and became a favoured choice for engagement rings and exquisite jewellery pieces. Cartier also played a major role in making rose gold even more popular when they started crafting luxurious jewellery pieces with rose gold, precious gemstones, and diamonds.

Another piece of jewellery that significantly contributed to rose gold's popularity is the Trinity Ring, a simple band intertwining three gold colours. It was designed by Cartier and commissioned by the renowned French writer, artist, filmmaker, and playwright Jean Cocteau. Cocteau famously sported the Cartier ring on his pinkie, adding to its iconic status.

We can also thank the ever-changing trends and celebrity endorsements for making rose gold pieces a staple for decades. Today, it continues to hold its spotlight in the fashion segments of popular magazines, adorning the hands of trendsetters and future brides alike.

How can I find good quality rose gold jewellery?

When it comes to jewellery, you want to make sure you’re getting the real deal so it can last longer. One of the most important things to take note of when buying rose gold jewellery is the quality mark. 

The quality mark discloses the precious metal content in each piece of jewellery, and you can usually find them inside the ring bands or the clasps of necklaces. Here’s a quick guide to the quality marks so you can choose the rose gold piece:

• 18 Karat, 18K, or 750: These marks indicate that 18 out of 24 parts, or at least 75%, of the metal content is pure gold.
• 14 Karat, 14K, 585, or 583: 14 out of 24 parts, or at least 58.3%, is gold. While technically 14K gold requires only 58.3%, many pieces contain 58.5% gold.
• 10 Karat, 10K, or 417: 10 out of 24 parts, or at least 41.7%, is gold.
• GF, GP, or GEP: These abbreviations stand for gold-filled, gold-plated, and gold electroplated, respectively. They are often accompanied by a number indicating the plating's purity, such as 14K GP on 14-karat gold plated fashion jewellery.
• Vermeil or 925: This indicates that the item is made from sterling silver and covered with gold plating.

Is rose gold hypoallergenic?

Since rose gold mostly contains pure yellow gold, it is hypoallergenic and safe for most individuals to wear without causing allergic reactions. Unlike some metals, it does not contain nickel, which is a common trigger for allergies among jewellery wearers.

How can I style my rose gold jewellery?

Now that we’ve covered the bases on what rose gold is, it’s time to get to the fun stuff: styling your rose gold jewellery!

While you might think that the pink hues of rose gold will make it hard to pair it with other metals, this is actually the opposite. The subtle colour of rose gold makes it easy to mix and match with other metals, such as yellow gold, white gold, and silver. In fact, the tri-colour mix of rose gold, yellow gold, and silver has been a famous jewellery combination for years!

Layering is a hot trend right now, and it also applies to wearing rose gold pieces. Rose gold necklaces are available in pre-layered styles or as individual chains for personalized layering. Double and triple layers are popular choices, but you can opt for four or more layers for a more dramatic effect. Adding more necklaces creates a bolder look, with 2 to 3 layers recommended for casual or work attire and unlimited layering for a fun night out with friends!

The same layering concept applies to rings, anklets, and bracelets. If you enjoy stacking bracelets, experiment with mixing and matching cuffs, tennis bracelets, and other designs while maintaining a cohesive theme of rose gold to unify your style.

Speaking of outfits, try wearing neutral or nude-coloured outfits with your rose gold jewellery. The soft tones of the accessories harmonize with the outfit, resulting in a chic and sophisticated appearance. You can combine blush hues, beige tones, and sandy pinks, or neutral colours like white, black, grey, cream, and navy. Any of these outfits would look really great with rose gold!

Moreover, the subtle pop of colour that rose gold has made it perfect for pairing with gemstones, especially if you’re looking for a customised engagement ring. Pink gemstones look even more stunning when set in rose gold, because they create a seamless transition between the metal and the gemstone. Stones like morganite, pink diamonds, pink sapphires, and pink tourmaline are good options! However, you can play with other colours since rose gold complements blue, red, purple, white, and brown. Surprisingly, even black gemstones can create a striking contrast against rose gold - talk about a total eye candy!