Platinum, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, there are all kinds of materials to incorporate into your wedding jewellery. There are however some considerations to think about before settling on the decision, and with gold prices rising to record highs – it’s important to trust what you’re buying. We’ve put together a full guide to understanding rose gold and the world of rose gold engagement rings.
Do rose gold engagement rings tarnish/go green
The 18K rose gold we use at Cullen Jewellery won’t tarnish or go green. Contrary to what you may think, rose gold does not occur naturally. It is an alloy consisting of gold and copper, which combines these to create the pink colour the metal is adored for. Some rose golds can be more reddish than others due to a higher ratio of copper to gold. True rose gold is around 75% gold, 20% of copper and a small touch of silver which softens the tones – think of it like adding white paint to create a lighter, brighter colour.
Are rose gold engagement rings popular?
Rose gold engagement rings have certainly risen to popularity in the last decade, though the metal was first used in jewellery in the 19th century. People say that rose gold symbolises romance and love, which serves the purpose of an engagement ring perfectly. While rose gold remains popular, it supports a general trend in the past decade of couples choosing more individualised, and sometimes quirky engagement rings to suit their personal style.
Rose gold engagement ring set
While there is no rule that engagement rings and wedding bands must be the same metal colour, like for like looks symbiotic in a wedding set. We have a vast range of rose gold bands and engagement rings, including the ever popular oval engagement rings. Our Emma Oval Solitaire with a Hidden Halo is a perfect example of how the bold rose gold colour can compliment a diamond, and any of our other coloured gemstones like lab-grown diamonds and sapphires.
Our Giselle Marquise Solitaire with Deep V Band is one of the most unique engagement rings in our collection, and can be beautifully paired with our Lana Round and Marquise Accent Wedding Ring , also in rose gold metal.
Similarly, we also have a wide collection of rose gold men's wedding bands . Some are plain and simple like our Classic Light Dome Men’s Wedding Ring which has soft curved edges, while others can incorporate more than one metal type like our Samuel Men’s Wedding Ring .
Is rose gold more expensive than yellow gold?
Rose gold and yellow gold are generally the same price, with platinum being the most expensive of the three. Platinum was traditionally a metal used in machinery and for industrial use, and it wasn’t until big jewellery houses like Cartier introduced platinum to jewellery that its use became popularised.
The quality of metal used can determine the durability of an engagement ring over time. In the case of rose gold, the copper in the ring can mean the ring will develop a patina over time which results in an orangey colour. We use a lower ratio of copper so this orange patina is avoided. We also use a higher purity of gold in our rose gold engagement rings which is the component that determines the price of rose gold, along with the carat weight.
A note on metal allergies
For those of us with metal allergies, finding the right precious metal for an engagement ring isn’t just about how it looks, but also how comfortable it is to wear. Rose gold, white gold, and yellow gold all have different metal alloy properties that affect those metal allergies differently.
Rose gold is an alloy with a high proportion of copper. Copper gives rose gold its pinkish hue, but copper can also cause a reaction if you have a metal allergy. So if you have a metal allergy, it is best to choose platinum or a gold alloy that is as close to pure gold as possible, such as 18k yellow gold. Being closer to pure gold, 18k gold has a low percentage of other metals in the alloy.
Summary
If you’re thinking about a rose gold engagement ring, it’s clear that the most important factor is the quality of the metal. It’s also a beautiful colour to play with if you wish to incorporate colour into your engagement set. At Cullen Jewellery we work towards the best quality possible, and can talk you through each of our pieces and gemstone types (lab-grown diamonds, moissanite and sapphires) in detail. Book an in-person or virtual appointment here .
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