Welcome to your Ultimate Gold and Precious Metal Guide! Keep reading for everything you need to know about choosing gold vs platinum or palladium, 14kt vs 18kt gold, and yellow gold vs rose, Peach Gold, and white gold.
GOLD
The most popular precious metal for fine jewelry, gold comes in many different karat weights, colors, and compositions. Let's chat about all the different options you can choose from (and how to make the perfect choice for you!)
Gold Karat Weight: What it Means
Pure gold (24 karat gold) is incredibly soft. To be made into wearable jewels, it must be alloyed with harder metals like copper, nickel, silver, zinc, and palladium to bolster its strength and durability. To find out the ratio of pure gold to metal alloys, look at the karat weight:
Most fine jewelry is made from 14kt or 18kt gold. How to choose between the two:
18 Karat Gold
The highest practical karat weight for fine jewelry, 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold and has a gorgeously rich, saturated color. When yellow, 18kt gold has that incredibly vibrant sunny hue that screams glistening gold and it's personally what we prefer but everyone has a opinion on this!
18k gold will be very slightly more expensive than 14k gold because it does contain more pure gold. It likely won't make a huge difference in price unless you are do a big complicated piece with lots of gold in it.
14k yellow gold bands
14 Karat Gold
A popular karat weight for fine jewelry, 14 karat gold is 58.3% pure gold. Its color is less saturated than 18kt gold, with a more neutral golden hue. Compared to 18kt gold, 14kt gold is very slightly less expensive and the most durable choice for everyday wear.
The downsides: the higher concentration of alloys like copper and nickel could mean a greater chance of allergies or skin irritation.
What decides the color of the gold? The metal alloys that are mixed with it! White gold gets its color by mixing pure gold with white metals like silver, nickel, and palladium.
Once mixed, it’s often plated in rhodium, a white precious metal in the platinum family that gives it that bright shiny color.
As with every color of gold, the ratio of added metals vs pure gold determines its karat weight.
Why we love it
Things to keep in mind
Yellow gold is a mixture of pure gold and warm-colored alloys like zinc and copper.
Why we love it
If you’ve browsed the Gem Breakfast site, you’ve probably noticed we are a tiiiny bit partial to yellow gold. Because we love the vintage and unique, the warmer hues really speak to our soul! Of course we love ourselves some icy, classic white gold too, but yellow gold really makes our hearts beat faster. And besides just the look of yellow gold:
Things to keep in mind
Teal spinel ring in 14k yellow gold
Rose gold is a mixture of pure gold and alloys of silver and copper. The higher the copper content, the redder/pinker the gold appears.
Why we love it
As major pink ladies, we la la love the rosé hue of rose gold. It looks stunning with antique cuts, salt & pepper diamonds, rosy hued stones, and black diamonds. Plus:
Things to keep in mind
Rose gold is a warmer, pinker version of peach gold.
Rose gold is a pinker version of yellow gold - the addition of gives it that soft, romantic pink tone. If you have a copper allergy, you may want to avoid rose gold and opt for yellow gold instead.
Diamond tiara band in 14k rose gold
What is peach gold? The gold tone we're known for, Peach Gold is a mixture of rose gold and yellow gold that we created right in the Gem Breakfast showroom for our bespoke jewelry pieces. The actual alloy mix is a bit of a trade secret, but the result is gorgeous and truly unique!
Why we love it
It’s the hue to flatter all skin tones! While rose gold can look a little too pink on some skin tones, and yellow gold a little too yellow, Peach Gold is the harmonic balance between the two! Plus:
Peach gold vs rose gold
Peach gold is a less pink version of rose gold.
Things to keep in mind
As with all gold hues, Peach Gold should be cleaned and polished regularly. Also, let us know of any metal allergies so we can determine if Peach Gold will work for you!
White pear cut diamond ring in 18k Peach Gold
Emerald cut green sapphire ring with trillion diamonds in 18k Peach Gold
Platinum is a naturally white metal that’s used in its mostly pure form (95-98% pure) for fine jewelry. It’s a naturally harder metal than gold, so doesn’t need to be mixed heavily with other alloys for added strength.
Why we love it
Things to keep in mind
Emerald cut diamond ring with double claw prongs in platinum
A part of the platinum family, palladium has a naturally white-silver finish that looks nearly identical to platinum.
Why we love it
Things to keep in mind
While it mostly comes down to personal preference, the main difference between yellow and white gold is the maitenance. White gold is more resistant to scratches and dents so doesn't need to be polished as often as yellow gold. White gold does require rhodium replatining however from time to time, so they're pretty equal in the end. Ultimately, choose what you love - white gold and yellow gold are both perfect options that will last many lifetimes.
Short answer: both are excellent.
14k (58.3% gold) is slightly harder, a touch less saturated in color, and typically a bit more budget-friendly — great for everyday wear.
18k (75% gold) is richer and more saturated in hue and the highest practical karat for rings. It can cost a little more, especially in weighty designs. Choose the look and feel you love (and the budget you want to stick to).
Yellow Gold = classic sunshine; no nickel; warm and golden.
Rose Gold = pinker from extra copper; durable; may not suit copper sensitivities.
Peach Gold (our signature) = a balanced blend of rose + yellow for a softer, universally flattering “Goldilocks” hue.
If you’re torn between warm and rosy, Peach Gold is that just-right middle. Learn more about our signature shade in our blog.
Platinum (95–98% pure) = naturally white, hypoallergenic, heavier, premium-priced, develops a soft patina (polish to restore shine).
White Gold = alloyed gold + rhodium plating for bright white; lighter than platinum; may contain nickel; needs re-plating over time.
Palladium = naturally white, lightweight, very hard, hypoallergenic; pricing often similar to platinum; resizing can require a specialist.
Pick by feel (weight), skin sensitivities, upkeep preferences, and budget.
Read our guide for more on choosing between the three!
Yes! All gold tones are a mixture of pure gold and added alloys to make them durable enough to wear. White gold just has different added alloys to give it that bright, silvery white tone.
Round brilliant cut champagne diamond ring in 18k peach gold
This is all up to your preference! If you want your diamond to look as icy white as possible, white gold is your best bet. If you love the contrast of golden warmth against a clear white diamond, yellow gold is your friend. Champagne diamonds are also stunning against a yellow gold backdrop.
Both rose gold and yellow gold are stunning options for a ring that can be worn every day - the choice is mostly about aesthetics! Besides looking pinker, rose gold is slightly more durable than yellow gold with its added copper alloys. Yellow gold on the other hand, is more hypoallergenic if you have an sensitivity to copper.
Rose gold and yellow gold are pretty comparable in terms of cost - most jewelers will charge the same for 18kt rose gold as they would for 18kt yellow gold.
White gold is sometimes more expensive than rose gold thanks to the process of rhodium replating.
If you're looking for the most flattering gold color for your skin tone, start by looking at your skin's undertones. If you have cooler, more pinkish undertones, rose gold or white gold will be the most flattering tones for you, and if you have yellow undertones, yellow gold will shine its brightest on your skin.
Still torn between yellow, white, rose, Peach Gold, platinum, or palladium? Slide into our kitchen. We’ll match your skin tone, style, and budget to the metal that feels so you. Send us a note anytime or book a free virtual consult —your metal match is on the menu.