Style Guide for Rose Gold Jewelry
Rose gold has emerged as the most popular color for—well—everything. From our lips to our smartphones, nothing has escaped rose gold’s blushing and romantic Midas Touch. With metallics taking center stage for today’s beauty looks (including hair color!), rose gold remains the ultimate in sophisticated chic style.
Rose gold began its lustrous appeal in 19th century Russia and was created by mixing copper and yellow gold, resulting in a unique blushing pink shade that exuded innocence and romance. Fabergé used rose gold in many of his creations and the metal later became popular for rings and other fine jewelry, especially during the Victorian period. For wedding bands and engagement rings, rose gold has regained its popularity for settings and bands. However, rose gold also looks amazing when used as the dominant metal for earrings, pendants and diamond bracelets. Not only is the metal unique, but rose gold’s warm hue also looks great against most skin tones. Ready to view your world through rose gold-tinted glasses? Keep these style tips in mind when choosing jewelry dominated by fashion’s favorite rosy metallic:
Mix it Up
Rose gold can take on different hues and shades, depending on how the gold is mixed. With more copper, the hue takes on a darker pink tone. Less copper within the mix may result in a muted hue of rose. Some rose gold may look almost red. The shade of your rose gold setting affects what stones you should choose.
Careful with Colors
While rose gold can be used in any jewelry setting and style, be careful when setting colored gemstones within a rose gold setting. The hue of the gold affects how gemstones look within the setting. If you’re designing a necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings in a rose gold setting, you need to choose gemstones that are complemented by the warm pink hue of the metal. The best gemstones for rose gold settings include pearls, diamonds (of course!), Amethyst, pink sapphires, and opals. These particular gemstones are flattered when set against the flush of the gold. Blue topaz and aquamarine may also be set within rose gold, if the mixture of the gold is a lighter flush of pink. Avoid bolder or cooler-hued gemstones as they may clash with metal. Blue sapphires, rubies, emeralds and yellow topaz tend to fight against the flush of the rosy gold.
Vintage Vibes
Rose gold was popular during the romantic Victorian Period through the opulent 1920s and can be found in many vintage pieces of jewelry. To evoke these time periods in vintage-inspired jewelry, rose gold is the perfect setting choice. For Victorian innocence, choose rose gold settings with etched scroll work or floral details to create a romantic touch. Art Deco pieces should feature stones with step facet cuts like Asscher or Emerald with geometric details within the setting.
The Best Karat for Rose Gold
Like all gold, rose gold settings are offered in different karat purities. However, as rose gold is a mixture of two different metals, the purest form is 18 karat. Do not go lower than 14 karat for fine jewelry, as lower purities will include several other metals in the mixture. You may end up with a not so rosy finish!
Mixing Metals
Pairing different hued metals together is a classic trend—and it never really goes out of style. Rose gold, however, can be a bit tricky to pair up with other metals. If you want to wear a rose gold piece (necklace, ring, or bracelet) with other metal hues, be sure the rose gold is stacked next to a cooler hued metal setting like platinum, silver or white gold. The cooler metals accentuate the flushed warmth of rose gold, however, setting rose gold next to yellow gold may mute the color. For subtle but delicate depth, try a triple pairing of white, silver, and rose gold. While rose gold first bloomed in Russia, the metallic hue has risen to become the color of the fashion world—gracing everything from beauty palettes to technology. Choose rose gold for a jewelry setting that glows with romance, innocence and blushing Brilliance.
