Gold colours

de Grisogono © Monique Bernaz

Gold is never used in its raw state.

- Yellow gold is made up of 75% gold, 12.5% silver and 12.5% copper.

- White gold is an alloy of 75% gold, 10% copper and 10% palladium, to which 5% nickel is added. It is usually coated with a layer of rhodium to give it a whiter shine. It was very fashionable in the 90s and goes perfectly with diamond.

- Pink gold is made up of approximately 60% gold, 6% silver, 19% copper and 10% nickel. It was popular in the 1930s but is now very contemporary because its soft, very feminine colour that suits pink, mauve, purple, dark red and other shades of purple.

- Chocolate gold is obtained through heat treatment. It is used by jewellery houses De Grisogono (www.degrisogono.com) and Boucheron, who are raising its profile. 

- Red gold is made up of 94.5% gold and 5.5% copper.

- Blue gold is a combination of gold and iron. The blue colour is obtained by heating the surface of the metal.

- Black gold is obtained through chemical treatment.

- Green gold is a combination of gold and silver. Although rarely used, it is perfect for setting off green gemstones like tsavorites or tourmaline.