The Pros and Cons of Rose Gold Engagement Rings

What Is Rose Gold?

Rose gold is one of many variations of gold engagement rings available. Because pure gold (24 karat gold) is too soft for jewelry, we mix metal alloys in with pure gold to create different colored golds. The three most popular ones include yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold (if you’re interested in learning more about gold engagement rings, check out this blog post we wrote about the differences).

Rose gold, increasingly popular as a choice in specialized jewelry, is a gold and copper alloy. There are a few varieties of colors that fall under the ‘rose gold’ umbrella, including red and pink gold. In general, the more copper in the mix, the redder the ring will be.

As with any piece of jewelry, there are pros and cons (objective and subjective) to rose gold engagement rings. Here are a few that we have outlined.

Pros & Cons of Rose Gold

The Benefits of Rose Gold Engagement Rings

• Rose gold rings are very durable, more so than yellow or white gold (not as strong as platinum, though).
• They’re also surprisingly affordable.
• Rose gold does not require rhodium plate either, like white gold does.
• Vintage/antique appeal, often with a romantic connotation due to the rose color.
• They complement all skin tones.

The Cons of Rose Gold Engagement Rings

• Rose gold engagement rings can cause allergies for people allergic to copper. Therefore, they are not hypoallergenic.
• They’re not as widely available as yellow or white gold rings.

Tips, Tricks, and Things To Know About Rose Gold

As we mentioned before, the more copper included in the mix, the redder the ring will be. On the same note, a higher karat ring has more pure gold in it, so an 18k rose gold ring will be a lighter shade, more towards the pink side of the spectrum. A 14k rose gold ring will be a bit redder because of the increased amount of copper in the alloy. This results in a more subdued tone, beautiful in its own right though. It all comes down to your taste and preference here.

Sometimes 18k rose gold rings will contain silver or palladium in addition to gold and copper. 14k rose gold rings might have silver or zinc, as well. Keep this in mind if you have allergies to any of these metals, and always ask your jeweler if you’re curious.

Final Thoughts On Rose Gold Engagement Rings

Overall, rose gold engagement rings are making a comeback. They were popular at the Fin de siècle (turn of the century), and they’re experiencing a revival. Many people love them for their vintage appeal and antique appearing. However, like any jewelry, it’s a very subjective decision. Some people love the brilliance of platinum or white gold, and would rather wear a ring that embodies that aesthetic. Rose gold is also often used in place of white gold in the case of nickel allergies, and in place of yellow gold because rose gold is more durable. In the end, it’s your personal and subjective choice. Of course, feel free to reach out to us at any time if you have questions that haven’t been addressed on this blog post.