What is Yellow Gold? Is Yellow Gold Real Gold?

Yellow gold is praised for its incredible durability and hardness. Gold is one of the densest metals, making fine jewellery a great choice.

Not only is this metal durable, but its natural yellow shine makes it beautiful in jewellery. But what is yellow gold, and is it real?

Find out in today's blog where we will examine what yellow gold is, how much it costs and its purity.

Is Yellow Gold Real?

The answer is yes! Yellow gold is real gold. Gold in its purest form is found with its bright yellow undertone. Other metals are added to the gold to increase the yellow shade whilst strengthening the gold.

Yellow gold is a warm-coloured metal and is used in the creation of fine jewellery. The most common carat for yellow gold is 18ct, consisting of 75% pure gold, 15% copper and 10% silver. The copper gives the gold a more buttery yellow shade.

Yellow gold has been used in the creation of jewellery for thousands of years and dates back to ancient Egypt when the precious metal was used to create necklaces, heavy neck collars and pendants.

Gold has kept its reputation of wealth and social status for thousands of years and in the present time gold still holds a high reputation in the jewellery industry.

What’s the Difference Between 24ct, 18ct and 14ct Yellow Gold?

The difference between the different carats in gold is the percentage of gold mixed with other metals. Let's take a look at the different carats and gold percentages:

• 24ct Gold- 100% pure gold made with 99.9% gold and 0.01% other metals.
• 18ct Gold- 75% pure gold with 18/24 parts gold and 6/24 parts other metals.
• 14ct Gold- 58.3% pure gold with 14/24 parts gold and 10/24 parts other metals.
  
  

The other metals that gold is usually mixed with is:

• Zinc
• Copper
• Silver
• Platinum
• Palladium

As pure gold is a very soft metal, it is not ideal for everyday wear. When alloyed with stronger metals the gold increases in durability making them a more suited choice for everyday wear. The lower the carat the higher the durability.

How Much Does a Yellow Gold Ring Cost?

The cost of a yellow gold diamond ring depends on various factors, including the size, carat of gold and condition. However, on average, you can expect to pay between £150- £600 or more.

If you are shopping for a second-hand yellow gold ring, you must be shopping around to find the best jewellery for your budget and utilising a reputable seller. At Miltons Diamonds you can have the peace of mind that you are shopping with a trusted seller.

Our team have been in the industry for over 100 years and we are a family-run business known and respected across Merseyside for our excellent products and services.

How Can I Tell if My Yellow Gold Is Fake?

You can test whether your gold is real by using special acids that are designed to test the authenticity of gold. You could also look at the hallmark or make a small scratch on the gold to test if it is plated. If a different metal colour is revealed under the scratch then the gold is fake.

You can also take it to a jewellery store. A jeweller will be able to perform a detailed check to authenticate your yellow gold. Here at Miltons Diamonds, we use exceptional technology to test the authenticity of gold. Our X-ray machines will be able to identify the composition of gold in a non-destructive way to determine the gold's authenticity.

And finally the magnet test. Hold your yellow gold against a magnet, if the magnet can attract the gold it is fake if not it is real.

What is Fake Gold Made From?

Often fake gold is made from an alloy of copper, zinc and other less valuable metals to give the jewellery the appearance of gold.

Fake gold is used in costume jewellery and lower-cost jewellery pieces. This is for people who prefer to wear gold jewellery pieces but aren't willing to pay the price for real gold. Many types of gold jewellery are marketed in a way that makes them seem somewhat real. For example:

• Gold plated jewellery
• Gold filled jewellery
• Gold painted jewellery

A common misconception about gold-plated jewellery is that it has real gold in it. This is not true and gold-plated jewellery is made from brass or copper and has a thin layer of gold over it to make it appear like gold. It is relatively cheap to produce and the gold layer wears away very easily.

Yellow Gold at Miltons Diamonds

Here at Miltons Diamonds, we have a wide selection of new and used yellow gold for you to browse across our website. With prices starting from as little as £29! So if you're shopping for a new yellow-gold piece, check out what we have to offer!

If you have any questions regarding our jewellery pieces, please don't hesitate to contact a member of our team, who will be delighted to give you a helping hand.

Shop our yellow gold collection today.