Rose gold necklaces are perfect for both men and women. It may have a mild hue but they definitely suit men. Sometimes rose gold is also recognized as pink gold and red gold. Either way, it is an amazing variation of the typical gold color we know. A rose gold necklace is a piece of trendy jewelry that you should not miss adding to your jewelry collection this year; Radiant like the Dawn, Rose Gold is is in Vogue Again. Whether you want to get the affordable rose gold plated necklace, settle for the gold-filled necklaces, or aim for the glamorous alloyed rose gold necklaces, we have built a great collection for you to choose from. Before getting a new rose gold necklace, there are a few things you should know about them so you will be properly guided in picking the perfect necklace for you.
Rose Gold Necklaces for Men
Rose Gold Necklaces for Women
Rose Gold Necklaces Buying Guide
Before getting any jewelry, it is important to understand everything about it first. It is good to know how rose gold necklaces are created. Rose gold is a unique and valuable variation of the natural yellow gold. The purest 24k gold has the richest yellow color glow that is comparable to gold coins and gold bars. But since pure gold is highly malleable, it is not an ideal metal to use for jewelry. It may deform its design if not combined with other more durable metals. Gold is typically combined by metalsmiths with other types of metals to achieve a sturdy and durable type of jewelry.
Understanding Karats
If you are not sure what karat means, it is time for you to learn more about it. Karat is used to indicate the measurement of gold purity in any jewelry. The purest gold is known to have 24k. Each karat is approximately equal to 4.16% of gold. This means that 18k gold is 75%. Any jewelry with more karats than 18k may already be too soft for daily wearing.
The Making of Rose Gold Necklaces
There is a need to combine yellow gold with other types of metals so it can have a sturdy form. Since gold is naturally malleable, it is not ideal to make it as jewelry intended for daily wearing. This is the reason why there are different gold color variations.
The most common color variations are white gold and lighter yellow gold. It means that an 18k rose gold necklace has the same gold content as an 18k yellow or white gold necklace. This also means that a yellow gold ring is not always pure gold.
Rose gold jewelry is one of the on-point trends this year: necklaces, earrings, rings, and watches. Because of its mild color, it can look great with any skin color, unlike its traditional country part, the yellow gold.
Rose gold is achieved by combining yellow gold with copper. Gold is a precious rare metal while copper is pretty usual. Since copper is widely available, it is one of the first metals that have been attempted to combine with gold. As the two metals alloy with each other, they achieve a warm and pinkish hue.
The amount of copper added to natural yellow gold dictates the depths of the rose gold color of the necklace. If you combine more copper, it would generally result in a warmer and more reddish tone. But if you want a mild pinkish hue, a smaller amount of copper is mixed with yellow gold. Earlier we mentioned that rose gold has other variations like pink gold and red gold. There are a few differences in how their shade appears.
Pink gold is basically the most subtle rose gold shade. It contains lesser copper so it has a more deep yellow gold color than rose gold. On the other hand, red gold contains more copper than pink and rose gold so it has a deeper rose color. If you want to get a deeper rose gold necklace, you should get necklaces that have a lesser gold content.
When combining alloys, there is a specific formula that is followed. The formula is basically based on how much karat is desired to achieve for the jewel. In order to create an 18k rose gold necklace, there should be 75 percent of gold and 25 percent of copper. In a 14k rose gold necklace, 58.3 percent of gold is mixed with copper and silver. Silver serves as a regulator for the rose gold necklace to maintain a soft rose gold color. If silver is not added, the jewelry will end up with a richer and deeper rose hue.
Rose Gold Necklace Styles
Since rose gold was popularized in a certain era, you may find a lot of rose gold necklaces inspired by the designs of that time period. Later, we will share the unique jewelry designs that became popular when rose gold was used in jewelry. The main designs you will find for rose gold necklaces are lockets that are inspired by the Victorian Era and Art Deco Period. It may not be known to many but rose gold is also one of the most durable and sturdy gold alloys. Because rose gold is hard, it is also an ideal material to use for pendant necklaces. Aside from seeing vintage-inspired rose gold locket necklaces, you may also find rose gold pendant necklaces. Their sturdy characteristics make them ideal in carrying heavy pendants and heavy gemstones.
Rose Gold Necklace Lengths
The length of rose gold necklaces also depends on fashion trends from specific periods. Most vintage victorian and art deco rose gold necklaces feature a shorter chain length. While modern necklaces tend to be longer. When it comes to rose gold locket necklaces, they have always featured longer chains, then and now.
History of Rose Gold
Here is a brief history of rose gold. Back in the late 1800s, rose gold became popular in Russia since their royals loved its color. Rose gold was even known to the name Russian Gold. There is an anecdotal story that says that the popularity of rose gold all started with Czar Nicolas II. It is said in the story that Czar Nicolas II wanted a rose gold necklace that looked like a scarf he found in the Imperial Bay.
According to the story, the scarf was from a charming young princess. While the story is uncertain, the 1800s is definitely the moment that ignited the popularity of rose gold. Rose gold was used in making jewelry for the Victorian and Georgian Era. It became a popular alternative for the typical yellow and white gold jewelry. People always love new options so it is not surprising that rose gold became an instant hit to the Russians. Then, it became widely popular in America in the 1900s. It was a good basis for a fashion statements.
Two decades later, Louis Cartier popularized the use of rose gold on wedding rings in America. Well, he initially featured a trinity wedding ring that contains all the three main color variations of gold at that time: white, yellow, and rose. He said that white gold represents the friendship between the couple, yellow gold represents the loyalty of the couple to each other and rose gold represents the love of the couple for one another. He designed the ring with an intertwined pattern to symbolize the harmony of friendship, loyalty, and love in a successful relationship. Today more rose gold jewelry is popularized. It has been featured more often in traditional jewelry like locket necklaces and pendant necklaces.
Vintage Rose Gold Necklaces
Before we learn more about vintage jewelry, it is important for you to know the difference between antique and vintage first. You should keep in mind that antique jewelry is any jewelry that is over 100 years old while vintage jewelry is any jewelry that is 25 to 100 years old. Considering if the jewelry is antique or vintage should not be based on the name of a specific era.
For example, the Victorian era may cover both antique and vintage jewelry. It may be hard to know if the jewelry is antique or vintage since some products blur the difference, especially jewelry made from the late Victorian era that is marked as vintage jewelry. Keep in mind that antique rings are typically more expensive than vintage rings because they are older. This is a good opportunity for you to grab. Buy vintage rose gold necklaces now before they become antique and more pricey.
Victorian Rose Gold Necklaces
Victorian rose gold necklaces are necklaces that were created from 1850 to 1901. These necklaces typically come in 9k gold. Most jewelry in this period is created with 9k gold since it was the trend and the standards of the Russians at that time. Nine-karats rose gold necklaces only contain 37.5 percent of pure gold. They were typically combined with silver and copper. Since 9k gold is a pretty small amount of gold, victorian rose gold necklaces are cheaper.
You should be able to find beautiful vintage lockets in rose gold for a reasonable price. If you are up for a vintage-inspired necklace design, then you should opt for these necklaces. However, gold is not like leather that ages beautifully. If you place a modern and vintage rose gold necklaces side-by-side, you would probably notice that the vintage version has a darker hue. That is just how gold ages. When this era ended, better versions of rose gold necklaces were created. You will find 14k and even 18k rose gold necklaces.
Art Deco Rose Gold Necklaces
Art deco rose gold necklaces were created from 1915 to 1935. If you want a quirky looking rose gold necklace, then you should look for necklaces made in this era. Art deco necklaces feature influences from the Egyptians and Romans. It also had some touch of oriental details. For men, this might be an interesting necklace for you since, in this era, people celebrated the might of men because of the World War.
Shopping your Rose Gold
Whether you are looking for a rose gold necklace for a man or a woman, you will surely find what you need from the wide range of collections presented. Rose gold necklaces are on-trend. Don’t miss out on amping your style. Be updated with the latest trends while getting the best value for your money.
Hey lovely readers! My name is Chantal and I am obsessed with everything accessory and jewelry. My husband (and best friend) John and I, have been writing content for this blog for over 4 years now started the RTP store with over 4000 curated accessories and jewelry. We are traveling around the world to find the latest products, negotiate the best prices and find the best quality for our readers. We have managed to make our passion for feeling and looking good into our work. We are always open to new product suggestion, improvements or feedback. If you would like to chitchat with me, email me here!
