Yellow, white and rose gold are all genuine gold – the difference is simply what the gold is blended with, which changes its colour. Choosing between them comes down to two things: what you love, and what flatters your skin. Here’s how to decide.
Where does gold’s colour come from?
Pure gold is always yellow, but it’s too soft to wear, so it’s mixed with other metals to make a durable alloy. Those metals also change the colour:
- Yellow gold – gold blended with metals like copper and silver, keeping that classic warm golden tone.
- White gold – gold blended with white metals (such as palladium), then usually plated with rhodium for a bright, silvery finish.
- Rose gold – gold with a higher proportion of copper, which gives it its warm, pinkish blush.
All three can be solid gold, and all three are hallmarked to the same purity standards (585 for 14ct, 750 for 18ct).
Yellow gold
The classic. Warm, timeless and unmistakably “gold,” it never really goes out of style. Yellow gold looks especially beautiful against warm, olive and deeper skin tones, where it glows – but it also makes a striking contrast on cooler, fairer skin. If you want one colour that works forever, this is it. And because the colour runs all the way through solid yellow gold, it never needs re-plating.
White gold
Cool, contemporary and understated, white gold has a bright, silvery look that flatters cooler undertones and fair skin, and lets diamonds and gemstones take centre stage. One thing to know: that brilliant white finish comes from rhodium plating, which gently wears over the years and can be re-applied to refresh it – a small, occasional bit of upkeep the yellow and rose don’t need.
Rose gold
Romantic and modern at once, rose gold gets its soft pink warmth from copper. It’s famously flattering on almost everyone, and particularly lovely on fair and warm skin tones. Like yellow gold, solid rose gold keeps its colour throughout, so there’s no plating to wear off.
Which gold suits your skin tone?
A helpful starting point is your skin’s undertone (not how fair or deep your skin is, but whether it leans warm or cool):
- Warm undertones (skin with golden, peachy or olive hints) tend to glow in yellow and rose gold.
- Cool undertones (skin with pink or blue hints) are often flattered by white gold – and yellow gold for lovely contrast.
- Neutral undertones can happily wear all three.
Two quick ways to check your undertone: look at the veins on your inner wrist (greenish suggests warm, bluish suggests cool), or notice whether you feel better in gold or silver jewellery – gold usually suits warm tones, silver-toned metals suit cool.
That said, these are guides, not rules. The best colour is the one you reach for and feel wonderful in – and many people happily mix all three.
Can you mix gold colours?
Absolutely. Mixing yellow, white and rose gold – whether layered necklaces or stacked rings – looks intentional and modern, and means your jewellery works with everything. If you love more than one, there’s no need to choose.
A note on quality
Whichever colour you choose, make sure it’s solid gold, not plated – plated colours wear away and can mark your skin. Look for a UK hallmark to be sure (how to read hallmarks), and decide between 14ct and 18ct based on durability and colour depth (14k vs 18k guide).
At Larisa Beaumont, our pieces are solid, hallmarked, nickel-free gold – made to hold their colour and be worn every day.
Frequently asked questions
Which gold colour suits my skin tone? Warm undertones tend to glow in yellow and rose gold; cool undertones are often flattered by white gold. Neutral undertones suit all three. Ultimately, choose the colour you love most.
Is yellow, white or rose gold more expensive? At the same carat, all three contain the same amount of pure gold, so they’re similar in value. White gold can cost a little more to maintain because of occasional rhodium re-plating.
Does white gold need re-plating? Yes – white gold’s bright finish comes from rhodium plating that gently wears over time and can be refreshed. Solid yellow and rose gold keep their colour without plating.
Can you wear and mix different gold colours together? Yes. Mixing yellow, white and rose gold looks modern and intentional, and makes your jewellery pair with everything.
Explore solid, hallmarked gold jewellery, ethically made in Britain, at Larisa Beaumont.
