We all know that gold is known as the yellow metal. But did you know that it also comes in different colors? The metal is extremely ductile and malleable and can be made into fine threads. It is this quality that makes it a preferred choice for jewelry makers. Diamonds and other gemstones are set in this metal for different jewelry like necklaces, rings, ear studs, pendants, etc. Though the metal naturally occurs yellow in color, it is mixed with other metals to derive different colors. The most common usage of the colored form of this metal is jewelry.
The different colors of themetal are derived after it is mixed with other metals. The color of the other metal decides the hue of the colored metal and it comes in colors like white, rose, pink and red, green, blue, purple, and even black. For white color of the metal, the normal yellow metal is mixed with white metals like nickel, manganese or palladium in a percentage of 58.5% of the normal metal, 12.73% of nickel, 7.84% of zinc and 21% of copper. This white colored jewelry is often polished with rhodium to give it a whiter look. Red, pink and rose gold is formed by mixing the metal with copper. The yellow metal in this case is usually 18k that is it has 75% of the yellow metal and 25% copper. The metal becomes redder as the copper percentage goes up in the mix and red gold would mean 50% of the yellow metal and 50% copper.
Green gold is an alloy that is made from 73% of the yellow metal and silver at 27%. The depth of the green color would vary as this proportion varies. Blue color of the metal is made with 46% of the yellow metal and 54% indium. Purple color of the metal is made from a mixture of 80% the normal metal and 20% aluminum, while the color black comes when 75% of the normal metal is mixed with 25% cobalt. These varieties of this colored metal are mostly used for jewelry. The addition of different metals in the basic makes it even better for crafting various designs of jewelry. So now if you are planning to buy the yellow metal, you know the different color variants that you have!