Yellow Gold Metal Guide

If you’re in the process of buying a piece of fine jewellery and aren’t sure which metal is the right choice for you then consider yellow gold! It’s known for its warm, rich hues, making it perfect for those who are looking for jewellery with a glorious glow. In this guide we will be uncovering what makes this metal such a great choice for jewellery such as engagement rings and wedding rings, while also exploring its symbolism and history.

Yellow gold is a precious metal known for its use in fine jewellery, it’s loved for its warm, sunny appearance and joyful shine. Yellow gold is made by blending pure gold with copper, silver and zinc to tone down the bright yellow colour. Gold’s chemical element is Au and is one of the densest metals, however it is quite malleable which makes it perfect for jewellery. Take a look at our collection of yellow gold rings for some inspiration.

As one of the most universal indicators of wealth, it's no surprise that gold has a deep symbolism of affluence, luxury and power. It has also been seen as a signifier of royalty for centuries, with royals and the upper classes opting for this ornate metal choice for their jewellery and accessories.

Aside from its physical symbolism, yellow gold is also a motif of compassion and generosity, as well as being synonymous with certain religious beliefs.

Yellow has a rich history as one of the oldest metals in the world, it has historically been used for jewellery and religious idols. In around 2600 BC the Ancient Egyptians began to mine gold extensively, using it as currency, jewellery and even burial masks for their most favoured members of society. It wasn't till the Romans, however, that gold mining became more streamlined and formalised. The Romans developed advanced mining techniques such as hydraulic mining, where high pressured water is used to dislodge gold from dirt and other minerals.

More recently, there have been gold rushes in America, Australia and South Africa in the 19th century which led to many hopeful prospectors migrating to these areas in search of their fortune. Today, gold is still thought to be one of the most precious and coveted metals in the world. Its allure and attraction is something that has lasted millennia and will most likely last for millenia to come!

There are a few different carats that yellow comes in, and each of these carats is down to the percentage of actual gold in the piece of jewellery. Due to the fact that the majority of gold is alloyed, the easiest way to measure the purity of each jewellery piece is to measure the carat (or weight) of pure gold that it holds. At Jessica Flinn, we work with 9 carat, 14 carat and 18 carat yellow gold, book an appointment today and begin your journey to find your perfect gold ring.

9 carat gold holds 37.5% of pure gold and usually has a light yellow colour. 9 carat yellow gold is suitable for everyday wear and can be a more versatile choice due to its lighter yellow colour. It’s also a great choice if you’re working within a tight budget as it's the least expensive yellow gold that we work with.

At 58.5% pure gold, 14 carat yellow gold has a slightly brighter yellow colour than 9 carat gold. It’s also a more durable metal choice than 9 carat gold so it's a great choice for those wanting it for engagement, wedding or any other jewellery you might want to wear daily.

18 carat yellow gold is 75% pure gold, so it has quite a vivid colour. It is one of the most popular choices in terms of engagement and wedding ring metal as it is fairly hardy while also having a luxurious appearance!

24 carat yellow gold is the purest form of yellow gold available, at a staggering 99.99% purity! It’s no surprise that this carat is bold and bright, but it’s important to know that this carat of gold is not often used in jewellery due to the likelihood that it will bend or become misshapen over time.

If you’re still unsure about whether yellow gold is the one for you, there are two other types of gold that we work with which could be the perfect metal choice for you:

Rose gold has a pink, peachy hue compared to yellow gold and is loved for its warm appearance and durability. Due to the fact that rose gold has a lower percentage of pure gold and a higher percentage of copper (and a small percentage of silver!), it’s more sturdy than yellow gold, making it a great choice for everyday wear. Rose gold is also a great choice if you want a more unique ring as it’s still fairly uncommon for engagement and wedding rings to be set in rose gold. If you're looking for a warm, blushed ring then browse our rose gold collection.

White gold is made from blending yellow gold with white toned alloys such as silver or palladium, giving it its silvery, cool toned appearance. It has a slightly warmer tone than platinum and comes at a much lower price point than platinum, making it perfect for those who want a silver/white coloured metal with a smaller price tag. However, it’s important to remember that white gold will need re-plating every 18 months or so as the plating will rub away, revealing the yellow gold underneath. All of our rings can be made in white gold, so take a look at our collection of white gold rings if you think this might be the gold for you.

Yellow gold is mined across the world, with the top five most prolific mining countries being China, Australia, Russia, the United States and Canada:

The cost of a gold ring depends on a few different factors. Firstly the carat weight of pure gold will affect the overall price, as the higher the percentage of pure gold, the higher the price. For example, here’s a price comparison of our Natalia ring with the same gemstones made with different gold carats:

Giving your jewellery the TLC it deserves is an important part of owning fine jewellery. Any piece of jewellery that you plan on wearing every day, like a wedding or engagement ring, will require care fairly regularly. With your gold ring, start by giving it a good once over, looking out for any scratches or chips. Once you’ve checked that there aren’t any structural issues you can give it a soak in warm, soapy water before gently scrubbing it with a soft toothbrush (a baby toothbrush works well!). After you’ve gently washed it and dried it, you can use a jewellery cloth to polish it for that extra shine. 

If you feel like your yellow gold ring might be in need of some professional attention, you can book in for our repair and refresh service, where one of our jewellery connoisseurs will look over your ring and give it any care it needs.

At Jessica Flinn, we have a wide range of yellow gold rings. From engagement to wedding to eternity rings, all our gold jewellery is made with the highest quality gold. Choose from our ready to wear selection of engagement rings, reach out to the team to customise one of our designs, or book an appointment and begin your bespoke journey.