Types of Gold Jewelry: Yellow, White, Rose and Green

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold is the most traditional and familiar form of gold jewelry. Its warm color closely resembles pure gold, which is why it has been used for centuries in rings, chains, and heirloom pieces.

What’s helpful to know:

• Yellow gold is commonly found in 10k, 14k, and 18k jewelry
• Its color comes from gold mixed with small amounts of other metals
• Karat refers to gold content — not color

Yellow gold is especially common in vintage, inherited, and classic jewelry styles.

White Gold

White gold is created by mixing gold with other metals — commonly nickel, palladium, zinc, or combinations of these — to achieve a lighter color. Many white gold pieces are also finished with a thin rhodium coating, which gives them a bright white appearance.

A few things to understand:

• White gold is still real gold
• It is evaluated based on purity (karat), weight, and condition
• Over time, the bright finish may soften as the rhodium wears

If you’re not sure whether a piece is white gold or platinum, that’s extremely common — and something we can verify during an evaluation.

Rose Gold

Rose gold gets its warm, pink tone from copper mixed with gold. It’s been used in jewelry for generations and has become especially popular again in recent years.

What to know about rose gold:

• It is real gold, just like yellow and white gold
• The color does not reduce its value
• It is found in both modern and vintage jewelry

Rose gold is evaluated the same way as other gold jewelry.

Green Gold

Green gold is less common, but it is a real form of gold jewelry. It has a subtle greenish tone created by blending gold with specific alloy metals.

A few quick notes:

• Green gold is legitimate gold jewelry when properly made
• It may appear pale or slightly green compared to yellow gold
• Like other gold jewelry, it’s evaluated based on purity and weight

If you have a piece you suspect may be green gold — or you’re simply not sure — we can identify it during an in-person review.

Platinum vs. White Gold (Common Question)

Platinum and white gold can look similar, but they are different metals.

Here’s what’s helpful to know:

• Platinum is not gold — it’s a separate precious metal
• White gold is gold mixed with other metals, often with a rhodium finish
• Some jewelry is marked PT, PLAT, or 950 for platinum
• White gold is often marked 10k, 14k, or 18k

If your jewelry is unmarked or the markings are worn, that’s normal. We can verify whether a piece is platinum or white gold as part of the evaluation, and explain what you have in plain language.

Does Gold Color Affect Value?

This is the most important takeaway:

Gold color does not increase or decrease the base value of gold jewelry.

When selling gold jewelry, what matters most is:

• Gold purity (karat)
• Weight
• Current market conditions

Color is simply the result of how the jewelry is made — not a measure of whether it’s “better” or “worse.”

If You’re Not Sure What You Have

Many people aren’t sure whether their jewelry is yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, green gold — or even platinum. That’s completely normal, especially with older or inherited pieces.

During an in-person evaluation, we’ll:

• Identify the metal type
• Verify purity
• Explain what you have clearly
• Answer any questions you have

There’s no obligation to sell, and the evaluation is always complimentary.

Ready to Learn More About Your Jewelry?

If you’re thinking about selling gold jewelry and want clear answers, the best next step is a simple in-person review.

You can:

• Return to our We Buy Gold Jewelry page to learn more about the process
• Call with questions before visiting
• Stop by for a private evaluation

We’re here to help you understand your jewelry and decide what feels right for you.