The Most Ravishing Rose Gold Engagement Rings on the Planet
Pure gold is too soft and malleable on its own, so it must be mixed with one or two “base metals” for use in fine jewelry. The result is a harder, stronger alloy, one that can be fashioned into complex and intricate jewelry designs and better withstand everyday wear and tear.
To achieve the tantalizingly blush-pink, sometimes apricot hue, of rose gold, yellow gold is blended with copper—the greater the copper content, the deeper and rosier the color. Like yellow and white gold, rose gold is offered in 14k and 18k variants—in general, you'll pay more for 18k gold because the alloy contains a higher percentage of gold (75 percent on average).
As you’ll see in this slideshow, rose gold doesn’t automatically make for an over-the-top feminine look—on the contrary, rose gold actually has tons of modern cachet and lends itself well to engagement rings with clean, architectural lines. While an increasing number of jewelry designers now offer rose gold as an option, it continues to stand out as the ultimate alternative metal choice. That is, for the bride who says "none of the above" when faced with the usual white and yellow metals.
But of course rose gold is always going to appeal to brides with a romantic sensibility, to say nothing of the metal's ability to flatter every skin tone.
You’ll notice a similar effect when you start trying on wedding gowns. Those with slightly blush (or full-on pink) undertones tend to warm up your skin with a rosy glow. Instantly.
Rose gold also complements certain colored gemstones in remarkably striking ways, pink diamonds being the consummate example. But note, too, how rose gold enhances the beauty of, say, this Paraiba tourmaline, this stunning mauve Malaya garnet, this smoldering spinel or these rubies. And wait till you see the pale pink oval morganite by Maria Perry that we include in our edit (slide #2).
Now that we have you properly thinking pink, it's time explore the possibilities, starting with the sunburst-like diamond engagement ring shown above...