Rose gold engagement rings are classic, but with a romantic twist. We’ve been noticing that more and more customers are drawn to rose gold engagement rings. They like the warm color and the subtle richness that rose gold adds even to simple engagement ring designs. Here is a complete guide to what you need to know about rose gold engagement rings and how to choose one that’s right for you.

What is Rose Gold?

Rose gold is an alloy, a mix of gold with other metals. Gold is naturally golden yellow, so the rosy color comes from adding copper to the alloy. The other metals in the alloy aren’t just there to “stretch” the gold, they also help to make your engagement ring stronger. Pure gold is relatively soft and scratches easily.

The purity of an alloy is measured in carats. Pure 100% gold is 24 karats. 18 karat gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals, so 75% gold. 14-karat gold is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals, so 58.3% gold. The most popular rose gold alloy is 14k rose gold. Generally, rose gold has about 30% copper, with the balance made up of silver. The alloy recipe for 14k rose gold changes depending on how the alloy will be used but always contains the same amount of gold. There’s always more yellow than red in the color of rose gold because the yellow of the gold in the alloy comes through stronger than the touch of copper.

No matter the exact shade, we love the subtle glow of rose gold against skin. It adds a sun- kissed warm glow to most complexions. And it’s warm to the touch too. All gold warms to skin temperature when you wear it. The unique blush tone of a rose gold engagement ring makes it just a little different, perfect if you prefer to set trends instead of following them.

14k Rose Gold vs 18k Rose Gold

If you decide to buy a rose gold engagement ring, you are probably wondering whether to choose an 18 karat rose gold engagement ring or a 14-karat rose gold engagement ring. At RockHer, we recommend a 14-karat rose gold ring. Why? Isn’t more gold always better? We love 18k yellow gold but 18k rose gold has some disadvantages that the other colors of 18 karat gold don’t have. Color is what makes rose gold engagement rings special and the color of 18-karat rose gold is hard to see because there is so much yellow gold in the alloy.

The second disadvantage of 18-karat rose gold for engagement rings is more serious. In our experience, 18k rose gold engagement rings can have tiny hidden pockets of air inside, a metal characteristic called porosity which is caused when the molten metal doesn’t flow smoothly during the casting process. This porosity means that 18-karat rose gold engagement rings can be less durable when worn every day.

At RockHer, our workshop has been crafting engagement rings from scratch for decades so we’re very familiar with all the alloys of gold and how they perform over the years. We want to ensure that your engagement ring has the highest quality possible so that’s why we recommend a 14 karat rose gold engagement ring instead of 18 karat. We want your rose gold engagement ring to be just as beautiful a century from now as it is today.

The History of Rose Gold

Because the color of rose gold is subtle, contrast helps to bring out the color of rose gold. If you put rose gold engagement rings next to yellow gold rings, it’s easy to see the difference. The idea of combining the colors of gold in jewelry comes from this contrast effect. Rose gold first became popular in the 18 th century in elaborate jewelry made with four colors of gold, including rose gold, yellow gold, white gold, and green gold inlaid in elaborate patterns like flowers, animals and landscapes.

Carl Faberge used rose gold in jewelry and the fabulous Faberge eggs he made for the royal family of Russia in the 19 th century. Rose gold was sometimes called “Russian gold” at the time. Victorian England also adopted the fashionable new color of gold. Probably the most famous piece of multicolored gold jewelry is the Cartier Trinity Ring, with three interlocking rolling rings in rose, yellow and white gold. It was designed by the French poet and artist Jean Cocteau in 1924 but it’s still a best-seller today. The white gold symbolizes friendship, the yellow gold symbolizes fidelity and the rose gold symbolizes love. Rose gold has been associated with romance ever since.

During World War II, when platinum was declared a strategic metal and disappeared from the jewelry market, designers turned to rose gold, often pairing it with colorful gemstones in bold designs.

Rose Gold Today

Rose gold today is most often combined with diamonds, either in vintage inspired engagement ring designs or modern engagement rings. Our customer’s favorite styles are rose gold halo engagement rings with a circle of pave diamonds around the center diamond. Pave band engagement rings are also popular in rose gold. And our customers often choose rose gold solitaire engagement rings because the simplicity of the style looks particularly fresh in rose gold. We also love making hidden halo rose gold engagement rings and expect this new trend to be even more popular next year. Rose gold men’s wedding rings are popular too.

One thing you definitely want to ask about when shopping for rose gold engagement rings is the origin of the gold. At RockHer, all our engagement rings are created using recycled gold and platinum so you can be sure that the precious metal in your engagement ring was sourced responsibly.

We also responsibly source all the diamonds in your rose gold engagement ring. We’re one of the first retailers to offer transparently sourced diamonds. And we craft all of your engagement rings in house in our Los Angeles studio so you can make sure that your jewelry was crafted responsibly by skilled artisans right here in the United States.

Because we make all our engagement rings and wedding rings ourselves, we can make sure that the rose gold of the two rings matches exactly. Retailers who source rings overseas can’t always make sure that the alloys used are exactly the same.

We’re sure you’ll love your RockHer rose gold engagement ring. To make sure it stays sparkling clean, regularly wash it at home. All you have to do is to soak in in a bowl of warm water with a little bit of dish soap. Gently brush behind the gem with a soft brush where dust can collect. Rinse and let dry on a soft cloth.