The alloys behind each colour
Pure gold is always the same warm yellow. To turn it into jewellery it is alloyed with other metals for strength, and the alloy choice changes the colour. The carat (9ct, 14ct, 18ct, 22ct) tells you how much pure gold is in there; the colour tells you which other metals do the rest. A typical 18ct yellow recipe is 75% gold with the balance split between silver and copper; shift that balance towards copper, roughly 21% copper to 4% silver, and the same 75% gold reads as rose.
| Colour | Typical alloy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow gold | Gold + copper + silver, balanced | The classic warm yellow; copper and silver in roughly equal parts. |
| Rose gold | Gold + more copper, less silver | Pinker the more copper; "red gold" is the most copper-heavy variant. |
| White gold | Gold + palladium or nickel + sometimes silver | Often finished with a thin rhodium plate to make it brighter and whiter. |
| Green gold | Gold + silver only | Rarer; the cooler tone comes from removing copper. |
Does colour change the scrap value?
No, not on its own. A 9ct piece is 9ct whether it is yellow, rose, white or green, the gold content is identical (375 parts per thousand). Put numbers on it: a 4.0 g rose-gold band at 9ct contains 1.5 g of fine gold (4.0 × 0.375), and so does a 4.0 g yellow band at the same carat. Both are priced from that same 1.5 g. Scrap value tracks the carat. Where colour can change value is on antique or designer pieces, where rarer colours (green or unusual rose-gold tones) sometimes lift collector value above scrap.
The rhodium plating catch on white gold
Most "white" gold sold in the UK is plated with a very thin layer of rhodium to make it brighter and whiter than the bare alloy. Over years that plating wears off and the piece looks slightly yellow or grey. That is not a fault. It is the white-gold alloy showing through. It does not change the gold content or scrap value at all. If you are selling, ignore the surface look and focus on the carat mark.
Mixed-colour pieces
A tri-colour wedding band or a two-tone chain is still scrap-valued by its carat. We weigh the whole piece, confirm the carat with an XRF assay, and price it accordingly. Different colours of the same carat carry the same gold value by weight. Selling mixed-colour scrap gold is valued the same way, carat by carat.
Comparing two offers when the colours differ
Compare like with like before deciding that a buyer has discounted a particular colour. Check the tested fineness, the metal weight used, the date of the offer and whether either piece has stones or non-gold parts. Two rings weighing the same on a kitchen scale need not contain the same quantity of gold. A plain band and a gem-set ring are not a fair comparison until those differences are explained.
For illustration, an 18ct yellow ring and an 18ct rose ring with equal confirmed gold-alloy weights contain the same proportion of gold. If the offers differ, ask which other feature accounts for it: condition for resale, a recognised maker, a stone, a different payable weight or a different valuation date. The example explains what to compare; it is not a quotation or a promise that every buyer uses the same buying terms.
The distinction between an offer for metal and an offer for a complete piece matters here. A designer ring may be considered as jewellery rather than solely for its gold. Ask which basis applies before accepting, and use our valuation explanation to check the terms you are comparing.
Photographing white and mixed-colour jewellery
Place the piece on plain white paper beside a window and turn off coloured room lighting. Take an overall photograph, a close-up of the marks and another view of any area that looks a different colour. Keep filters off: changing the warmth of a photograph can make white metal appear yellow and rose gold look closer to ordinary yellow gold.
Show a two-tone setting and shank separately where possible. Different colours can be alloys of the same carat, but appearance alone does not establish that every component matches. Repairs, replacement clasps and combined metals can complicate the picture. Mention any repair paperwork or previous rhodium plating, without trying to remove the finish yourself.
White gold, silver and platinum can look similar in a photograph. If the mark is unclear, do not choose a metal simply from its colour or heaviness. Send the photographs for an initial assessment and keep the item intact. Our white-gold and platinum guide explains the useful distinguishing clues and where testing is still needed.
Common questions
Is rose gold worth less than yellow gold?
No, not by colour. The carat sets the gold content; rose, yellow and white at the same carat are worth the same by weight on scrap.
Is white gold real gold?
Yes. It is a gold alloy with palladium or nickel, often rhodium-plated. The carat mark tells you the gold content the same way as yellow gold.
Why has my white-gold ring gone yellow?
The rhodium plate has worn off and the underlying white-gold alloy is showing. It does not change the gold content or value.
Not the question you had? The full GoldPaid FAQ covers the rest, from postal cover and ID checks to what happens if you decline the offer.
Speak to us before you post
Please send us photos on WhatsApp, and we will help you. We give an instant estimate where possible and arrange postage with you after our conversation. Your final offer follows inspection.