Types of Gold Explained: Understanding Gold Colours and Carats

July 24, 2026 8 min read

Gold comes in more varieties than most people realise when they first start looking at jewellery. Yellow, white, rose. 9ct, 18ct, 22ct. Solid, plated, filled. Each combination looks and behaves differently, costs a different amount, and suits different purposes.

The good news is that once you understand the basics, the choice becomes straightforward. This guide covers every main type of gold used in UK jewellery, what the different colours of gold actually are, what a carat means, and how to match the right gold to what you are buying.

Whether you are choosing a wedding ring, an engagement ring, or a gift, knowing your gold means you walk in informed rather than relying entirely on whoever is serving you.

At Manna Jewellers in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, we stock jewellery in all three gold colours and in 9ct and 18ct across our full range. You can explore our diamond wedding bands to see how different gold colours look in a finished piece.

Quick takeaways

Gold is too soft in its pure form for everyday jewellery, so it is mixed with alloy metals to add strength.
The carat tells you what percentage of a piece is pure gold: 9ct is 37.5% gold, and 18ct is 75% gold.
The three main types of gold by colour are yellow gold, white gold and rose gold.
White gold is not naturally white. It is yellow gold mixed with white alloy metals and coated with rhodium.
Rose gold gets its colour from copper. More copper means a warmer, more pinkish-red tone.
9ct gold is harder and more scratch-resistant than 18ct because of its higher alloy content.
Gold-plated and gold-filled jewellery are not the same as solid gold. The difference matters for durability.

What is a carat of gold?

A carat, when used to measure gold, tells you how much of an item is pure gold. It is a ratio, expressed as parts per 24. So 24ct gold is pure gold. 18ct gold is 18 parts gold out of 24, which equals 75% pure gold. 9ct gold is 9 parts gold out of 24, which equals 37.5% pure gold.

Pure gold (24ct) is too soft to use in most jewellery. It bends, scratches and deforms with very little pressure. Alloy metals are added to make the gold workable. The type and proportion of those alloys affect the colour, hardness and cost of the finished piece.

In the UK, the most common carats used in jewellery are 9ct and 18ct. 22ct is sometimes used for plain bands and some Asian-style jewellery. 24ct is occasionally seen in gold coins and bullion but rarely in wearable jewellery.

Expert tip: The Birmingham Assay Office is one of only four UK offices authorised to test and hallmark precious metals. When buying gold jewellery in the UK, check the hallmark stamped on the piece. The millesimal fineness mark tells you the exact gold content: 375 means 9ct, 585 means 14ct, 750 means 18ct, 916 means 22ct. If there is no hallmark, ask why before you buy.

Types of gold by carat: how they compare

Carat	Pure gold content	Hallmark	Hardness	Typical use
9ct	37.5%	375	High	Everyday jewellery, fashion pieces
14ct	58.5%	585	Medium-high	Popular in the USA, growing in the UK
18ct	75%	750	Medium	Fine jewellery, engagement rings, wedding rings
22ct	91.6%	916	Low	Plain gold bands, Asian-style jewellery
24ct	99.9%	999	Very low	Bullion, coins, and some investment pieces

For everyday jewellery worn on the hands, 9ct and 18ct are the practical choices in the UK. 18ct has a richer, deeper colour and lower alloy content. 9ct is harder, more affordable and more resistant to surface scratches.

Colour of gold: what makes yellow, white and rose gold different?

The colour of gold in a finished piece depends on which alloy metals are mixed with the pure gold. This is where the three main types of gold diverge.

Yellow gold

Yellow gold is the closest to the natural colour of pure gold. It uses silver and copper as its primary alloys. The proportions are balanced to preserve that warm, classic golden tone while adding enough strength for daily wear.

Yellow gold has been used in fine jewellery for thousands of years. It is the most traditional choice for wedding rings and suits warmer and olive skin tones particularly well. The colour is stable, requires no plating, and does not change over time.

Our plain wedding bands are available in yellow gold in both 9ct and 18ct. The difference in colour depth between the two carats is visible when placed side by side.

White gold

White gold is yellow gold that has been alloyed with white metals, typically palladium, nickel or manganese, and then coated with a layer of rhodium to produce a bright, silvery-white finish. The key point here is that white gold is not naturally white. Its colour comes from the rhodium coating, which wears down over time with daily wear.

When the rhodium thins, the ring's underlying slightly warmer tone begins to show. Replating every two to five years restores the original bright finish. This is a routine, affordable service that any jeweller can provide.

White gold suits cooler and neutral skin tones and pairs particularly well with white diamonds, because the neutral background does not add any yellow cast to the stone's colour grade.

Our White Gold Engagement Rings are available in white gold.

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Rose gold

Rose gold gets its colour from a higher copper content in the alloy. The more copper, the warmer and more pinkish-red the tone. It does not require plating, and its colour is natural, though it can develop a slightly deeper, more antique patina over years of wear.

Rose gold is harder than yellow gold at the same carat weight because copper is harder than the silver typically used in yellow gold alloys. It suits a wide range of skin tones and has become increasingly popular for women's jewellery over the past decade.

Our eternity bands are available in rose gold alongside white and yellow gold, which gives a useful visual comparison of how the same setting looks in all three colours.

Types of gold by construction: solid, plated and filled

Understanding the colour and carat of gold tells you about its composition. But how the gold is used in a piece of jewellery also matters significantly for durability and value.

Solid gold

Solid gold jewellery is made from a gold alloy throughout. The entire piece, including the interiors of the rings and the thickness of the chains, is the same gold alloy all the way through. A solid 18ct gold ring has a 75% gold content from the surface to the core.

Solid gold jewellery lasts. It can be resized, repaired, engraved and polished indefinitely. It is the only form of gold appropriate for rings, wedding bands and engagement rings that will be worn daily for decades.

Gold-plated

Gold-plated jewellery has a base metal, usually silver, brass or copper, covered with a very thin layer of gold. The gold layer is measured in microns and is often 0.5 to 2 microns thick. It gives the appearance of gold at a much lower cost, but wears away with use. Gold-plated rings typically show base metal within months of daily wear.

For fashion jewellery worn occasionally, plating is fine. For anything worn every day, particularly on the hands, it is not suitable.

Gold-filled

Gold-filled jewellery has a thicker layer of gold bonded to a base metal under heat and pressure. UK regulations require gold-filled products to have a gold layer that is at least 5% of the total weight by mass. It is more durable than gold-plated and lasts longer, but it is still not solid gold and cannot be repaired or resized the way solid gold can.

Gold-filled pieces suit occasional wear with accessories and fashion jewellery rather than everyday rings or wedding bands.

Which type of gold is right for what you are buying?

The right type of gold depends entirely on the purpose of the piece.

For a wedding ring or engagement ring worn daily: solid gold, either 9ct or 18ct depending on your preference for colour depth and budget. Platinum is also worth considering for wedding rings.

For fine jewellery worn regularly: 18ct solid gold. The richer colour and lower alloy content make it the standard for quality fine jewellery in the UK.

For everyday fashion jewellery not worn continuously: 9ct solid gold, or gold-filled if budget is the primary consideration.

For a gift piece worn occasionally, 9ct gold gives the best combination of genuine value and price.

For more on how gold colour choice affects the overall look of a ring, our guide on yellow gold vs white gold vs rose gold covers the practical differences in detail.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the difference between 9ct and 18ct gold?

9ct gold is 37.5% pure gold, and 18ct gold is 75% pure gold. 9ct gold is harder, more affordable and more scratch-resistant because of its higher alloy content. 18ct gold has a richer, deeper colour and lower alloy content, which makes it more suitable for fine jewellery and reduces the risk of metal sensitivity reactions. Both are genuine gold, and both carry UK hallmarks confirming their purity.

2. What is the colour of gold in its pure form?

Pure gold is naturally a deep, warm yellow. The colour of gold in a finished jewellery piece depends on which alloy metals are added and in what proportion. Yellow gold preserves the natural golden tone. White gold uses white alloys and rhodium plating to create a silvery-white appearance. Rose gold uses copper to produce a warm pinkish-red tone.

3. Does white gold stay white permanently?

White gold is coated with rhodium to achieve its bright white appearance, but the rhodium coating wears down with daily use. Most white gold rings need replating every two to five years to restore their original colour. The underlying gold alloy has a slightly warmer tone that becomes visible as the plating thins. Replating is a standard, affordable service at any reputable jeweller.

4. Is rose gold real gold?

Yes. Rose gold is a solid gold alloy. Its colour comes from copper added to the alloy mix. A 9ct rose gold ring is 37.5% pure gold, and an 18ct rose gold ring is 75% pure gold. The copper content gives it its distinctive warm pinkish tone. Rose gold does not require plating; its colour is inherent to the alloy.

5. How can I tell what type of gold a piece is?

Look for the hallmark stamped on the piece, usually on the inside of a ring band or on the clasp of a necklace. UK hallmarks include a millesimal fineness number: 375 for 9ct, 750 for 18ct. The hallmark also includes the assay office mark and the sponsor's mark. If a piece has no hallmark, ask the seller for clarification before buying, as UK law requires hallmarking on most precious metal jewellery above a minimum weight.

About Manna Jewellers

Manna Jewellers is a family jewellery business with over 40 years in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. We stockgemstone engagement rings, wedding bands, eternity rings, and fine jewellery in 9ct and 18ct yellow, white, and rose gold, as well as platinum. Every ring we sell is hand-finished by our team in our on-site workshop before it leaves the building. We also offer a fullbespoke jewellery design service for customers who want a piece made in a specific gold colour, carat or finish. Visit us in store orbook an appointment to see all three gold colours in person.