Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How can alloying gold with other metals change its color?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
jewelry
Stomacher brooch with emeralds and enamel flowers on gold, from the treasure of the Virgin of Pilar, mid-17th century; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
In the context of decorative arts and jewelry, pure gold is often too soft for practical use, so it is alloyed with other metals to increase its hardness. These additions also allow artisans to alter the metal's appearance:12
- Yellow Gold: To produce various shades of yellow, gold is typically alloyed with silver, copper, and small amounts of zinc.1
- White Gold: To create a white appearance that resembles platinum, gold is alloyed with metals such as nickel, copper, and zinc, or with palladium.13
The final colour of the alloy is determined by the specific composition of these added metals. For instance, as the proportion of silver in a gold alloy increases, the color shifts from yellow toward white; alloys containing more than 70 percent silver are considered white.1