# Why is gold yellow? White, rose and green gold

> Pure gold is yellow; white, rose and green gold are alloys. Why gold does not tarnish, how each color is made and what each contains.

- Source: https://www.711grados.com/en/why-gold-has-different-colors/
- Language: en
- Note: This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.
- Published: 2026-07-03
- Updated: 2026-07-03
- Translation (es): https://www.711grados.com/es/por-que-el-oro-tiene-colores/
- Author: Sandra Sánchez
- Site: 711 Grados (https://www.711grados.com/)

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## Why is gold yellow?

Gold absorbs part of the blue light and reflects the rest, which our eyes see as yellow. This is explained by how the electrons move in such a heavy atom. In most metals the reflected light is silvery, which makes gold and copper exceptions.

## Why does gold not tarnish?

Gold is a **noble** metal: it reacts very little with oxygen and with most products, which is why it stays bright for centuries. See [gold](https://www.711grados.com/en/gold/).

## How the colors are made

Pure gold (24 karat) is very soft, so in jewelry it is alloyed with other metals, and that mix gives the color. See [jewelry alloys](https://www.711grados.com/en/jewelry-alloys-how-they-are-made/) and [the color of metals](https://www.711grados.com/en/the-color-of-metals/).

- **Yellow gold:** gold with silver and copper in balanced proportions.
- **Rose gold:** more copper; the more copper, the redder.
- **White gold:** gold with white metals such as palladium, and sometimes silver or nickel. It is usually [rhodium](https://www.711grados.com/en/rhodium/)-plated for a brighter white, which wears off over time.
- **Green gold:** gold with silver, with a soft greenish tone.

All have the same karat: an 18-karat white gold contains 75% gold, just like a yellow or rose one. See [14 or 18 karat gold](https://www.711grados.com/en/14k-vs-18k-gold/).

## Are there other colors of gold?

Colors such as blue or black are achieved with surface treatments, not with the alloy. See [coloring of metals](https://www.711grados.com/en/coloring-of-metals/).