Everything Is the Same Karat. Why Doesn’t My Pendant Match My Chain?
Because of its rich color and its ability to play nice with all skin types, gold is a go-to jewelry material. Because of its softness, however, it usually must be mixed with other alloys before it’s practical for daily use. These added materials not only strengthen yellow gold but also help it resist scratching. But even when the alloy mixtures are similar, you may notice a difference in color between two pieces of gold jewelry. This leads many to ask: “Why are some pieces of gold jewelry yellower than others?”
We’ll discuss several reasons for this variance and outline steps you can take to ensure a perfect match.
The 5 Things Influencing the Vibrancy of Your Yellow Gold Jewelry
Below are the most common causes of color variation in gold jewelry items:
- Karat: The purity of your gold is one of the biggest factors influencing its color. The purer the gold, the richer it’s yellow. A 10-karat ring, for instance, will be less saturated than an 18-karat one. This is because the latter has 8 more parts of yellow gold in it. To enable easier matching some jewelry shops, like ours, use a medium-blend base for their lower karat items. This enables these more economical pieces to better blend in with your current wardrobe.
- The Composition: As time passes, recipes for gold grow more complex. While there are pre-made alloys out there, many jewelers opt to create their own formula. This allows them to produce unique, proprietary colors. The materials selected, however, are rarely done for purely aesthetic reasons. They’re also adjusted to enhance product strength and malleability. It should be noted that even tiny shifts in these formulas can produce substantial color differences in the product.
- Manufacturing Techniques: There are dozens of different ways to produce gold jewelry. Link, herringbone, rope, box, and wheat chains, for instance, all require different manufacturing methods. These different techniques impact the final color and finish of a piece. So, a chain that’s bent will often have a different appearance from one that’s twisted and flattened. Even heating techniques vary depending on what’s being ordered. To help prevent these inconsistencies, some jewelers even plate the final product. More on that below!
- Plating: Gold plating is a process in which another metal is coated in a thin layer of gold. Many jewelers use this technique to give cheaper metals—like nickel—the color and appearance of yellow gold. It’s also used in the chip manufacturing industry to prevent corrosion. The first recorded use of this method comes from an Italian chemist circa 1805 and has only improved since. If done correctly, it’s nearly impossible to tell expensive jewelry from a plated knock-off.
- Tarnishing: Since oxygen and gold don’t mix, pure gold can’t tarnish. But finding 24K jewelry is rare and, depending on the design, can be impractical for daily use. Thus, the alloys. The alloys on their own, before they are mixed with gold will tarnish easily. And while sometimes 10K gold can tarnish (particularly if the wearer happens to have a skin type that disagrees with it, or through overuse of things like hairspray and perfumes), generally “karated gold” has enough pure gold within it to deter most issues. Fortunately, even in these rare scenarios where there is any tarnishing on a gold piece, professional cleaning is often enough to restore your gold jewelry to its original shine.
As you can see above, there is a multitude of reasons why one 14K yellow gold ring is less yellow than another. Methods for ensuring a perfect or better match will be discussed below.
What You Should Do When Your Jewelry Doesn’t Match
If you notice that your chain doesn’t match your favorite pendant–and tarnishing is not to blame– you have three routes you can take:
| Buy Another Piece from the Same Jeweler As mentioned above, some jewelers use a proprietary blend of metals in their products. If you’re someone who REALLY likes things to match, consider buying all your products from the same manufacturer. This–along with matching karat–will do the most to limit variability. If you’re looking for matching pieces in our shop, reach out to our customer service representatives. They’ll point you in the right direction. [Ask Our CSRs for Recommendations] | Ask a Jeweler to Match It Do you need someone to match your grandma’s chain? Looking for a piece that‘s a Pantone match for an old pendant? Consider approaching a local jeweler with a request. As experts, they’ll be able to determine the original composition and develop a plan to match it. Though we do most of our work online, Jahda can provide a similar service for local clients. [Be Your Jewelry’s Matchmaker] | Stop Worrying About It Unless it keeps you up at night, there’s no reason to fret about color differences in your jewelry. It’s unlikely anyone will ever notice. So, start by picking a piece you like, one that’s practical and strong. At the end of the day, this is far more important than the shade of yellow your item is. [Find Your Perfect Accessory] |
When It Comes to Finding the Perfect Accessory, Start with Jahda
Unless you are into jewelry specifically because you like the color an exact blend of gold/alloy, the shade of gold should not be a determining factor in choosing a piece. The look, feel, and durability of a piece are far more important. Because, if you don’t like the piece or it wears out shortly after purchase, it won’t matter how much you like the yellow. The different shades all have been the latest rage at some point in history, and it will continue to evolve more over time as trends repeat. Some people like their yellows to be pop. Others prefer subtler coloration. At the end of the day, this is all just a matter of preference.
Jahda has a history of providing authentic, personalized service to our customers. This has allowed our jewelry store to quickly grow from a small retail jeweler to a thriving online direct-to-consumer manufacturing company. When you call, we will take the time to understand your needs and make recommendations based on them. To make their jobs easier, we provide ample flexibility when it comes to customer satisfaction. This includes flexible return options and two distinct financing options. Rest assured, everything we design passes through the hands of an expert jeweler on the way to you. This ensures what you buy meets your needs—even if you’re after a specific color.
For more information on shades of gold or jewelry customization, reach out to us at 916-533-6907.
If you’ve been thinking about purchasing some new gold pieces but aren’t sure where to start or what type would suit your needs best then this blog post has everything.
