AS REPORTED BY OUR FINE JEWELRY EXPERT, AMY ELLIOTT

PURE GOLD IS TOO SOFT AND MALLEABLE ON ITS OWN, SO IT MUST BE MIXED WITH ONE OR TWO “BASE METALS” FOR USE IN FINE JEWELRY. THE RESULT IS A HARDER, STRONGER ALLOY, ONE THAT CAN BE FASHIONED INTO COMPLEX AND INTRICATE JEWELRY DESIGNS AND BETTER WITHSTAND EVERYDAY WEAR AND TEAR.

TO ACHIEVE THE TANTALIZINGLY BLUSH-PINK, SOMETIMES APRICOT HUE, OF ROSE GOLD, YELLOW GOLD IS BLENDED WITH COPPER—THE GREATER THE COPPER CONTENT, THE DEEPER AND ROSIER THE COLOR. 

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