18K Black gold

You are probably wondering if black gold is a good choice for your jewelry.

Is it a durable metal? Is it suitable for my wedding band or an engagement ring, everyday jewelry?

In order to answer these questions, we have decided to create this guide to one of the precious metals that is not so well known in the jewelry world.

The basics

Before going into the details of black gold, let's look at some basic facts about gold.

What is black gold?

Black gold is gold that is rhodium plated, i.e. covered with a thin layer of metal to give it its charcoal grey colour.

To put it simply: black gold is white gold but with a different rhodium plating colour.

Some explanations:

From a base of 750/1000 gold, the metal is transformed with the addition of silver and copper to create a base of grey gold.

Once this metal base is obtained, a process called rhodium plating is used to give the black gold its final colour.

Like white gold, rhodium plating is the final stage in the manufacture of black gold jewelry. It is a process that consists of depositing a thin layer of black rhodium on the previously polished alloy with the help of a liquid metal bath.

To help you determine whether black gold is suitable for your jewelry, we will now discuss its main characteristics in more detail, then we will look at some tips and finally we will see its advantages and disadvantages!

The main characteristics of black gold

Black gold is the metal of choice for men's jewelry and is becoming increasingly popular for several reasons:

——    1. 750/1000 black gold, a metal with character

Black gold is first and foremost gold, so it has two major characteristics:

• Firstly, it is a very resistant metal. The composition of 18K gold is a perfect balance to make it a very solid, very hard metal and therefore the most able to withstand the shocks of everyday life, especially for a ring.

• Gold is a metal that is extremely resistant to corrosion. It will therefore be very durable over time. This is why it has been used since time immemorial for precious objects that must survive the centuries.

Beyond its resistance and hardness, black gold is a metal particularly appreciated for its colour!

——    2. Black gold, a resolutely masculine metal

Black gold is a dark anthracite grey metal with metallic reflections. This particular hue makes it one of the most popular metals for men.

An important point

Like all metals that are said to be rhodium-plated, black gold is a metal that develops a patina. With time, rubbing and shocks, the rhodium layer applied to black gold will fade.

Don't worry, this is not serious and is quite normal!

What does this patina look like on black gold?

The thin layer of rhodium deposited on the black gold will fade, leaving the metal underneath visible.

To help you visualise: your metal will become less shiny, more matte and may reveal a slightly yellowish grey colour.

This patina will usually occur first on the part of your jewelry that is on the side of your palm, opposite your stone.

Why is this?

This is the area that will be most often rubbed, first by your hand, but also by things you touch in your daily life such as bags, the steering wheel of your car, the handlebars of a bicycle, a cup, etc.

This is inevitable and does not mean that your metal is not gold or that it is of poor quality!

Is the patina of black gold the same as white gold?

Black gold and white gold are identical, only the colour of the rhodium plating differs between the two, but the patina is exactly the same.

This difference in colour alone explains why the patina of black gold is more pronounced than that of white gold; in fact, it is more quickly visible on a dark metal.

In order to delay this patina as much as possible, or even to give your jewelry a new lease of life, look at all our maintenance advice.

——    3. Which gemstones to choose with black gold?

Black gold is a particularly original metal with a lot of character. Therefore, certain combinations, especially with coloured stones, are not particularly recommended. This dark metal will tend to diminish the shine of a gemstone that is a too light.

But is this really a disadvantage?

If you are not used to wearing jewelry and want your stone to be more discreet, as is often the case for men, then this is an advantage.

Our main advice with black gold is to choose stones with a lot of sparkle, such as diamonds or with maximum intensity, such as tsavorite or sapphire.

What should we remember about black gold?

——    Its advantages:

• 18K gold is the most resistant metal used in jewelry.

• It is stainless and therefore very durable over time.

• 18K black gold is a metal with character, much appreciated especially by men.

——    Its disadvantages:

• Black gold develops a patina over time and therefore needs to be maintained with a re-rhodium plating to regain its initial colour.

• It tends to darken coloured stones (can be seen as an advantage).

To conclude

18K black gold is the best quality of black gold you will find in jewelry.

Black gold is a very popular metal for men because of its charcoal grey colour. It is a perfect metal for those who want a precious metal with a touch of originality.

However, to avoid disappointment, we do not recommend this metal for everyday wear, unless you are very careful!

As we have seen, black gold is a rhodium-plated metal and will therefore develop a patina and lose its colour over time. Avoiding this or delaying it as much as possible requires regular maintenance.

This is why we do not recommend using black gold on jewelry that should last a lifetime without special care. On the other hand, black gold is suitable for other uses that will damage it less than a wedding band: a cocktail ring that you wear to enhance an outfit!