The color of gold jewelry depends on its purity. Are you wondering, “What is the color of pure gold?” Pure gold’s color is very yellow. This is because the natural color is not diluted by added alloys like copper, silver, or nickel. .999 pure gold jewelry is mainly found in Asian countries like China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Gold jewelry from India is almost always 22 karat (.917/.916 pure) and 21 karat (.875 pure). This jewelry has some alloy added. While it appears mostly yellow, it also has a slightly reddish color/hue.As you go down the purity scale, the next popular karat is 18k (.750 pure). This purity is widely used by the better and premier jewelers like Cartier, Tiffany & Company, Van Cleef & Arpels, Roberto Coin, and more. 18 karat yellow gold jewelry is still predominantly yellow.
However, it is not as soft, pliable, or yellow as .999 pure gold. 18k can also be made in white gold, depending on the amount of additional alloy added.
Some gold jewelry from the Philippines appears to have the yellow look of 24k .999 gold. However, this gold is often 14k (.585 pure) with a 24k yellow gold plating to aesthetically appear as 24k gold.