Green gold is a gold alloy composed of gold, silver, and trace amounts of other metals. Its high silver content gives it a subtle greenish tint.
While green gold is an attractive metal, it has yet to achieve the mainstream prominence of yellow gold, white gold and rose gold. If you like your jewelry to be a bit different, then green gold could be right up your alley.
Read on to learn about the characteristics and history of this beautiful and unusual precious metal.
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What is Green Gold?
In the jewelry industry, the term “green gold” is understood to mean any solid gold alloy with greenish coloring that’s made primarily from gold and silver. Small amounts of other metals like copper or zinc may also be used.
Some older green gold recipes called for the addition of cadmium, which can produce stronger green coloring. Cadmium is now known to be toxic and unsafe to wear, so it’s no longer used to make green gold.
Green golds come in various purities, but most are most commonly 18 karat (75% gold content) and 14 karat (58.3% gold content).
A Long and Rich History
Green gold can also form in nature, instead of being made by humans. Naturally occurring green gold is known as electrum, and it has a long history going back thousands of years.
Electrum’s biggest claim to ancient fame is being used to create the world’s first metal coins, an achievement that was unlocked in 7th century BCE Anatolia (modern day Turkey).
It was also mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel in the Bible, by Homer in the Ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, and was used by Ancient Egyptians to decorate temples, obelisks, and even the capstones of pyramids.
What Does Green Gold Look Like?
Despite its name, green gold is not a true green color – at first glance, many people mistake it for yellow gold.
But once you know what to look for, the color of green gold is distinct. Its high silver content imbues the metal with lively greenish tint that can be described as bright, electric or fluorescent.
While this tint might not be immediately noticeable, it’s more obvious when pieces of yellow and green gold are compared side by side. Yellow gold is richer and warmer in tone, while green gold is lighter and cooler.
Some jewelers working with green gold offer stacking or multitone pieces that display green and yellow gold next to each other, in order to highlight the contrast between the two metals.
What Green Gold Is Not
Though the word “green” in green gold might seem to indicate eco-friendliness, this isn’t the case – the word refers only to its coloring.
Of course, a piece of green gold jewelry might be produced in an environmentally conscious manner, but this varies from jeweler to jeweler.
If a jewelry manufacturer does take steps to “go green”, then these efforts would likely apply to all or most of their products, not just those made from green gold.
Where to Buy Green Gold Jewelry
Green gold isn’t a very well-known metal, meaning it’s typically difficult to find at big jewelry chain stores.
However, if you’re willing to shop online from smaller vendors, a world of green gold possibilities opens up.
Some of the jewelry brands currently working with green gold include:
- Alison Nagasue: High-end green gold pieces, often with floral and other natural motifs.
- Market Square Jewelers: Vintage, Art Deco and Art Nouveau inspired designs.
- Eve Jewelry: Unique vintage style pieces, many inspired by ancient history and mythology.
- Krikawa: Offbeat custom-made jewelry company, specializing in unique engagement rings.
You can also try the various independent sellers of green gold jewelry on Etsy, who may offer more affordable prices.
FAQs About Green Gold
Is green gold real?
Yes, green gold is real gold. Though not 100% pure gold, green gold contains gold mixed with other metals. In the same way, alloys of white gold and rose gold are considered real gold, though they are not 100% pure.
Is green gold more expensive?
In theory, a green, yellow, rose, and white gold ring should cost around the same, provided they’re of the same gold purity, weight and design. But in practice, green gold’s comparative rarity and novelty factor can sometimes result in a higher price tag.
What karat is green gold?
Green gold is usually 18 karat (75% gold purity). It can also be found in 14 karat (58.3%) and 10 karat (41.7%).
Is green gold safe?
Green gold is safe to wear because it’s made primarily from gold and silver, which are both hypoallergenic metals. Older green gold jewelry used to contain the toxic metal cadmium, but this ingredient is no longer used.
Will green gold turn my finger green?
Genuine green gold alloy rings will not turn your finger green. This can sometimes happen with rings that have high copper content. But green gold has very low to zero copper content, so getting a green finger from wearing green gold isn’t something you need to worry about.
Thanks for reading our article on green gold! To learn about another of the rare gold colors, head over to our write-up on purple gold.