Before working in the jewelry industry, I had never heard the term champagne gold. The first time I came across it was when a client requested it for her engagement ring. As I looked into it, I realized it was a metal I had worked with for years without ever knowing it had a specific name. Since then, it's become one of my favorite choices for custom jewelry because of its warm, unique tone. Here's what champagne gold is, how it gets its color, and why so many clients are choosing it for their engagement rings.
What is champagne gold?
Champagne gold is a warm-toned gold that falls between traditional yellow gold and rose gold. It has the richness of yellow gold but with a softer, more muted appearance. When you compare the two side by side, champagne gold has a warmer, understated tone that gives it a refined, timeless look. It's a popular choice for clients who want something unique without straying too far from the classic beauty of yellow gold.
"Champagne gold is when rose gold and yellow gold have a few too many drinks on a night out, and out pops this baby: champagne gold."
— James Ly
The Different Types of Gold
Pure gold has a naturally rich yellow color. The different shades you see in jewelry come from the metals it's alloyed with, giving each type of gold its own distinct look.
- Yellow gold: The classic choice. Rich, warm, and timeless, it's the color most people picture when they think of gold jewelry.
- Rose gold: Created with a higher copper content, rose gold has a soft pink hue that feels romantic and has become a popular choice for engagement rings.
- White gold: Mixed with white metals and finished with rhodium plating, white gold has a bright, silvery appearance that complements nearly any diamond shape or style.
- Champagne gold: A warmer alternative to traditional yellow gold, champagne gold has a softer, more muted tone without the pink color of rose gold. It offers a unique look while still feeling timeless and elegant.
All four can be made in the same karat, whether that's 14K or 18K, and contain the same percentage of pure gold. The difference comes from the alloy metals used, which change the color without affecting the overall quality of the gold.
The Warm Gold Look You See in Luxury Jewelry
Many of today's most recognized jewelry and watch brands favor yellow gold with a softer, warmer appearance rather than a bright, vibrant yellow. Although each brand has its own proprietary gold alloy, they all share a refined warmth that gives their pieces a timeless, heirloom feel. Champagne gold offers a very similar aesthetic. Its muted tone pairs beautifully with diamonds, creating a balanced look where the center stone and the setting complement each other instead of competing for attention. It's a subtle difference, but one that gives jewelry a softer, more elegant presence.
Each brand uses its own proprietary 18K yellow gold alloy. Although these pieces are not officially made in champagne gold, they share the same warm, muted aesthetic that makes champagne gold so appealing.
Full Circle
Here's the part I never expected. While I was researching champagne gold and looking for casters who could produce it, I realized I'd been working with it long before I even knew its name.
Back in college, my family manufactured 18K gold pendants and chains for the Asian market, and that warm gold tone was exactly what we produced. Looking back at the chains I made then and comparing them to traditional yellow gold, the difference is easy to see. I had been working with champagne gold for years without ever realizing it.
Our New Standard
After learning more about champagne gold and reflecting on my own experience working with it, I've decided to make it the default gold color for our custom jewelry. I love its warm tone, timeless look, and the personal connection it has to my family's jewelry business. Every time I see it, I'm reminded of the years we spent manufacturing gold jewelry together.
If you prefer the classic look of traditional yellow gold, that's always an option. The difference comes down to the alloy used during casting, so we can easily create your piece in the gold color that best matches your style.
Design a custom piece in champagne gold
Tell us what you have in mind, and we'll cast it in our luxury standard.
Want to see more of our work? Browse the engagement collection, or follow the process on Instagram.