Yellow gold is made from an alloy of pure gold and other metals such as zinc or copper. These metals add to the yellow colour of the gold. As with other types of gold, the carat number indicates how pure it is, with 24 carats being over 99 per cent pure and 14 carats being just under 60 per cent pure. Gold is naturally a soft metal. It can be easily scratched and is not very durable. For this reason, lower carat gold that is strengthened by the alloy metals is more usually used for jewellery such as wedding rings and engagement rings, which need to last and be strong enough to carry a diamond.

Yellow gold is made from real gold. It is as valuable as white gold, which also contains alloy metals such as nickel and is rhodium plated. Yellow gold and white gold are more expensive and more durable than silver and are both suitable for high-quality jewellery. They are much more affordable than some other popular jewellery metals such as platinum, however. Yellow gold is, therefore, a popular choice for jewellery.

How To Clean Yellow Gold

Gold has been a popular jewellery metal for centuries, but it’s important to take care of your gold pieces to ensure they stay at their best. Gold is a relatively soft metal and it will scratch and tarnish with long regular wear. Lower carat pieces also usually include metals that might be prone to discoloration over time or if they come in contact with harsh chemicals. To keep your yellow gold shiny and tarnish free, take care about exposure to household cleaning products and consider cleaning your jewellery pieces regularly. It's easy to clean your jewellery yourself at home. Try these tips regularly to keep your yellow gold pieces in top condition.

How To Clean Yellow Gold Engagement Rings

Soak your ring in hot soapy water for around 30 minutes, gently brush with a soft brush, rinse under warm running water and allow to air dry.

How To Clean Yellow Gold Wedding Rings

Soak your ring in warm soapy water, gently brush, rinse in cool water and dry and polish with a lint-free soft cloth.

How To Clean Yellow Gold Diamond Rings

Soak in soapy water as above, taking care when brushing around the diamond setting. The diamond itself is a hard stone and won’t come to any harm from gentle brushing.

How To Clean Yellow Gold Earrings

Soapy water also works for cleaning gold earrings. If your earrings don’t contain stones you could also soak them in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes, before rinsing and drying with a soft lint-free cloth.

How To Clean Yellow Gold Pendants And Necklaces

Use soapy water for gold pendants, or rubbing alcohol if they don’t contain precious stones. For the chain, you could also pop it in boiled water and leave it to soak until it's cool enough to handle. Rinse and allow to air dry.

How To Clean Yellow Gold Bracelets

Clean gold bracelets in warm soapy water, brush gently to remove dirt and grime, then dry and polish with a soft lint-free cloth.