Yes, dark gold is real, although its appearance is typically achieved through specific treatments or alloying rather than being the natural state of pure gold.
Pure gold is naturally bright yellow. However, jewelers and metallurgists can alter its color to create a variety of shades, including darker tones. One notable example of dark gold is black gold.
Understanding Black Gold
Based on the provided reference, black gold is gold that is rhodium plated. This process involves covering the gold surface with a thin layer of metal, specifically black rhodium. This rhodium plating is what gives the gold its distinctive charcoal grey to black colour.
- How it's Made: The process is similar to creating white gold, which is also often rhodium plated (using white rhodium). As the reference states, "To put it simply: black gold is white gold but with a different rhodium plating colour." White gold is typically an alloy of gold with metals like palladium, nickel, or zinc, giving it a whitish hue before plating. The black rhodium layer is then applied through electroplating onto this base metal.
- The Dark Colour: The dark appearance comes from the thin, surface layer of black rhodium, not from the core gold alloy itself.
Other Ways Gold Can Appear Dark
While black rhodium plating is a common method for achieving a dark gold color, other techniques can also result in dark hues:
- Oxidation: Controlled oxidation processes can darken the surface of gold alloys.
- Other Platings/Coatings: Various coatings or chemical treatments can be applied to gold to achieve different dark shades.
- Alloying: While less common for truly black gold, certain alloys might produce very dark grey or brown shades, though these are distinct from the intense black achieved with rhodium plating.
Why Dark Gold is Used
Dark gold, particularly black gold, is popular in jewelry for its striking and contemporary appearance. It offers a unique alternative to traditional gold colors and is often used in:
- Modern and avant-garde designs
- Men's jewelry
- Creating contrast with diamonds and other gemstones
In summary, when people refer to "dark gold," they are often talking about gold that has undergone a surface treatment or is part of a specialized alloy to achieve a dark color, such as the black rhodium plating process used to create black gold as described in the reference.
