Many people believe you have to choose between white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold the way you choose between three different metals. In reality, it is the same gold - and at equal karat, all three are worth exactly the same on resale. Color changes nothing about the amount of gold contained in your piece.
| Karat | Purity | Price per gram (spot, USD) | Jayma Or buy-back price |
|---|---|---|---|
| … | |||
Unsure about the value of a white gold ring, a yellow gold chain, or a rose gold bracelet? Good news: what determines their value is simple, precise, and identical for all three. Understanding this difference will save you from the most common mistake when it's time to sell.
At Jayma Or, we buy gold jewelry of every color in Dakar every day: white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, broken gold, and scrap. We test, we weigh in front of you, and we pay cash, the same day, based on the world rate. Here, in full transparency, is what sets these three golds apart - and what, fundamentally, doesn't set them apart at all.
In this guide, you will discover:
- where the color of gold really comes from (and why it isn't a matter of purity);
- why 18K white gold is worth as much as 18K yellow gold on resale;
- how to recognize each type of gold at home, in a few seconds;
- how their buyback value is calculated, to the gram.
Where does the color of gold come from?
Pure gold, in its natural state, is always yellow. But pure gold (24 karat) is too soft to make sturdy jewelry. It is therefore mixed with other metals to harden it: this is what we call an alloy. And it is precisely these added metals that give the piece its color.
- Yellow gold. Gold is alloyed with silver and copper in balanced proportions. The result keeps the natural golden hue of gold.
- White gold. Gold is alloyed with white metals (such as palladium or nickel), then often coated with a thin layer of rhodium for a bright silvery shine. This layer can wear away over time and be redone.
- Rose gold. Gold is alloyed with a higher proportion of copper, which gives it its warm, pinkish hue.
In other words: the color depends on the metals added, not on the amount of gold. To go further on these mixtures, read our article on the different types of gold alloys.
Why white, yellow, and rose gold are worth the same
Here is the essential point, and the number-one mistake we correct over and over: at equal karat, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold contain exactly the same percentage of gold.
The karat measures the purity, that is, the proportion of gold in the alloy:
- 24-karat gold is 99.9% pure.
- 21-karat gold contains 87.5% gold.
- 18-karat gold contains 75% gold.
- 14-karat gold contains 58.3% gold.
An 18K white gold ring and an 18K yellow gold chain both contain 75% pure gold. Only the remaining 25% - the metals that make the color - differ. And those alloy metals have a negligible value compared to gold. As a result: at identical weight and karat, their buyback value is the same.
So don't believe anyone who tells you that "white gold is worth more" or that "rose gold buys back for less". It's false. What counts is the karat, the weight, and the day's rate - that's all. To better understand this logic, also see the different types of gold.
How to recognize white, yellow, or rose gold at home
Even before contacting us, you can do a first check in a few seconds:
- Look at the color in daylight. Golden yellow, bright silvery, or pinkish: that is your first clue.
- Look for the hallmark. Inside a ring or on the clasp of a chain, find the marks 24K, 21K, 18K, 14K - or the numbers 999, 875, 750, 585. That is the karat, and therefore the real value.
- Be wary of appearances for white gold. A silvery piece isn't necessarily white gold: it could be silver, platinum, or simple plating. Only a test confirms it.
Try it right now: line up your jewelry and note the color and hallmark of each piece. You will already have the essentials to estimate their value. And if no hallmark is legible? No worries: a precise test determines the exact karat, whatever the color.
How their buyback value is calculated
Color changes the style; it does not change the calculation. The buyback value always rests on three elements:
- The purity (the karat). The higher the karat, the more gold the piece contains.
- The exact weight, measured to the gram and the tenth of a gram on a precise scale, in front of you.
- The day's rate. The price of gold changes every day with the world market.
The formula is therefore: weight x purity x the day's per-gram rate = the value of your gold, whether it is white, yellow, or rose. For a concrete reference, see the price of a gram of 18-karat gold in Senegal and the daily buy-price displayed on our homepage. Want an idea of what a specific piece is worth? Also see how much your gold jewelry is worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is white gold worth more than yellow gold?
No. At identical karat and weight, 18K white gold and 18K yellow gold contain the same percentage of gold and are worth the same on resale. The color comes from the alloy metals, which have almost no value compared to gold.
Do you buy back rose gold and white gold?
Yes, we buy back gold of every color: yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, as well as broken gold and scrap. Only the karat and the weight determine the price.
Does the rhodium on white gold affect the price?
No. The thin layer of rhodium that gives white gold its shine wears away over time and weighs nothing. It does not enter the calculation: only the amount of gold counts.
How do I find out the karat of my piece with no hallmark?
A quick, precise test determines the exact karat, even without a legible hallmark, and whatever the color of the gold. We carry it out in front of you before any estimate.
Can a two-tone piece (white and yellow gold) be bought back?
Yes. We evaluate the total amount of gold it contains, taking into account the karat of each part. Just bring it in: we explain the calculation from A to Z.
Take action: get your gold valued, all colors included
You now know that color does not change the value: only the karat, the weight, and the day's rate count. White gold, yellow gold, or rose gold, we buy them all.
Get a free, no-obligation estimate: send a photo of your jewelry by WhatsApp to +221 78 111 66 87, or make an appointment. We test, weigh, and pay cash the same day - and if you can't come to us, we send a trusted courier to you.
Check the day's rate on our homepage, then write to us: you will know within minutes what your jewelry is really worth, whatever its color.