Yellow Gold
Gold alloyed with silver and copper in balance, keeping its natural warm colour. The traditional Indian choice.
Gold is naturally yellow. Yellow gold alloys simply keep that colour by balancing silver against copper.
The higher the karat, the deeper and more orange the yellow, which is why 22K reads richer than 18K side by side.
It needs no plating, so it never needs re-finishing. What you see is the metal itself, all the way through.
When you are buying
The only gold colour that does not depend on a surface treatment. If you dislike the idea of a piece needing re-plating every few years, this is the one to choose.
White Gold
Gold alloyed with white metals and then usually rhodium plated. The white you see is a coating, not the metal.
Rose Gold
Gold alloyed with a high proportion of copper, giving a warm pink colour. Harder than yellow gold.
22 Karat Gold
91.6% gold. The Indian standard for traditional jewellery, and what a 916 hallmark means.
Rhodium Plating
A thin layer of rhodium over silver or white gold, giving a bright white finish that resists tarnish.