The colour of gold does not change its value. White, yellow and rose gold of the same fineness contain the same amount of pure gold, so a buyer pays the same for the metal. What determines the sum is the carat, the weight and the buyback rate the dealer applies — not the shade.
No. The colour of gold does not change the value of the metal it contains. White, yellow and rose gold of the same fineness hold the same amount of pure gold, and pure gold is what a buyer pays for. What creates the colour is the alloy: yellow gold is mixed mainly with silver and copper, rose gold with a higher proportion of copper, and white gold with metals such as palladium, nickel or silver, often finished with a rhodium plating.
These added metals shift the appearance but not the gold content. An 18-carat piece is 750 thousandths pure gold regardless of whether it looks white, yellow or pink.
Fineness and weight determine value, not colour. A buyer weighs the item and reads its hallmark to establish the carat: 24k is 999, 22k is 916, 18k is 750, 14k is 585 and 9k is 375. Multiply the weight by the fineness and you have the pure gold content, which is priced against the daily spot price.
Because the spot price is public and identical for every dealer, the figure that varies between buyers is the buyback rate: the percentage of spot the dealer actually pays after its margin. That margin is not something dealers are required to publish, which is why two shops can quote very different sums for the same ring. You can compare gold buyers in your city to see how rates differ.
Colour matters only when a piece is bought for what it is rather than for its metal. A signed designer bracelet, an antique rose-gold watch or a collectable coin can carry a numismatic or craftsmanship premium that sits on top of the melt value. Here condition, maker, rarity and provenance count, and a well-known colour or period style can add to desirability.
For everyday jewellery sold by weight, though, none of this applies. White gold plated with rhodium can look brighter than yellow gold, but the plating is microscopic and adds nothing to the melt price. Stones set into the piece are also valued separately, and their weight is deducted before the gold is priced.
French law protects sellers regardless of the gold's colour. Payment must be traceable: a bank transfer or cheque, never cash. The buyer must record the transaction in a police register and check your identity document, so bring valid ID.
On tax, two regimes exist. The default is a flat tax on precious metals applied to the sale price. Alternatively, if you can prove the purchase price and date, you may opt for the capital-gains regime, which can reduce or remove the charge on items held for a long time. Keep any invoices or inheritance paperwork, as they are what let you choose the more favourable option.
No, not for its metal value. If both are 18k they contain 750 thousandths of pure gold and are priced identically. White gold only looks different because of its alloy and rhodium plating, which add no melt value.
Rose gold contains a higher proportion of copper in its alloy, which gives the pink tone. The copper changes the colour, not the gold content, so a 14k rose piece and a 14k yellow piece hold the same pure gold.
No. Rhodium plating is a microscopically thin finish applied for brightness and durability. It is not weighed into the melt price and wears off over time, so it does not affect what you are paid by weight.
Yes, but only for reasons unrelated to colour: a recognised maker, rarity, age or collectable status can add a numismatic or craftsmanship premium on top of the melt value.