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No, yellow gold engagement rings are absolutely not tacky. First of all, any heartfelt gift should never be looked at as tacky. Secondly, gold is a timeless, classic, precious metal. However, you may have heard someone say that gold engagement rings are tacky. Why would that be?
Gold In Engagement Rings Is Not Tacky
There are several types of gold - yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. They are all pure gold that is mixed with other metals. Pure gold is too soft to be made into rings. It will get dented, scratched, and deformed too easily.
Copper and silver are common metals that gold is mixed with to make jewelry. If there is more copper in the gold alloy, it has a reddish tint and is called rose gold. When there is more silver than copper, it looks yellow and is called yellow gold. If a white-colored metal is mixed with the gold, it looks more silverfish and is called white gold.
It seems that yellow gold is singled out by some as being “tacky”. There are two factors that go into this mistaken belief.
Too Much Of A Good Thing
Sometimes a yellow gold engagement ring is too thick or too wide, or both. Someone might consider this gaudy or tacky. The engagement ring is a symbol of your commitment to each other. It is designed to be worn as part of a set with the wedding ring. The engagement ring is usually the one that has more gemstones and the wedding band is usually less flashy.
The engagement ring shouldn’t totally overpower the wedding band or the wearer’s finger. An engagement ring should not be an intimidating piece of jewelry that dominates the ring finger of the left hand. An overly large, clunky engagement ring might be considered tacky, no matter what color or type of metal it is made out of.
Gold Engagement Ring Jewelry Trends
The style of engagement rings that are popular changes over time. One hundred years ago square shaped diamonds with a ring of accent diamonds, or halo, were popular. During the 1930s thin ribbon-shaped bands were what everyone wanted. Yellow gold was particularly sought after during World War II because the metals used to make white gold were needed for the war.
Audrey Hepburn began a craze for simple platinum engagement rings in the 1950s, while Jackie Kennedy introduced colored square-shaped gemstones and yellow gold in the next decade. Matching yellow gold engagement rings and wedding bands were what brides-to-be in the 1970s wanted. Princess Diana made colored gemstones the hot engagement ring fashion in the 1980s.
In the 1990s the grunge look was everywhere. Yellow gold was considered too flashy, gaudy, and, well, tacky during this decade. Since then, this extreme dislike of yellow gold has tempered and it is popular once again.
Yellow Gold Engagement Rings Are Not Tacky Today
The classic gold band with a solitaire diamond continues to be the most popular type of engagement ring. Couples today are looking for a ring that expresses their bond. Different colored gold and different gems are all appropriate. The knowledgeable people at Luvari can help you choose the perfect engagement ring for the two of you. We even custom design rings, so send us an email or call us at 385-213-1553. We’ll make sure your engagement ring is timeless and beautiful. And not tacky.
