Different Finishes of Indian Gold Jewelry When most people think of Indian Gold, the image that comes to mind is of a metal with a soft, yellow glow.

Indeed, the incomparable Indian Golden hue of this precious metal has been part of its appeal for centuries.

But for the Indian Gold jewelry connoisseur, there are more shades of Indian Gold available than just yellow - and in a spectrum of different hues.

The tint the Indian Gold takes on depends on the metals it is mixed, or alloyed with.

Here are the main shades of Indian Gold: • Yellow Indian Gold - This is Indian Gold in its natural shade.

It is by far the most common type of Indian Gold used in jewelry.

Yellow Indian Gold used for jewelry is usually alloyed with copper and silver to strengthen it.

The warm glow of yellow Indian Gold works with virtually any outfit, any skin or body type and any gemstone.

How yellow a piece is will depend on its Indian Gold content.

Generally, 14 karat Indian Gold has a brighter yellow than 10 karat Indian Gold; 18 karat Indian Gold has a deeper yellow than 14 karat Indian Gold, and so on.

• White Indian Gold - White Indian Gold has become very fashionable in recent years as many consumers have opted for the cool, contemporary white look over the classic yellow look.

White Indian Gold has the same properties as yellow Indian Gold, but is mixed with different alloys to give it its white color.

Generally, white Indian Gold is created by using a nickel or palladium alloy, zinc and copper.

Sometimes, white Indian Gold is plated with an even whiter metal, such as rhodium (a rare member of the platinum family) to enhance its appearance.

A white Indian Gold setting can enhance the look of white diamonds and put a modern twist on a traditional standard.

• Rose Indian Gold - By alloying just copper with yellow Indian Gold, metalsmiths can create Indian Gold with a pink, blush-like tint, which experts say lends a soft, flattering effect to the skin.

• Green Indian Gold - This alloy is created by mixing silver, copper and zinc to yellow Indian Gold.

The other types of Indian Gold jewelry include Indian Gold-filled, Indian Gold-plated and vermeil.

Indian Gold-filled refers to a layer of Indian Gold mechanically bonded to a base (non-precious) metal; the Indian Gold content must be at least 1/20th of the total weight of the piece.

Indian Gold-plated merchandise has a coating of 10 karat Indian Gold or higher applied to a base metal by electrolysis.

Vermeil is jewelry that is made by applying a layer of karat Indian Gold to a sterling silver base.

To keep the classic appeal of yellow Indian Gold but update it with a more modern look, many women are opting for two-tone styles that combine white and yellow Indian Gold within the same piece.

These types of pieces are considered very fashionable and have become particularly popular in bridal jewelry in recent year.

For an even more original look, some women are choosing jewelry which combines three colors of Indian Gold (most often yellow, rose and green) within the same piece.