Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Rose gold is a warm metal tone between gold and copper – light, with a pink or peach hue. Copper is more saturated, redder and darker. On metal buttons, buckles and snap buttons, both are finish colours, not materials: a button in “copper” is not made of pure copper but has a copper-coloured finish. The difference to the eye lies in how much pink, how much yellow and how much red there is in the tone.
Pink metal tones are among the most sought-after for womenswear collections, bags, lingerie and accessories. In this article we arrange them using real samples from the Polkom colour chart – from pale blush to dark copper.
Rose gold or copper – how to tell them apart
The easiest way is to compare two tones side by side in daylight:
- Rose gold is light and has a visible yellowness – it looks like gold with a pink hue. In the chart: PK-G09 Mirror rose gold, PK-M12 Satin rose gold, PK-M24 Satin pale rose gold, PK-M72 Gloss rose gold.
- Copper is redder, more orange and darker, without the yellow sheen of gold. In the chart: PK-G17 Gloss light copper, PK-G11 Mirror copper, PK-M20 Satin copper, PK-M23 Satin bright copper, PK-M14 Gloss dark copper.
- Blush and salmon – the softest, almost pastel pink tones: PK-M13 Matt salmon rose, PK-P39 Brushed light copper and PK-G16 Mirror rose silver, which is more of a silver with a pink glint.
- Pink metallic – cooler, towards burgundy: PK-G18 Gloss pink metallic and PK-G12 Mirror dark rose gold.
Pink tones by surface
Apart from the colour, the sheen matters enormously. Mirror rose gold looks like jewellery, while matte looks like powder.
| Group | Mirror gloss / gloss | Satin | Matte / brushed | Antique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose gold | PK-G09, PK-G12, PK-M72 | PK-M12, PK-M24 | PK-M13 | – |
| Rose copper | PK-M42 Mirror rose copper | PK-M26 Satin light copper | PK-P39 Brushed light copper | PK-M27 Antique rose copper |
| Copper | PK-G11, PK-G17, PK-M14 | PK-M20, PK-M23 | PK-P40 Brushed antique copper | PK-M28, PK-M29, PK-M36 |
| Pink metallic | PK-G18 | – | – | – |
Gloss and mirror gloss
Mirror tones such as PK-G09 and PK-M42 are chosen for evening dresses, lingerie, small handbags and jewellery-style buckles. They look luxurious but reflect everything around them – in a photo the tone may look lighter or darker than it really is.
Satin and matte
Satin PK-M12 and PK-M24 and matte PK-M13 are the most versatile: a soft sheen, no fingerprints, a modern look. They suit knitwear, blouses, shirts and everyday women’s jackets.
Antique rose copper
If you want a pink tone without the “sweet” effect, choose antique. PK-M27 Antique rose copper and PK-M29 Light antique copper emphasise relief and look good on denim, leather and vintage collections.
Rose gold on brass and on zinc alloy
The finishes in the G and M series are made on brass (B) and on zinc alloy (A), and with pink tones the difference is especially large. In the photos above you can see PK-M12 Satin rose gold in both versions – version A is much lighter, a pale pink. More examples from the chart:
- PK-G09 Mirror rose gold – version A is a more saturated pinkish copper;
- PK-M42 Mirror rose copper – version A is more coppery;
- PK-G17 Gloss light copper – version A is lighter;
- PK-M26 Satin light copper – version A is more golden;
- PK-G16 Mirror rose silver – A is visibly lighter, with a pink hue.
That is why, in womenswear collections where the buttons are brass and the buckles on the belt or bag are zinc alloy, it is essential to approve samples of both materials in the same code.
Which fabrics pink metal tones go with
- White, ecru and beige – satin rose gold and blush give a delicate, light look.
- Grey and light blue – cool fabrics make rose gold look even warmer; choose satin so that it is not too shiny.
- Burgundy, wine and dark green – copper and mirror rose gold create a strong, rich contrast.
- Black – mirror rose gold looks like jewellery; a good choice for evening dresses and bags.
- Camel and brown leather – copper and antique rose copper sit tone on tone with natural leather.
Where pink tones are used
Rose gold is most often ordered for women’s metal buttons, small buckles for belts and shoes, rings and adjusters for bags, as well as for snap buttons on dresses and blouses. Copper tones are sought after for denim, leather accessories and furniture. It is best for all metal accessories on one product – button, buckle, eyelets, cord ends – to be in one code, because even a small difference between pink tones is noticeable immediately.
Common mistakes with pink metal tones
- Choosing from a photo alone. Rose gold is the tone that changes most on screen. Always approve from a physical sample from the chart.
- Mixing rose gold and copper. Buttons in PK-M12 and a buckle in PK-M20 on one garment look like a mistake, not a deliberate combination. Choose one group of tones.
- Different sheen. A satin button next to a mirror buckle in the same colour looks like two different tones. If you combine surfaces, make the difference clear and deliberate.
- Unsuitable fabric. On orange and mustard fabrics, rose gold often loses its pink hue and looks like ordinary gold. Copper works better here.
- Different materials without a sample. As you saw above, brass and zinc alloy give a visibly different pink.
Good practice is to choose one main pink code for all visible metal accessories and approve it together with the fabric, zip and thread before starting production.
Nickel free
All Polkom metal finishes, including rose gold and copper, are nickel free. That makes them suitable for lingerie and baby and children’s clothing too, where the accessory is in direct contact with the skin. Read more in the article nickel-free accessories for clothing.
A sample in rose gold or copper
Polkom is a manufacturer of buckles, buttons and other metal accessories with over 30 years of experience. We make styles to your design and with your logo in the pink tones from the chart. Send us the code, the item and the fabric colour via the contact form – we will prepare a sample so you can approve the tone in real life.
