The color gold: meaning and palettes to use it
Gold is the one color that never looks on screen the way it does in real life: gold shines, and a pixel doesn't. Here's what it means, which hex to use and how to keep it from looking like dirty yellow.
Click a color to copy its code.
What the color gold means
It's linked to luxury, success, wealth, celebration and prestige. It's the color of medals, awards and parties.
Its downside is showing off: too much gold looks overdone or cheap.
What gold says about a brand
It works for luxury, jewelry, wine, events and the holidays. Almost always as an accent: a logo, a fine rule, a detail on the packaging.
On screen, a flat gold can look like mustard. It works best on dark backgrounds (black, navy blue, bottle green), and in print you solve it with metallic inks or foil stamping.
Not every shade of gold says the same thing
Classic gold
The most versatile gold on screen.
Antique gold
More sober and old-world.
Champagne
Soft and elegant. Weddings and celebrations.
Rose gold
Modern, warm, cosmetics.
Palettes with gold to copy
Each swatch shows the contrast of the text that reads best on top of it. From 4.5:1 it works for body text.
Gala
Events, holidays, awards
Bottle green and gold
Wine, spirits, hospitality
Champagne
Weddings, stationery, photography
What goes with gold
- Goes well with
- Black, navy blue, bottle green, maroon and off-white.
- Use with care
- Bright yellows and oranges: gold loses out and looks dirty.
Gold around the world
In Spain and Mexico, gold is tied to Christmas, to the baroque gilded altarpieces of churches and to big celebrations.
In many Asian cultures gold is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.
Design with this palette, for free
Copy the codes and take them to Polimake's design canvas: social posts, covers and thumbnails with your own photos, no subscription needed.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the hex code for gold?
- There is no single one. A versatile on-screen gold is #C9A227; a lighter, champagne-like one is #E8D9A8.
- How do I keep gold from looking yellow?
- Use it on dark backgrounds and in small doses. In print, go for metallic ink or foil stamping.