Old gold
A deep, dark yellow seen in sport, politics and tradition
Old gold is a rich, dark yellow that can look olive or brownish, but always appears deeper than standard yellow. The name has been used in English since the early 1800s. It is known for its place in sports uniforms, political symbols, and traditional dress, especially in parts of Britain and the United States.
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- Old gold is a dark yellow with olive or brown tones
- The name dates back to the early 19th century in English
- Used in Cornish and Welsh traditional dress
- Chosen by sports teams in the US and UK
- A political colour for Cornish nationalists
What colour is Old gold?
Old gold is a dark shade of yellow, sometimes showing hints of olive or brown. It stands out from lighter yellows by its depth and muted tone, which can make it appear more subdued or antique. The colour sits between yellow and brown, with a richness that gives it a sense of age or tradition.
Where does Old gold come from?
The term 'old gold' first appeared in English in the early 1800s. Its name suggests a link to the look of aged gold metal, which often takes on a darker, less shiny appearance over time. The colour has been tied to traditional dress in Cornwall and Wales, and has become a symbol in various cultural settings.
Where Old gold is used
Old gold is a popular choice for sports uniforms, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom. It features in the kits of football and university teams, and is also found in the tartans and kilts of Cornwall. Some political groups use old gold as a symbol, drawing on its traditional roots.
What Old gold means
While old gold does not have a single universal meaning, it is chosen for its association with heritage and tradition. In Cornwall, it is linked to local identity through clothing. In sport, it often stands for a team’s history or pride. Political groups may use it to evoke a sense of continuity or regional culture.
Yellow around the world
What the yellow family means from country to country.
The yellow disc of the Aboriginal flag is the sun, giver of life. The flag was designed by the Luritja artist Harold Thomas and first flown in Adelaide in 1971.
Sacred and holySource: Australian Aboriginal flagAt the gaye holud, held a day or two before a wedding, relatives rub turmeric paste on the bride and groom. Guests dress in yellow and orange.
Weddings and marriageFestival and celebrationJoySource: Gaye holudOn Pohela Falgun, the first day of spring, young women wear yellow and orange saris, a shade called basanti, with flowers in their hair.
Festival and celebrationNature and renewalJoySource: Pohela FalgunThe Flemish flag is a black lion on yellow, and the Walloon flag a red cockerel on yellow. The language communities are often shown by these colours.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of FlandersThe flag is yellow, the colour of the Sultan. By custom, ordinary people did not wear yellow in the ruler's presence.
Royalty and powerPrideSource: Flag of BruneiThe national football team plays in a yellow shirt with green trim, the canarinho. It was chosen in a newspaper contest after the 1950 World Cup final was lost in white.
Festival and celebrationPrideJoySource: Brazil national football teamShades and relatives of Old gold
Old gold can range from a light olive yellow to a deep, strong yellow with brownish tones. It is sometimes confused with olive or brown shades, but always keeps a yellow base. The exact look can vary by fabric or context, but it remains darker than most yellows.
Colours that go with Old gold
Harmonies are worked out from the value #CFB53B. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Old gold
What colour is old gold?
Old gold is a deep, dark yellow that can look slightly olive or brownish, always darker than standard yellow.
Where does the name 'old gold' come from?
The name appeared in English in the early 1800s and refers to the darker look of aged gold metal.
Where is old gold used?
It is used in sports uniforms, especially for football and university teams, and in traditional Cornish and Welsh dress.
Is old gold tied to any country or region?
Old gold is linked to Cornwall and Wales through traditional clothing, and is also widely used in the United States for team colours.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Old gold", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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