All About Precious Metals

If you want to learn all about precious metal samples, the first thing worth noting is that not only such well-known metals as silver and gold have a sample. Any metal product whose material consists of more than two elements may be probed. Strictly speaking, sample is a method that allows you to determine the proportion of a certain material in a product. Based on this, the value of the product is formed and its fixed market price is assigned.

Punching is a modern way to determine the volume of gold or silver, for example, in a ring or bracelet.. Today it is no secret that most jewelry in one way or another consists of a mixture of various materials that have a number of properties, and together give the finished bracelet or ring the necessary reliability, level of plasticity or color cast. The sample shows which materials were used as part of a particular product.

For example, when using nickel, it can be guaranteed that the product will be more fluid during melting. Copper increases the hardness index, and silver can change the final shade. The use of palladium or zinc increases the heat resistance, and platinum makes the material more elastic and gives a slight whiteness effect. All these metals, like gold and silver, also have their own samples, which you need to pay attention to when buying jewelry.

Hallmark and branding are indispensable elements for any jewelry. It is due to this that quality and compliance with state standards are guaranteed. Using the sample, the content of the precious metal is indicated.Given that most metals are soft in texture, a number of additional impurities are used. If the user sees, for example, a 585 sample on the price tag, this can be decrypted so that per 1000 grams of the weight of the product, 585 grams are accounted for by the main precious metal, the rest is impurities.

Prior to the modern testing method, several methods for checking product quality were invented.

1. The assay stone was invented in ancient Greece. To do this, along the flint bar, they carried out the decoration, as a rule, with the sharp side, and looked at what remains of the trace. Depending on the color of the residue, the sample and the quality of the material were determined.
2. Another test method was fire, the decoration was heated, and after that the expert observed how the color shade changes, while the metal cools.
3. Test of strength - one of the most ancient and popular methods. Gold coins were tested on the tooth. Since the metal itself is soft, the quality of the coins was determined due to the trace and shape change.

All these methods were the forerunners of modern probing and played a very important role in history. After the introduction of a single brand and a testing system for different metals, the quality standards have changed. But even today, when buying jewelry, the probability of stumbling on a fake product has not become less.

In jewelry, samples and indicators may differ depending on which metal is meant. But today, a full inventory of precious materials and their use is being carried out not only in jewelry, but also in other institutions. There are sample systems, among which you can determine the most popular:

• spool;
• lot;
• carat;
• metric

This is not a complete classification of all possible verification methods, but the most popular and effective ones. They allow you to determine the quality of the product at the legislative level in a short time. The spool system was used for a very long time, first in Tsarist Russia, and then in the USSR. Unlike the carat system, here the metal content was indicated by the number: 96. This is the highest gold content in the product. Everything below contains more impurities and usually costs a lot less.

The carat system was invented in Britain. Carat means part of the alloy, and in addition to the British Isles, this test is widely used in the United States, Canada and Western European countries. Ireland, for example, uses both karate and metric systems simultaneously. The highest figure is 24 carats - this means that there are no impurities in the product. 14 carats, on the contrary, are the lowest, where impurities are as much as 10 parts.

The lot system was actively used in several European countries, it is built on the basis of brands. The brand contains up to 16 lots. This is a very unusual method, since to convert the sample to another (for example, to multiple), the indicator is first divided in half, and the resulting number must be multiplied by 3. For such verification, the ideal accuracy of the calculations is very important. For the metric system, the sample is divided by 16, and the result is multiplied by 1000, followed by a comma.

The simplest modern testing method in Russia is the metric system. The product specifically indicates how many grams of metal are contained in the composition of the total weight. The consultant in any jewelry store provides a table with designations of samples and their interpretation. Such a sample must indicate:

• Assay supervision code (usually placed after a state inspection);
• sign of the certificate, which is entered into the database;
• a sample showing the metal designation in a particular product.

In Russia and the CIS countries, the metric system is actively used. By the stigma, you can determine how much gold is in a particular alloy. Officially in the country, several samples were allowed for release:

• 500 and 585;
• 375 and 750;
• 900, 916 and 968.

585 is considered average in the price category, everything that is higher in terms of performance is several times more expensive. The most prestigious and widely used for an expensive gift is considered to be 750. This is still not prohibitively expensive, but a pretty solid gift. The material harmoniously combines all the basic properties, starting with temperature resistance and ending with elasticity.

As for the cost, then the average price of a high-quality gold product at the time of 2020 is from 3,500 thousand rubles and above. 375 samples will be the cheapest, in it more than 50% of the total composition includes other metals. Sample 958 is extremely rare in a jewelry store. The product is short-lived due to the softness of the metal and is suitable for some jewelry that will be stored behind a glass display case, but nothing more.

The sample is usually not visible, it is quite difficult to make out without a magnifying glass. For earrings and chains, locks were chosen as the location of the sample; for rings, the back of the rim. The test itself is only 3 digits. On Russian jewelry there is also added a personal sign of the manufacturer.

As for gold bars and coins, the marking there looks different. The weight in grams and number are indicated. Gold bars have a high fineness, therefore they are stored very carefully in special boxes and packages. Coins usually also have a sample above 900 and today are classified as antiques. Also, rare and prestigious awards are often presented in the form of coins.

Silver, like gold, is actively used in combination with other materials. It tends to fade over time and lose marketability. Impurities are designed to correct this problem and give a number of additional properties. A specific alloy of metals is obtained in each product, and depending on the sample, the spectrum of use of the finished product also changes. The shape and appearance as a result may turn out to be different, however, the main varieties can be distinguished.

1. Technical products with a minimum amount of silver. The sample is usually below 800, in which case the product itself is not marked at all.
2. Sterling white jewelry is used in jewelry. The sample is usually indicated from 925 and above, in addition, the brand of the master or manufacturer is necessarily indicated.
3. Silver cutlery became another popular area specifically in Russia.. In addition, such products were often used in those times and for medical purposes, it was believed that silver purifies water qualitatively.

But the quality of jewelry is much more important to the modern user than the metaphysical properties of silver. In addition to the proportion of metal content, the test points to a number of distinctive features that you can focus on when buying silver jewelry. They will help in time to recognize the fake.

1. Up to 600 mainly used in industry, externally differs in the reddish tint in the light.
2. 720 - low-quality jewelry that quickly becomes covered with a film and oxidizes over time.
3. from 750 to 800 - A recognized sample for cutlery, but it is worth considering that the material will need care and cleaning, as it is subject to oxidation over time.
4. 875 - jewelry and interior items are more durable, but still need care and cleaning at least periodically.
5. from 916 to 960 - the best and highest quality silver sample used in jewelry. It does not require constant care and is almost not exposed to the negative effects of the environment.

A test of silver 999 - a rarity, It is used in the industrial sector and electronics; silver ingots of round and acute shape are also made from it. Keeping them is easier than gold, and their cost is much higher. It is easiest to determine a sample by contacting a specialist in jewelry for help. Experts are guided by GOST standards and quality certificates.

Silver markings can be checked at home, for this there are several working methods. The simplest one is a magnet, silver is not attracted to it and conducts heat qualitatively. It darkens from exposure to sulfur or iodine. It is best applied from the inside, if neither one is at hand, you can rub it with chalk. If, for example, the ring darkens, this is a clear indicator of a high silver content. After that, you will have to turn to a specialist to return the original appearance to the decoration. The average cost of a quality silver product ranges from 3,500 to 4,000 rubles.

Among other precious metals popular in the jewelry environment, platinum can be mentioned. For an ordinary user, even the name itself is already associated with a rather expensive and prestigious decoration. Outwardly, platinum has a white-gray hue and is extracted from ore or mountain nuggets, due to its high density it is more durable than silver or gold. Accordingly, it is better suited for everyday wearing jewelry. For the jewelry sector, there are several samples:

• 850;
• 900-950.

The latter has the highest platinum content, respectively, such jewelry is more expensive. Their distinctive feature is a bright white color.. Try 850 much more reminiscent of silver, for this reason many craftsmen often abandon the idea of ​​making any original jewelry from it. Depending on the additional elements in the composition, the basic properties also change. For example, copper in this case makes the product softer. Melting point is reduced. Cobalt improves mechanics, and tungsten and other minerals similar to it in properties can increase the life of the product.

There is another material quite popular for products - palladium. Appearance and shade resembles silver, while its physicochemical properties are much closer to platinum. Also, palladium is distinguished by the relatively low weight of even massive jewelry. The metal itself is very soft, so the sample for the product should be high. Pure palladium for decoration cannot be used; craftsmen prefer to work with alloys.

The material is fluid and can be forged, making it relatively easy to process and shape. In the alloy with palladium, nickel and silver are mainly used, as for the test, 850 is best for jewelry.

Sample 950 can be used for wedding rings.. Palladium is a kind of alternative to white gold or simply gold rings, which in one way or another require care during long-term operation.

See what the sample of precious metals is in the next video.