Many, when buying gold jewelry, seek to acquire a thing of the highest standard, but is it justified? What is it, the highest standard of gold used in jewelry? Our article will help answer these questions, talk about the advantages and disadvantages of gold products with different contents of this noble metal, and also give recommendations on how to choose a quality gold jewelry that will delight its owners for many years.
Main characteristics
In Russia, as well as in the CIS countries and Europe, all gold products are required to undergo the testing procedure - that is, applying a special mark indicating the content of pure precious metal in ppm. The highest sample contains 999.9 ppm or 99.9%.
This kind of gold is also called “four nines”, this number says that we have almost 100 percent pure metal: in 1 kg of its ingot it contains 999.9 g and only 0.1 g is from impurities.
Main property This precious metal is an amazing malleability and ductility, so it can be rolled into foil or pulled into a thin wire.
No wonder gold is called a noble metal: it does not react with other chemicals, so that for a long time does not lose its luxurious appearance.
In order to increase the strength of jewelry, as well as reduce their weight, and make the price more affordable, master jewelers add alloying substances to the alloy - copper, silver, as well as platinum, palladium, zinc or nickel. In this case, the percentage of pure gold in such an alloy decreases, respectively, the price of the product decreases, but its strength and wear resistance increase significantly.
An alloy in which the noble metal content is reduced by the addition of ligatures has a lower sample. Currently, the following gold metrics are available: 958, 750, 585, 500 and 375.
Used in the USA, Canada and Switzerland carat system determining the amount of precious metal in the alloy, where 1/24 of its total mass is taken as the basis. Accordingly, the highest sample in metric system, which is equal to 999.9 ppm, corresponds to 24 carats, 958 samples correspond to 23 carats, 750 - 18, 585 - 14, 500 - 12, 375 - 9.
From the foregoing, it becomes clear that "Four nines" are practically not used in jewelry. Such jewelry is too short-lived, expensive, and also have excessively large weight. For the manufacture of jewelry, craftsmen prefer to take sample metal 750 and lower, and the optimal ratio of price - quality parameters has test gold 585.
Nevertheless, this quality standard is rightfully considered 750 gold - and it is no coincidence. It consists of 75% of this precious metal, and to increase the strength of the jewelry, the craftsmen add silver, copper, as well as palladium and nickel.
Thanks to such additives, the gold alloy gets different shades.
To create real masterpieces of jewelry, experienced craftsmen prefer to use the precious metal exactly 750 samples. Such gold items have a truly noble appearance. This alloy retains sufficient softness and malleability inherent in real native gold; from it you can forge complex openwork products decorated with fine carvings or airy ornaments.
At the same time, thanks to the alloying components, such jewelry is much stronger than pure metal products; they can be worn without fear of causing jewelry irreparable harm.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of precious metal of the highest standard, which is used by jewelers in the manufacture of jewelry, are first of all its noble warm luster and rich, rich color. Such jewelry will emphasize the status of its owner, giving it an image of elegance and sophistication. Gold earrings, rings and necklaces, as well as watches decorated with diamonds, sapphires, pearls, other precious or semi-precious stones, will never lose their beauty and will not go out of fashion.
This is a great investment, because gold, unlike any currency, does not fall in price.
Due to its property not to enter into chemical reactions with other substances, this noble metal not oxidized in air and water, It can be worn with virtually no taking off.
Another thing - tendency to mechanical damage and deformation. Due to the softness inherent in high gold, including 750, the sample, which is widely used in jewelry, with the frequent use of such jewelry, they can become scratched and lose their pristine shine.
Gold alloy 750 easy to handle such products are often coated with jewelry enamel.
These are very expensive jewelry that only quite wealthy people can afford to wear.
Where is it used?
Gold "four nines" is rarely used by jewelers to make jewelry in our country. And also this grade of precious metal is not very popular in America and Europe. But in the countries of the East, people prefer to buy gold products of 24 carats, which just corresponds to our 999 sample. However, how genuine such decorations are is unknown.
In our country, the “four nines” test is used to make ingots, which are stored in the Central Bank of Russia and are the gold reserve of our country.
This variety is rarely seen on shelves of jewelry stores, it can be purchased in the form of gold coins, in which it is convenient to invest your money. However, it should be borne in mind that such investments will not pay off soon.
The highest grade precious metal is for making gold foil, which covers the heads of churches to protect the roof from adverse environmental conditions - after all, gold is not susceptible to oxidation and does not rust.
In art workshops are used alloys 950various materials and art objects are made from such materials. Such a coating is often applied in the form of gilding to objects of art and architecture, as well as ordinary household devices, such as telephones.
Gold 750 and 585 are used for jewelry making and are in the highest demand.
Cost
The price of gold products depends on what percentage of pure precious metal is included in their composition, as well as on the quality of ligature components. When palladium or platinum is added to the alloy the price of the product increases significantly, when replacing part of the gold with copper or nickel - getting lower. Recently, some countries have banned the use of nickel as an alloying substance due to its increased allergenic properties.
The price of 1 gram of precious metal is set by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Today, this figure is significantly higher than a few years ago.
A gram of gold of 750 tests costs more than 3000 rubles, its price is determined by the manufacturer.
How to choose products?
When choosing jewelry should pay attention to sample availabilitywhich is usually applied to the inside of the ring, earring clasp or watch case. The sample should be clear; in order to evaluate its quality, you need to ask the seller for a magnifier or bring it with you. On modern Russian gold jewelry, the impression is made in the form of a female head in a kokoshnik, immediately you can see the numbers that correspond to the amount of pure precious metal in ppm.
When buying gold jewelry avoid fakes, buy a thing in jewelry stores and from trusted sellers, giving preference to well-known brands. In no case do not buy gold items from hand, especially during tourist trips abroad.
The highest grade gold is very soft, Earlier the authenticity of gold coins was checked “by tooth”: a trace remained on the surface of the gold product.
To check the quality of jewelry, you can bring it to a magnet: real gold does not magnetize, so it will not be attracted.
At home, you can verify the authenticity of a gold jewelry by dipping it in acetic acid solution. A quality product will not change its color.
See how the 999 gold bullion looks in the video below.
