All About Yellow Gold

Yellow gold is a beautiful precious metal. What are its features, chemical composition, shades, as well as selection criteria, we will consider in more detail.

Gold is naturally bright yellow - no other metal can boast such a color. This is explained by the physical theory of light and the characteristics of human vision.

The fact is that the color of any metal will depend on its absorption spectrum of wave radiation. The electronic structure of gold has different values ​​when compared with the quantum energy of other metals. Thereby gold is able to absorb all wave radiation of light, except those that are visible to the human eye (yellow). Therefore, we see it in this form.

Gold in ancient times received the status of a precious metal. He was considered a symbol of powerful and wealthy people.

There is a legend that yellow metal symbolizes warmth and love between spousesTherefore, it is used to create engagement rings.

Pure metal for jewelry is not used because of its plasticity, so yellow gold is an alloy based on precious metal. All impurities that are additionally used in alloys are called ligature. As additional elements, the chemical composition is determined by silver, bismuth, iron, copper.

Gold mining is carried out in different places of the globe, at the moment it is produced even in Congo, which is considered the gold center of Africa.

If we talk about the shortcomings of such an alloy, it should immediately be noted that high-quality products are very fragile and can change when pressed and other mechanical stresses.This is because pure gold is very ductile. That is why a ligature is added to it so that it can be used in jewelry.

Jewelry yellow gold has many advantages:

• unusual and attractive color scheme;
• long service life if competent care is provided;
• not prone to rust and corrosion;
• thanks to plasticity, you can make jewelry with an original pattern;
• gold is a worthy investment in the future, because its value is growing every year.

As already mentioned, pure gold is characterized by high ductility. Its degree is so high that metal is easily cut with a knife, it can even be torn with the help of hands.

Precious metal is the only raw material that is characterized by a rich yellow color.

The differences in the material also lie in the saturated gloss. However, there is also matte gold, which is obtained only by coating with a special layer.

Pure gold without impurities will melt at the slightest heating.

Yellow gold can vary in its shades.

The color of the alloy depends on the composition of the impurity. Ligature defines the color scheme of a precious metal.

To make the alloy warmer in tone, copper is added and the gold becomes reddish.

Most often in jewelry stores there is yellow gold of 585 or 750 tests. Sometimes you can run into 375, 500, 583.

The most popular are precious metals with 750 breakdowns. If we talk about the component, then in percentage it contains gold in the amount of 75%, and the ligature consists of 8% copper and 17% silver. Jewelry will be endowed with resistance to high temperature conditions and wear. Most often, the alloy is used to create expensive products with sapphires, diamonds and other precious stones.

Sample 583 is currently not used. It was replaced by 585. Raw materials have a higher strength compared to 750, so it is important for creating chains, earrings, rings and even cutlery. Metal always pleases its owners with a shiny surface, characterized by a warm color scheme. The composition is due to 13.5% copper and 28% silver. The rest is gold.

Inexpensive items are made of 375 gold, which is considered low-grade. The alloy contains palladium, copper and silver. Jewelry will be dull, fragile, and inexpensive.

If a person decided to buy gold items abroad, it should be remembered that a carat system is used in European countries and the East. It provides the following values: maximum 24 carats, as well as 22, 23, 21.18, 12, 9 carats.

If the product has a mark of 18 carats, this will indicate that 18 carats of pure metal are allocated per kilogram of alloy. To determine the size of the precious component of the alloy, you need to divide 18 by 24 and multiply by 100. You get 750 grams.

The most durable is considered yellow gold with a reddish tint. It is characterized by a longer service life when compared with European alloys of a lemon shade.

A significant proportion of gold is used to create jewelry. If we talk about raw materials that are mined on the territory of Russia, then most of it remains in the state reserve. In addition, metal can be used for the following purposes:

• as a coating for electrical boards, to create conductors;
• in the manufacture of targets for the nuclear sphere, in the role of a shell of neutron-type bombs;
• in the role of a metallizing coating for room windows;
• in dental prosthetics;
• in some medicines;
• in cosmetology.

There are traditions according to which gold is called age metal. Young people prefer silver and jewelry, and yellow gold looks great on representatives of a more mature age category. But you can choose white and yellow shades that will also look fresh and young.

Yellow gold is suitable for women with autumn color. The best option is a combination with amber. The spring color type will also work well with yellow metal.

With the help of gold jewelry, men can feel more confident. Products emphasize the status of their owner, demonstrate success.

When choosing jewelry or other products, some rules should be kept in mind. Pay attention to the sample, which is the key to the authenticity of raw materials. The sample demonstrates how much precious metal is present in the alloy. This characteristic should be expressed in a three-digit number.

Before buying, you should understand that a high standard will cost more. It must be confirmed not only with a print, but also with a certificate.

The quality of the product also needs to be paid attention to.

• Uniform grinding. Cavities, bumps and bumps are not allowed. Cracks, abrasions and breaks are also excluded.
• You should pay attention to the tag. It should indicate the company that made the jewelry, the location of the company with its contact details, the full name of the product, weight, sample and price.
• If the jewelry contains inserts of stones or another type of metal, they should also be reflected on the tag.

Some time after use, jewelry made of yellow gold may begin to fade and lose their former attractiveness. A similar process is irreversible, and it is associated with the oxidative reaction of silver, palladium and copper, which are present in the alloy. But do not despair - the situation is fixable.

You can clean yellow gold with the help of simple substances:

• ammonia;
• conventional liquid dishwashing liquid;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• rock salt.

If there is ammonia in the house, for cleaning you will need:

• deep bowl;
• a glass of clean water;
• a large spoon of washing powder (without colored granules);
• a small spoon of ammonia.

All ingredients are mixed to a homogeneous mass, after which a golden jewelry can be put in the resulting mixture for a couple of hours. Then it must be removed, washed under the tap and wiped dry with a soft cloth.

To restore the original shine with a dishwashing detergent, you will need a small pan, a glass of water, a small spoon with the detergent. All ingredients are poured into a container, a towel and jewelry are placed at the bottom. The pan is placed on a small fire, and the liquid is brought to a boil.

Hydrogen peroxide is a win-win option to restore the attractiveness of gold products. You need to mix 50 ml of peroxide with 200 grams of warm water, 1 teaspoon of ammonia and a small spoon of liquid soap (can be replaced with dishwashing detergent). All ingredients are mixed, after which gold is placed in the resulting mass for 20 minutes. Then the products are removed, washed in cool water and wiped.

Salt can also eliminate browning. To carry out the procedure, you will need 150 ml of boiling water, 3 large tablespoons of rock salt of a large fraction. Gold should be placed in this solution overnight. In the morning, the items are taken out and placed for 15 minutes in cold water.

About what is the difference between gold in different colors, see below.