The branding method was introduced in the Russian Empire by Peter the Great. The system for determining the purity of alloys made it possible to move the jewelry industry to a new level, tightening control over all precious products that were in use. Over time, it had to be abandoned, but the alloys with excellent characteristics that were produced in those days are highly valued today. The 56th standard gold stands out especially. It can be converted to the metric system, but modern metal with this designation has a different type of ligatures.
Sample 56 gold of Tsarist Russia: the spool system and the history of the appearance of markings
Peter the Great initiated the introduction of the spool system on the territory of then Tsarist Russia. Problems in the jewelry industry that arose earlier:
- coins of different weights and sizes were issued;
- difficulties arose in determining their value;
- Determining product characteristics has become more difficult.
The introduction of a unified system for assessing the quality of precious metals made it possible to solve all problems. The product was stamped according to the spool system, as well as the jeweler’s initials.
For the evaluation of gold jewelry, the system began to operate in 1711.
Gold ring 56 standard
It is based on a unit of measurement, which was the spool relative to the pound. Pure gold (without additives) corresponded to 96 spools. This is what 1 pound contains. Knowing this, the proportion of impurities is calculated. If there are 56 pure gold, the rest (40) are additives. The system existed until 1927.
Tips for choosing gold jewelry
Purchasing a gold item is a serious procedure. You need to analyze prices and quality in different jewelry stores, checking first of all the following:
- grinding quality;
- uniformity of the surface of the product;
- absence of defects: cracks, depressions, abrasions, dents, breaks, scratches;
- quality of decoration.
In addition, you should pay attention to the tag - a kind of passport of the jewelry. It must be formatted correctly and contain the following information: manufacturer, name;
- company address or contact details;
- the name of the product itself;
- type of metal and its purity;
- weight;
- price.
Expert opinion
Lyudmila Pestereva
Our most experienced gold investor
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Tags that do not have this information are not considered a passport of the product and indicate poor quality of the jewelry, possible counterfeiting and cheapness.
Sample composition, characteristic properties
The content of additional components allows you to improve the characteristics of the metal. But they are different. If you find an antique bracelet, chain or ring with 56 carat gold among your belongings, you need to find out what it is before taking any measures.
The product is gold, but differs in composition from modern analogues with the same amount of precious metal. If you convert the sample from the spool system to the metric one, it turns out that this is the gold standard of Tsarist Russia and the Russian Federation - 585.
Typically, silver was used to change the properties of the gold alloy. Other additives were also used:
- platinum;
- palladium;
- copper;
- nickel;
- tin;
- brass.
Gold earrings with mark 56
Density
Today, spool test 56 corresponds to metric 585, which allows you to navigate by the density of modern metal. The average value of the parameter is in the range of 12.5-14 / cm3. It is more difficult to determine the density of the metal more precisely, since the type of alloys in the composition is different.
As a result, products containing the same proportion of gold differ in density due to different ratios of additives.
Fusibility
The metal is deservedly called the gold standard. This means that it is endowed with excellent properties and is characterized by high fusibility. This feature makes it possible to produce jewelry and other jewelry of complex shapes. Fusibility is increased due to the additives included in the composition.
Strength
The characteristics of the metal improve as the proportion of gold decreases. This means that 56 sample is the best option: the material contains a large amount of precious metal, but at the same time it is durable and can withstand high mechanical loads.
Gold ring with 56 hallmarks
Inertia
The gold alloy was previously considered unaffected by harsh chemicals. Now it is called conditionally inert. This may mean that the precious metal most often does not react with chemicals.
But upon contact with some of them, the gold alloy may lose its properties or completely dissolve.
Range of shades and their alloys
If a metal is designated in a standard way - it has a 56 mark stamped on it, this does not mean that it can only have 1 color. Below are different combinations of ligatures, but the amount of gold is the same - 58.5%:
Try
To perfectly mix the silver and auxiliary metals, they are heated to a temperature of 800 °C.
The fineness of the alloy is determined by the percentage of silver, regardless of the alloy. But 925 sterling silver is precisely an alloy with copper in a percentage ratio of 92.5%/7.5%.
Real sterling silver can be easily distinguished from a fake if you put two pieces side by side: the real one will look snow-white. If the metal is cleaned of oxidation, it will shine brighter than white gold.
If the product acquires a reddish tint over time, it means that it contains much more copper than is stated by the sample.
Stamp on products before and after 1897
The end of the 19th century was also marked by a transition from the old branding method to a new one. Until 1897, convex tests were applied to products made of jewelry alloys. Moreover, their size depended on the dimensions of the product. This means that the brand could sometimes create discomfort when worn. Soon the branding method was changed. The sample was not noticeable. It was flush with the metal. Today, a stamp is also used.
Types of stamps on gold items
The stamp of those times depicted a woman’s head in a kokoshnik. But already in 1927, another option began to be used. It depicted the head of a worker with a hammer. All types of marks are found on antique products. However, if the external signs of 56-carat gold are studied, you will notice that the designation on it was different even then. There is a stamp with letters. This may indicate the jeweler's initials. There is another option - applying the initials of the manager of the assay district.
Sterling silver from China
Sterling silver from China
Extremely mixed reviews from buyers of 925 sterling silver jewelry, which is produced in China and distributed through online stores.
Today, China is the world's largest manufacturer of sterling silver jewelry. This is due to the low cost of labor compared to European countries.
The cost of Chinese jewelry is significantly lower than that of other manufacturing countries. But what can we say about the quality of the products?
The main complaint of Chinese sterling silver jewelry buyers is:
- oxidation;
- darkening and general loss of appearance of jewelry within a very short period of time from the date of purchase.
Everything points to cheap counterfeits of sterling silver, in which the required proportion of silver and copper is not maintained. If the copper content is significantly more than 7.5%, the product begins to oxidize, turn red, dull and deteriorate.
If the product instantly oxidizes under the influence of water, perfume or soap, you have a fake that contains too much copper alloy. Be extremely careful when buying Chinese jewelry and do not fall for the tricks of scammers.
The value of 56 samples in the metric and carat systems
After the change in the form of government in the country, another system for assessing the quality of precious metals was introduced - metric. The principle of determining the gold content in a composition is based on calculating the proportion of precious metal in 1000 g of alloy. Accordingly, sample 585 (which corresponds to 56 spool) is a numerical designation of the weight of the main precious metal (585 g) relative to 1000 parts by weight. The amount of additives in this case will be 415 g. Sample 56 when transferred to other systems:
| Zolotnikovaya | Metric | Carat |
| 56 | 585 | 14 |
Composition and properties
The 84-karat alloy contains 87.5% silver, the rest is copper. The alloy may also contain:
- zinc;
- aluminum;
- nickel;
- cadmium.
Each additive affects the mechanical properties and color of the alloy.
Strength
Due to the copper content, products made from the alloy have high strength characteristics compared to pure silver. The products are not subject to mechanical wear, do not wear out, do not scratch or darken. Copper also gives the alloy a yellow tint.
What types of brands are there?
According to the rules of the assay system of Tsarist Russia, craftsmen had to apply marks to jewelry indicating the fineness of the jewelry metal. The first mark consisted of:
- precious metal sample numbers;
- female profile facing left;
- managers' initials.
To avoid counterfeits, the mark was changed in 1908: the female profile was turned in the opposite direction and letters were added to indicate the area of manufacture. Also in antique products you can find the mark of the master and the year of manufacture.
See photos with various marks:
Conversion from spool to metric system
To find out which modern standard 84 corresponds to, you need to convert the value to the metric system. To convert 84 samples, you need to divide it by 96 and multiply by 1000.
Thus: 84 / 96 * 1000 = 875. In the metric system, 1 kg of 875 silver contains 875 g of pure metal and 125 g of impurities (copper).
Question-answer section
56 gold standard corresponds to what standard?
Expert opinion
Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich
Jeweler 6th category
Jewelry alloy can be converted into any of the existing systems for assessing metal purity. If we take the metric as a basis, then 56-carat gold will correspond to only 1 option - 585. In the karat system there is also an analogue with the same properties and degree of purity - 14K.
Gold purity 56 on the ring and the letters - what does this mean?
Expert opinion
Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich
Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop
It matters what numbers the sample contains. The numerical option is now popular. It consists of only numbers. But sometimes among old things you find an item with a mark that also contains letters. This may mean the initials of the jeweler, the manager of the assay district. Today, too, on products made of precious alloy you can find 2 marks, instead of one. Among them there is a name sign, signifying belonging to a jewelry house or manufacturer.
Gold wedding ring
Where can I buy and sell such a sample?
Original 56 mark jewelry can only be purchased from antique dealers. But its metric analogue is available in almost any jewelry store. It was used more often in the Soviet Union, but even today this alloy is found quite often in various products. Jewelry marked 56 hallmark can only be purchased in antique stores, from private individuals or in pawn shops.
Pawnshop and antique dealer
The cost of products with the mark 56 is very high, as they have historical value. The most inexpensive will be wedding rings from pawn shops, inherited ones. But it is difficult to find such specimens.
The minimum price per gram of this alloy in antique shops and pawn shops is 2,000 rubles.
The price increases several times if the product contains precious stones, and the cost will be even higher if there is a jeweler’s mark. Some 56-carat jewelry has a seven-figure price tag.
Pros and cons of an ancient stamp
56-carat gold is highly valued. But not everyone has any idea how expensive jewelry from the times of Tsarist Russia is.
Alloy advantages:
high value: the composition includes gold, silver, and sometimes platinum group metals, which increases the price of products;
the ability to obtain different shades while maintaining the original volume of the base precious metal;
high resistance to mechanical damage;
plasticity allows you to create jewelry with complex configurations.
The material with the designation 56 also has disadvantages:
a large number of additives, which does not allow the metal to be classified as high-grade;
vintage design - not suitable for everyone;
high price, but in tsarist Russia the metal was more accessible to the solvent part of the population.
Advantages and disadvantages
56 (585) is considered a more valuable alloy than 583, which is most popular in jewelry stores today. But in terms of gold content, 56 is inferior to most samples on the precious metals market. Despite this drawback, it remains popular with us due to certain advantages:
- hardness and wear resistance;
- wide range of colors;
- increased strength and durability;
- plasticity, which allows you to create unique jewelry.
The alloy acquires these properties due to the content of various impurities in it: zinc, copper, palladium, silver, nickel, platinum. The amount of additives does not spoil the overall quality of gold, but only allows you to control its properties.
Where and how can you buy 56-carat gold?
The metal, whose composition corresponds to 585 standard, is obsolete. This means that the purchase and sale transaction is carried out at different prices. Today, metal products 56 are much more expensive than jewelry produced in the Russian Federation.
People who do not understand the issue are ready to sell jewelry as scrap. But at the same time you can lose profit, because... the rate is disproportionately low compared to the real cost. Other possibilities should be considered.
Pawnshop and antique dealer
If you need to buy or sell gold from Tsarist Russia, it is better to first visit a pawnshop or contact a trusted antique dealer whose appraisal you can trust. It is proposed to consider other options: Internet resources, advertisements, purchasing. In this case the cost will be lower. If jewelry is sold via the Internet (Avito website and similar ones) or advertisements, the price is set independently.
What is 925 Sterling Silver? What are its features?
Photo
Sterling is the name of an alloy of 925 silver. Silver alloys are used to make silverware, jewelry, coinage, and more. Pure silver, 999 standard, is not suitable for these purposes: it is too soft and fragile, quickly oxidizes and loses its appearance.
To give a silver product strength, ductility, noble color and other useful properties, alloys are used - admixtures of other metals. In silver marked 925, there are 7.5% of such impurities.
The following alloying metals can be used: copper, germanium, zinc, platinum, gold and titanium. Silicon and boron are added as auxiliary elements.
The alloy of silver with cadmium is one of the most expensive (much more expensive than gold). It is used in precision instrumentation and science because it has high electrical and thermal conductivity.
Silver alloyed with germanium does not turn black over time. And in combination with aluminum it becomes too porous.
The standard metal used to alloy 925 sterling silver is copper.
Where is the metric analogue sold - 585 standard
Jewelry made in the Russian Federation is tested. On the product you can see the mark 585. This is an analogue of the gold of Tsarist Russia only in terms of the content of the main precious metal. Otherwise, jewelry represents a separate category. Accordingly, you can purchase them in jewelry stores.
Sample 585 gold
Cost of 1 gram of pure gold
The price of precious items varies, which depends on the exchange rate of precious metals established by the Central Bank. You can find out what the average cost of gold of the highest standard is from the table:
| 999 standard on the Central Bank/per 1 gram, rub. | Market price, rub. | Scrap, rub. | Jewelry stores, rub. |
| 4250 | 2267 | 2040 | 4069 |
Considering that antique metal is considered a rarity and is valued by antique dealers using completely different parameters, its value is calculated differently. The Central Bank exchange rate is not used in the calculations, but it is necessary to determine the price for 1 gram of Russian gold, hallmarked according to the metric system (585).
What Soviet watches can be offered for sale?
Regardless of the brand, it is worth seeking professional advice and getting a free estimate ,
in order to sell them most profitably.
The speed of the transaction and the professionalism of the company’s experts allows us to offer the client the most favorable price for Soviet watches
.
Customers can contact to find out the price of the USSR Seagull 17 jewels watch
or obtain information regarding the following models:
- Pocket watch Molniya USSR
, which go back to 1917 and were actively in demand until 1991.
- The smallest and miniature Chaika watch
, characterized by special casting and the use of unique finishes. Some examples contain expensive jewelry inlay.
- Watch Zarya
from the Penza plant.
At first, the plant specialized exclusively in the production of women's watches.
men's watches
was established . - The period 1946-1961 is particularly popular hours Flight.
Since 1940, this model has been a military accessory.
Therefore, commander's watches
are in special demand. - Brand hours Slava
gained popularity after Soviet industry successfully mastered the process of manufacturing small-sized alarm clocks.
- Watch Luch
were repeatedly awarded abroad and received the highest medals at all exhibitions and shows.
- First in the world Rocket watch
, which were assembled on a conveyor production line.
They were distinguished by quality and durability. Mechanical Soviet watches
were one of the most expensive gifts of the post-Soviet era. - Vostok Clock
also had several design and design options, and were distinguished by the strength and accuracy of the mechanism.
- Chaika watch
, which became a record for the famous plant in Uglich
.
More than 800 models have been recognized worldwide as true works of art.
The price of the USSR Seagull watch
depends on the model.
Our store considers all variants of watch models 17 stones USSR
, at a decent
price
.
Recommendations for caring for antique gold
Vintage items must be cared for with care, be it a ring, earring, chain or other jewelry. Basic recommendations:
- to maintain shine, regularly clean the products with a lint-free cloth soaked in a soap solution, but this should be done not once a year, but if necessary, preferably more often, in order to avoid the formation of a greasy coating as it wears;
- You cannot use abrasive agents, and the ban applies not only to stones, but also to precious metals;
- It is recommended to purchase a special paste - you can find it in jewelry stores.
Is it true that Soviet gold is better?
The most common standard of Soviet gold is 583, the color is red. USSR jewelry is of good quality, made, as they say, to last: without unnecessary grace, but really strong, always quite weighty, with reliable stone settings. In comparison with the low-grade jewelry that came after them from Turkey, the Italian “puffery”, they truly seem monumental. Is Soviet gold really better than modern gold? It depends at what point you compare!
Gold ring with large emerald and diamonds 911025I
Design
If we talk about design, it was not very diverse in the USSR. In 1983, about 500 models of rings with inserts were produced throughout the Soviet Union, and today the Diva assortment alone amounts to 1000 models. Exclusives were created to order, each factory model was replicated in batches of thousands.
Workmanship
Everything Soviet is associated with high reliability, be it earrings or a tank. Today, many people complain that rings bend and earrings break. It should be noted that this is also the fault of the buyer with his desire to save money. The weight of a Soviet wedding ring of 583 standard with a width of 5 mm was about 5 g, but today wedding rings with the same width weighing 1.5 g are offered, i.e. with a very thin wall. When choosing lightweight jewelry, the buyer should be prepared for the fact that they are not intended for regular wear!
Inserts
Not every person from the Soviet Union could buy jewelry with natural stones. Of course, Soviet diamond rings were produced, but they were sold “through connections.” Almost all inserts in jewelry from the times of the USSR are artificial stones, so it’s hard to call them family jewels in the full sense of the word.
Ergonomics
Many models were not particularly comfortable. The fit of wedding rings is straight, for bands wider than 4mm this means cutting the edges into the skin. The earrings are heavy, sometimes with a thickened square pin for reliability.
Sample of Soviet gold
The percentage of precious metal from the USSR is equal to or slightly lower than in modern Russian gold. The composition of alloying additives may differ slightly, but for red gold it is still the same copper and silver; we talked about this in more detail in the article “What are the hallmarks of gold.” Talking about some incredible quality of Soviet-era gold in comparison with modern Russian gold is more about nostalgia than reality.
Reviews
I have a lot of old jewelry left from my relatives - from my grandmothers, cousins (the family is large, my relatives were wealthy in those days). I thought that no one needed such jewelry anymore. I tidied it up, cleaned it, took photos of each item and decided to put it up for sale. One buyer called me, introduced himself as a collector, and took everything at a good price.
Maria G., Mirny
Maria K., Murmansk
56-carat gold became the discovery of the year for me when I was going through our things in the attic. I found several rings from that time. They look modest, dark yellow in color. I wanted to throw it away, but the presence of a sample, albeit such a strange one, stopped me. I took it to the jeweler, he said it was gold and recommended where I could donate it.
When I was selling an old ring from an antique dealer, another client was looking through a catalog of antique jewelry in front of me. I don’t know why anyone would buy something like this; on the contrary, I wanted to get rid of mine. But he told me that he was collecting his collection, making investments in this simple way.
Svetlana D., Donetsk
How to apply for an assessment?
The store is the official representative of the antique market and offers its customers the most favorable conditions for transactions. Among the dominant advantages of cooperation, it should be noted that every citizen who applies can sell Soviet watch movements promptly.
To this end, the company constantly pursues a privacy policy and invites its clients to independently choose the assessment method that is most convenient for them.
Before handing over the Soviet watch,
the client can use the free assessment service.
The price
is determined based on objective data and the actual cost of the presented product.
Remote cost
is:
- Contact shop
by phone numbers of the company.
- Providing photos gold plated watch
or other models. It is important to take several high-quality shots and send them through the mobile application, or by email indicated on the main page of the official website.
USSR wristwatch price
determined within 15-20 minutes.
Experts conduct an assessment and set the most favorable price for a USSR watch for the client.
