Gold has long been valued by many peoples. It is used in industrial sectors, medicine, science, and serves as a symbol of prosperity. This metal does not exist in nature in its pure form; it must be subjected to a processing process. The purest gold is the 999th purity - 24 carats. How much metal is this as a percentage, and what kind of karat system there is in general - questions that are worth understanding in more detail.
Types of gold samples
We all know about such a noble metal as gold. It is considered one of the most valuable resources on earth. But in its pure form it is almost never used anywhere. To give strength and different shades, gold began to be mixed with other metals that have reliable properties. So that the buyer can know exactly how much gold is in a given product, the metal is branded. In Russia, there is a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated June 18, 1999 No. 643 “On the procedure for testing and marking products made of precious metals,” which specifies what types of samples of gold and other metals there are. In our country, the metric system has been used since 1927. Jewelers use 375, 500, 585, 750, 900, 958, 999 samples to make gold items. In the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Finland and other Western countries, the carat sample system is used. Each of them corresponds exactly to ours. 375 gold corresponds to 9 carats. Its alloy mainly contains silver and copper, and the color can be red and yellow. 500 gold is 12 carat. It also contains a lot of copper and silver. 585 gold corresponds to 14 carats. Palladium and nickel are also added to its alloy. It does not fade like previous samples and lends itself well to forging. 18k gold (18 karat) may additionally contain platinum. Shades can vary: from green to white. The hallmark 958, which is almost never used in jewelry, corresponds to 23 carats. The highest standard of gold is 999 (24 carats). A very soft metal that is susceptible to deformation. At the beginning of the 20th century in Russia, wedding rings were sometimes made from it. They were very massive and heavy.
Gold purity and carat values
In Soviet times, there was a gold standard of 583, but in order not to yield to Western standards, they decided to use a gold standard of 585, which corresponds to 14 carats.
Gold samples tell us about the content of the precious metal in relation to other components, and what does the color of gold mean? Only what additional metal the base of the alloy was mixed with. White gold, for example, can be of any standard, but 585 and 750 are more commonly used.
A stamp containing information about the sample must be on a product made of precious metal, regardless of the shade of the product.
Stamp on a ring made of 585 gold
What does the old 56-carat gold mean? In tsarist times in Rus' they used just such a test; it means that for 96 parts of gold there are 56 parts of pure precious metal. This sampling system is called a spool system, where the weight of the parts is determined in English pounds.
Troy ounce
Eventually, the carat was replaced by grains as the standard measurement. The troy ounce, which came to us from the French city of Troy, where it was first introduced into use as a measure, weighs 480 grains.
Twelve troy ounces equal one pound, and one ounce represents 1/16 of a pound avoirdupois (a common system of weight measurement that uses pounds and ounces).
Therefore, troy ounces are heavier than the ounces we are accustomed to using. According to modern tradition, the weight of gold is expressed in grains and the price in troy ounces.
This new knowledge will help the investor realize the importance of understanding the purity - and therefore the quality - of assets, especially when building savings.
What is the best standard of gold for jewelry?
Most often in jewelry we find 585 gold. In addition to the affordable price, the products are more durable and strong due to the copper content in the alloy. Therefore, gold standard 585 is considered the most optimal for all types of jewelry. To create white gold, they no longer use copper, but palladium. Sometimes rhodium is added, this gives the product a cool blue tint. And with nickel, gold will have a yellowish tint. All these metals only help quality gold to be better. The Sunlight hypermarket has more than 11,000 items made of 585 gold. Customer reviews indicate the good quality of the metal and its durability. For example, one of the most popular rings is made of 585 gold.
Gold ring with cubic zirconia (go to the SUNLIGHT catalogue)
585 gold is also used in watch cases. The metal is harder and there are more possibilities to diversify its color. And global brands use 750 gold, maintaining status. They experiment with shades and a variety of accompanying metals. The hallmark or hallmark on a gold watch is placed on the inside of the case or on the strap.
Durable and easy to work with, 750 gold is used by jewelers for particularly delicate filigree work. It requires great care and precision, rigor in the execution of the product, so that in the future the buyer will be satisfied with a durable purchase. Sunlight also sells 18k gold items, such as cute baby enamel stud earrings.
375 gold is used less frequently, but buyers are willing to buy products because of their low cost. Despite the fact that this is the lowest standard of gold, there is still a sufficient amount of noble metal that pleases its owners.
The highest standard of gold in jewelry is very rarely found on sale. Basically, these are wedding rings or custom-made items. They are made thick and have a large weight - all so that the rings do not bend or break. 999 purity gold is used to form the state gold reserve.
999 gold
What should you consider when purchasing products?
The price of products made from precious metal primarily depends on its carat value; the cost of an item is also influenced by its weight and design. Jewelry is mainly made by machine, so if engraving and hand finishing are used, the price of the product increases significantly. Pure metal, after losing its currency status, can be used as an investment instrument with high liquidity. Its price has dynamics that allow you to preserve and often increase the invested capital. So, if in 2004 a troy ounce cost $450, then by 2012 its cost exceeded $1,000. Investments can be made either directly in bullion and jewelry, or through investments in bank metal accounts.
Products made from non-precious alloys can be coated with a thin layer of gold. Its application is carried out using a galvanic method, so gold plating can only be made from 24 carat metal.
The thickness of such a layer is small and only an order of magnitude greater than the atomic dimensions. Therefore, when purchasing such products, you need to know that the proportion of the pure substance in the total mass is insignificant (tenths of a gram), and the price should be close to the price of the product without coating.
As a review of price dynamics for pure gold and products made from it shows, the cost of both has been steadily increasing over the years. Will this continue for as long as possible? Of course, there is no exact answer to the question, but gold is a rare metal and its reserves are limited. Feedback from people using 24K gold metal for investment suggests that this instrument still retains its importance today.
Is there gold without hallmark?
What to do if there is no hallmark on gold jewelry? This does not always mean that the gold is fake. Markings may be missing for various reasons:
- If the gold jewelry is old. Previously, tests for precious metals were not performed or were done very rarely. Also, due to the age of the product, the mark on the soft metal may wear off.
- If the product was subject to restoration or alteration, it could be melted down.
- If the jewelry was purchased abroad, where trade in unmarked items is permitted.
- Jewelry made by hand or made to order may not be hallmarked. Here you will have to take the jeweler’s word for it.
- Medical gold is not assayed, but you can find markings indicating the composition and method of applying gold plating. In this article we talked in detail about medical gold.
One way or another, do not rush to be disappointed. Experienced specialists will help you find out the gold standard.
Foreign gold and gilding - consider the difference
Foreign gold purchased in jewelry stores in Italy, Turkey, China and other countries does not always meet Russian standards, or in other words, it cannot be considered a quality product. Most often, such gold is imported illegally, bypassing both customs control and state control authorities.
According to statistics, seventy percent of gold imported from abroad is fake, so you need to be very vigilant when choosing foreign jewelry.
It must be remembered that foreign products, even if they are genuine, differ from Russian ones in shade and composition; the vast majority of jewelry is yellow or white, with a minimal copper content.
How to determine gold purity?
Testing gold without a sample is not that difficult. Jewelers will accurately determine the value of the product and give a guarantee. This is the simplest and most reliable solution. But if you want a more serious approach, then the Russian State Assay Office can accept individuals. There they will help you determine the sample and put a damaging stamp on it.
Brand on jewelry
If you want to sell your jewelry, it would be better to go to a pawnshop. There they will be able to accept gold without assay and determine its value. In order to hand over your jewelry, you only need a passport. And if you change your mind, you can buy it back within two months. Convenient pawn shops operate in Sunlight stores, where gold items in any condition can be returned for exchange.
If you want to find out the gold sample at home, then there are several ways to determine the noble metal:
- A method known for a long time is testing with vinegar. Dip a gold item into the solution and get results almost immediately. Gold does not change its color.
- Another popular method is checking with a magnet. If the item is well magnetized, then it is made of steel or gold plated, because real gold is not attracted to a magnet.
- Gold, like all money, does not smell, unlike any other metal.
- If you have unfired ceramic tiles, rub the product against it. Are the marks left dark or gray? Then it's not gold.
- Powder for cauterizing wounds, lapis, can also reveal the nobility of metal. Apply a little lapis to the wet product. If it turns black, it is a fake.
However, you will not be able to accurately determine the gold sample at home, because... special materials are needed: gold chloride, nitric acid and an assay needle.
What is carat
The word "karat" is borrowed from Arabic. In ancient times, this was the name given to carob seeds, the weight and size of which were characterized by almost standard constancy. It was with the help of these seeds that the mass and volume of precious metals and stones were measured.
With the development of industry and trade, the carat received a specific numerical expression - about 205 mg, and measuring gold in carats became common practice. Subsequently, at the General Conference on Weights and Measures, held in Paris in 1907, the carat was officially approved as a non-systemic unit of mass equal to 200 mg. In the jewelry industry, it is still customary to indicate the weight of precious stones and pearls in carats.
In addition, the method extends to determining the purity of gold. The system is not metric: one carat in it is equal to 1/24 of the total mass of the alloy. Thus, 24-karat gold is pure, without additives, and the unit of measurement corresponds to 1000 grams. This method of calculating the characteristics of gold is common in the USA, Canada, Latin America, and the UK, therefore, in most cases, jewelry from such countries will indicate the number of carats, and not the fineness.
Gold price
In addition to pawn shops, you can find out the value of your product yourself. The price of 1 gram of gold is set by the Central Bank of Russia.
Gold price
As of July 2021, this is approximately 2867 rubles per gram. The price of 1 gram of 585 gold in jewelry will vary from 2300 to 3400 rubles. In addition to the cost of the gold itself, the price includes the labor of the jeweler, the complexity of the design, and additional materials (not precious stones). The cheapest gold standard 375 in a pawnshop will cost 900-1000 rubles per gram. The cost of a gram of 750 gold varies from 2000-2100 rubles. And the most expensive gold sample is ~ 2900 rubles. Pure gold is more expensive, but of course it is less common.
Since 2000, the price of gold has risen steadily. In 2011 it reached its apogee ~ 4200 rubles per gram. Afterwards the price began to gradually decrease. Since 2021, the cost has remained approximately at the same level. However, investing in metal is always considered a profitable business, and it is better to buy gold.
Author of the article: Alexandra Naumenko
