Features of the sample
Absolutely all jewelry has a hallmark. It determines the weight content of precious metal in the alloy. There are several types of brands:
- spool;
- metric;
- carat
Until 1927, the spool test was used in the Russian Federation. It determined how many spools weighing 4.2 g were contained in a pound (96 elements) of the alloy. From that time until today, the metric mark has been used. It shows the number of parts of the precious metal in one thousand mass units. The carat type is used all over the world. This test indicates the elemental content of the 24-karat alloy. That is, if the product is marked “19 carats,” then 24 parts of the composition contain 19 shares of gold.
In Russia there is a GOST that regulates branding. It looks like a sample symbol. For example, if the sign “585” is on a ring or chain, then 1000 g of metal contains exactly that much pure gold. The rest is a ligature. The first brand in the Russian Federation appeared much later than in other countries - in the 17th century. It looked like a double-headed eagle with the date of release of the jewelry. And the sample testified not to the composition of the alloy, but to its authenticity.
In 1899, a new image appeared - the profile of a woman’s head in a kokoshnik. After 28 years it was replaced by the face of a worker and a hammer, and after another 31 years - by a sickle against the backdrop of a five-pointed star. Modern jewelers have returned to the 1899 standard.
Gold has several types of hallmarks that distinguish products by composition. 958, 916, 900, 750, 585, 500 and 375 samples are separated. 999 is very rare, but only gold bars are made from this metal, since the pure material is not suitable for creating jewelry due to its dull, unattractive color and softness.
An unusual mark - 925 - is placed on ligature products. Such jewelry can be coated with gold or platinum. Some buyers confuse these items with real platinum items and pay high prices for them. But if you are wondering what kind of metal it is with 925 purity, then you need to know that there is no gold with such a mark. These are silver items that jewelers were able to gild with high quality.
Reviews
What do they say online about the 500th purity of gold? Most of the reviews are negative, which is easily explained.
If you have any doubts whether the price of the jewelry corresponds to the declared marking, it is better to contact not one appraiser, but several, and compare their opinions. Parts of the same factory jewelry cannot be of different samples, or it is a low-quality product.
Alas, the 500th sample often appears in angry reviews of stores.
What can I say? Be vigilant, check the certificates for a bracelet, chain or ring as much as possible, and if in doubt, postpone the purchase.
Brand of gold
Gold jewelry is made from metal with different compositions. Popular metal samples:
- reddish 375;
- durable 583;
- colorful 585;
- white 750;
- bright yellow 958.
Low-grade gold graded 375 has a reddish tint and turns gray when the polish wears off. Most often in jewelry stores and pawn shops you can find products with the mark 583 or 585. The first metal is an alloy of gold and copper, cast in a red tint, durable, but easily takes any shape. Today, the 583 sample material is used only in Belarus. In other countries it was replaced by the 585 brand; the substance consists of three components and in the light takes on red, pink, white or yellow colors.
The 750 alloy contains silver and copper, so the products appear white or yellow-green. The soft metal of the 958 stamp does not hold polish for long. In the banking industry, gold with a mark of 999 is used to make bars. In practice, it is impossible to achieve a mark of 1000, since in any case the precious material will contain impurities.
Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage
Key features that allow you to preserve the original appearance of gold products for a long time include:
- neat wear;
- proper storage;
- timely removal of contaminants.
Avoid mechanical damage, contact with water, alkaline detergents, compounds containing iodine and chlorine of 500-carat gold products.
Before applying creams and ointments, especially those containing mercury, you need to remove jewelry. The same is recommended when performing household chores, cosmetic or medical procedures, or during sports activities.
You can clean gold jewelry only with special wipes and solutions. In jewelry workshops you can order professional and safe metal cleaning, which will remove any contamination.
Jewelry with inserts made of precious stones requires especially careful wear and care. Each gem has its own care recommendations. All stones, without exception, must be protected from shock and abrasion. Some of them lose their appearance from ultraviolet radiation, while others suffer from moisture.
Differences of silver
Pure silver is a very soft metal, making it easy to work. To make it more durable, copper is added to it. This procedure is called doping, the additional substance is called a ligature. Copper and silver have similar physical properties, so they are combined.
The testing system used to be very confusing, since each state had its own standards and marks. Therefore, they came up with a percentage scheme that displays the ratio of components in one alloy. A large amount of copper is contained in 800 and 750 standard silver. This metal is usually used in the industrial sector. To create jewelry, material with a grade of 925 or 875 is used.
Metal marked 960 or 999 is not suitable for making items because it contains too much silver. The material is not strong enough, so it will not be able to withstand daily loads. Jewelry made from 999 fine substance is highly valued by collectors. This type of silver is white in color, making it often paired with diamonds and clear gemstones.
Sterling material
It is worth learning about the features of 925 metal. This type of silver is called sterling silver from the name of an old English coin. This was the name of the alloy from which they were minted. According to another version, the name comes from the famous German Easterling family. In the 12th century, five cities of Germany were united in the Hanseatic League, which had active trade relations with England. They were calculated using coins made of an alloy of 92.5% silver and were called Easterlings. The British liked the quality and reliability of the metal, so they made it the standard of the new English currency.
Sterling material is distinguished not only by its fineness, but also by its durability, beautiful shade, and durability. Knives made of this metal do not deform and do not turn black over time. The classic composition is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. It is this that makes the substance plastic, malleable, durable, gives it a cool tint and emphasizes its natural shine.
Jewelry that was made from sterling 6-7 centuries ago is still kept in museums and passed down by wealthy families from generation to generation. In the manufacturing and jewelry industry, silver has maintained its leading position due to its ability to maintain a light shade and precise shape.
Platinum and white metal
If in a jewelry store they ask the price per gram of 925 white gold, then they mean silver jewelry with gilding. In another precious metal, nickel, palladium and platinum are added to whiten it. Silver and zinc are rarely found in white gold. Additionally, the products are coated with a layer of rhodium, a substance that belongs to the platinum family.
Nickel can cause allergies, so it is replaced with palladium, which gives the metal strength. Compositions to which platinum is added have better characteristics and greater cost. The hardness of white gold allows jewelers to securely set precious stones, which is appreciated by buyers. Such jewelry is usually 750 or 585, but not 925.
Gold-plated products are overpriced , and platinum is sometimes sold for less than its real price. This material and silver have several common characteristics: strength, cold shine, noble light shade. But platinum is more resistant to mechanical damage.
Alloys can be distinguished externally. If an antique product has corrosion spots, defects, damaged areas, then it is silver. The second metal is less susceptible to scratches and changes in shape. Visually, novices will not be able to tell the difference between the two substances, but platinum has higher light reflectivity and brilliance. Thin chains, earrings and brooches are made from it. Massive products are made from silver, as a cheaper material.
The price of white gold when delivered to a pawnshop
The pawnshop's tariff is set for each sample and does not change in any way depending on the color of the precious metal. The estimated cost of white gold jewelry will be exactly the same as other colors of the same standard. A commodity expert does not evaluate the beauty of your product; the value for it is only the precious metal. You can read more about this in the article “How a pawnshop works.”
The price of gold depends on the international precious metals market. You can read how easy it is to calculate it yourself in the article “How much is gold worth today.”
At the time of writing, pawnshops accept 585 sample at a price of about 1,400 rubles per gram, 750 sample at 1,800 rubles per gram.
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Application in production
Thanks to the technical characteristics of 925 silver markings, for 300 years it has occupied the first position among other alloys. The copper contained in the alloy gives the metal strength, high malleability and durability.
In the USSR, sterling material was used in the production of contacts, conductors and jewelry. Silver was a quality alternative to gold and platinum, which were unaffordable for ordinary workers. In the Russian Federation, the material was used for the manufacture of:
- serving items and cutlery;
- details of religion - icons, crosses;
- accessories for everyday life and beauty - cufflinks, buttons, pins;
- individual orders - cigarette cases, medals, orders.
Sterling is used in many areas. And the alloy of this metal and cadmium is so rare that its value exceeds the price of gold. It is used during chemical experiments.
Cost per gram
In order to find out how much one gram of 925 hallmark silver costs, you need to multiply its discount price by 0.925. Every day the average parameter is set by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. The next day after entering a new indicator, the accounting departments of jewelry stores, pawnshops and credit institutions recalculate the cost of each product.
If sales and purchase transactions occur, market value is also taken into account. Usually it is higher, as it depends on certain risks and conditions. The price is also influenced by the manufacturing technology of the silver item, the weight and prestige of the manufacturer.
The price per gram depends on several parameters. Every year, the London Bullion Exchange publishes a rate of materials in specialized magazines, indicating the cost per ounce. As of March 2021, a jewelry store client had to pay 34.5 rubles for 1 g of 925 silver. The country of manufacture is also important. The most expensive jewelry is offered by Italians; among Chinese companies there are often low-quality alloys or fakes.
There is no gold graded 925, that alloy is silver. Owners of jewelry are often misled, as some items may be covered with gold plating. But the sample is placed directly on the object, and not on the shell. Sterling metal is strong, durable and has the ability to retain its original color and shine.
Where can you buy or sell
Large Russian jewelry stores do not carry 500-carat gold jewelry. Products can be purchased at specialized auctions, pawn shops, and private workshops.
You can sell jewelry in pawn shops and jewelry auctions. On such sites you can post a photo and sell the product at a higher price.
How much does 1 gram of gold of this standard cost today?
On average in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, the price for 1 gram of 500-carat gold starts from 2,500 rubles. If you want to sell jewelry in a pawnshop, then for 1 gram you can get 600–800 rubles.
This is 2 times cheaper than when selling the most popular 585 precious metal. You can try your luck at online auctions, where a collector will like your jewelry and buy it at a much higher price than pawn shops offer.
