Does black gold exist and what it really is + price per gram today

Does black gold exist?

Pure gold can only have a yellow color; any other shades are the result of adding other metals to the alloy or coating the jewelry with coloring materials.

Composition and properties

The black gold alloy has the following composition:

• gold 75%;
• cobalt 15%;
• chrome 10%.

After making the alloy and giving the product the desired shape, it is subjected to oxidation at high temperature. After this, the decoration acquires a deep dark color. The resulting material is classified as intermetallic; it is difficult to process: it is difficult to melt and forge.

Strength

Dark-colored gold is highly durable compared to traditional precious metals. It is less susceptible to scratches and abrasions, and is difficult to deform. This is due to the properties of cobalt and chromium, which have a high degree of strength.

Shade range

The technology for producing the alloy allows you to adjust the degree of dark shade from gray to black. Sometimes a dark precious metal has a green or blue tint; this effect is possible when manganese, silver and other metals are included in the composition.

Samples

The black alloy always has a grade of 750. This is due to the prescription proportions of metals, which allow you to obtain the desired shade.

On sale you can find items of 585 standard. Such products are made of yellow or white gold, and a special rhodium plating gives them a dark color. Over time, it can wear off and become damaged, and then the jewelry requires re-processing.

Features of rings reminiscent of a dark night

A wedding ring with a black stone or a completely black model makes the images of the young and young stylish, mysterious, and unique. You will wear your wedding ring every day , and it will fit perfectly into any look.

Gold ring with black diamonds and diamonds, SL (price on link)

The product is distinguished by the following features:

1. It embodies grace and elegance. Whatever style you prefer in everyday life, such decoration will complement it with refined and luxurious features.
2. The decorations are a tribute to the classics . Black detailing in jewelry is a time-tested classic. In ancient times, such products were incredibly popular, and now this trend has found its way into modern life.
3. People wearing black wedding rings or items decorated with such elements have a mysterious appeal. The product itself can make others admire it.

Don't believe it if they tell you that you can't buy an engagement ring made of black metal for your wedding. There is no negative meaning here, but only following fashion and creating a charming and unique image.

Methods of obtaining

There are three main ways to obtain dark-colored precious metal:

1. Intermetallic alloy of gold, cobalt and chromium.
2. Rhodium plating, or the coating of traditional yellow metal with rhodium.
3. Surface treatment with amorphous carbon.

The first method allows you to obtain a gold alloy with a deep black color. Products made from it are not afraid of scratches and damage. In other cases, a colored coating is created on the surface of already finished objects. The jeweler controls the process of obtaining color and achieves the desired shade.

Expert opinion

Vsevolod Kozlovsky

6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds

Rhodium plating is done by galvanization - applying a metal coating to finished jewelry with a stamp using electrodes. The 0.2 mm rhodium film is durable and can protect soft precious metals from scratches, but over time it will wear off on its own. In this case, the jewelry will require repair and refinishing. Carbon plating is often used to create blackened gold in bracelets and watches when a large surface area is required.

Processing methods are constantly being improved. Thus, RAS scientists have discovered a nanomethod for producing metal alloys. Its essence lies in mixing microparticles of elements. The resulting materials have better characteristics compared to conventional alloys.

Another direction in jewelry is laser metal processing. The main disadvantage of innovations is their high cost, so the main methods for producing precious non-ferrous alloys remain melting and galvanization.

Combination with stones

Blackened precious metal is often combined with a variety of stones and pearls. Its main feature is that any insertion errors are noticeable in such jewelry. The black color contrasts with scratches, asymmetry and chips. The craftsman needs to carefully examine the stone, otherwise the item will lose its presentable appearance.

At first, the blackened precious metal was combined only with black pearls and dark diamonds. Nowadays you can find jewelry with almost any stones and pearls on sale. Jewelers in China prefer to use a scattering of inserts of different colors, creating spectacular contrasting luxury items.

Black gold – myths and reality. Black gold wedding rings

For those who don’t want to read the entire article, let’s answer the main question right away: does black gold exist? The answer is no . This metal can only be obtained in laboratory conditions, using very expensive processes and equipment. What some workshops and stores pass off as black gold is a coating that is often short-lived.

Now let's take a closer look.

In our time, a time of great achievements and inventions, there are a huge number of truly amazing things. Just 20 years ago, could people imagine that this is possible: smartphones, tablets, touch screens, self-parking cars, smart homes and much more? If we continue to list it, it will not be an article about black gold, but about what a leap in development we have made in such a short period of time.

Of course, progress has not spared jewelry. Today, we are so spoiled in the jewelry industry that it’s hard not to lose your head with such a rich palette of innovations. The only thing that brings us to our senses is the prices. The more stunning the innovation, the more eye-popping the prices. Alas, yes! As the people say - “whatever your heart desires.” Do you want diamonds? Please - any color, any cut, any size. Not enough finances? No problem! There are artificially grown diamonds. Don't want to spend too much? Cubic zirconia, zircon, Swarovski crystals, etc.

Progress has not spared precious metals either. Gold today can be bought in almost any color. During the Soviet era, there were only 2 colors of gold in use: red and yellow. They heard about white gold in those days, but it was not in demand among people because... associated with silver.

Nowadays, there are a lot of colors of gold: pink, violet, purple, green, brown, blue, black, and this list does not include the main 3 colors: white, red and yellow gold. But one of the most interesting colors for buyers today is black.

Black gold - myth or reality?

Today, this shade of gold excites and excites buyers so much that many jewelers resort to tricks in order to lure the client, covering ordinary gold with “black rhodium” , which after a while is erased from the surface of the product. And all because making black gold is a very difficult, time-consuming and expensive process .

Few people know that this alloy has not been fully studied in the jewelry market and is not commercially available. Its price is unlikely to ever rise to the same level as the standard colors of gold: white, red and yellow. Colored gold (green, blue, purple, brown and black) has a vibrant and rich color. They are created on the basis of intermetallic compounds, are not alloys and create special difficulties when processed with special coatings that create a specific color. All these compounds have a fixed composition and are very fragile.

In Russia, durable black gold was invented by Ural scientists from the Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The most interesting thing is that scientists discovered black gold completely by accident. While fulfilling a government order for the space industry to create alloys based on gold and other metals (super-strong alloys), Ural scientists noticed an interesting feature. Under certain influences and conditions, the surface of the metal, also known as gold, becomes black. As they say, “they screwed me up.” The management of the institute got acquainted, studied the results of the accidental discovery and, without being confused, patented the discovery. Now scientists at the Ural Institute are working on “crossing” gold to produce other colors. The process of making black gold is that the gold blank is completely oxidized, then polished to the matrix material. To perform a number of these manipulations you need incredibly expensive equipment. Jewelry workshops in Russia, unfortunately, do not have such capabilities.

But, of course, we will not go to the Urals to the Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Russian Academy of Sciences in order to ask them to make us jewelry from black gold - they will be very surprised.

How is “black gold” made in jewelry workshops in Russia today?

Jewelers in Russia find a way to obtain the black color of gold - this is by applying blackening to the surface of the finished jewelry using different methods:

- electroplating - coated with black rhodium or ruthenium - patina - sulfur and oxygen-containing compounds are used - chemical vapor deposition using plasma using amorphous carbon

The peculiarity is that all these methods are a coating, sometimes short-lived, and not an alloy of metals , for which workshops pass off products.

The durable metal alloy is patented in the Russian Federation. Obtaining it is a very expensive process . This means that “correct” black gold costs a lot of money .

It is possible that black gold will soon be on par with standard gold colors. But today, if you are offered a dark product at a temptingly low price and the metal is called “black gold,” there is reason to be wary.

In our jewelry workshop Skyline Jewelry we have the ability to produce gold with any type of coating, including black .
But we always warn our customers about the risks of purchasing such a product. Be careful!

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of dark precious metal include:

• unusual spectacular appearance;
• higher strength compared to other gold alloys;
• hypoallergenic properties, the alloy is safe for health.

The disadvantages are:

• high cost;
• limited selection, such a product is difficult to find in jewelry stores;
• any damage will be more noticeable than on yellow and white products.

Where can I buy or sell?

The safest option would be to purchase jewelry from a large store. Here, before purchasing, you can study the passport and certificate, and also carefully examine the product. There is a larger selection of jewelry in online stores, but the risk of buying a fake increases. It will not be easy to exchange such a product.

Black gold products are produced not only by large factories, but also by small workshops. Unique jewelry can be found on Internet resources such as “Masters' Fair”.

At lower prices, you can find used jewelry in pawn shops and among private advertisements. In this case, the authenticity of the goods remains on the conscience of the seller. The cost of products often speaks volumes about their quality. It is affected by the following parameters:

• rhodium plating has a lower cost than manufacturing a complex alloy;
• the cost of a gram of pure gold, established by the Central Bank;
• gold content;
• the presence of inserts made of precious stones, pearls, and other alloys;
• product exclusivity;
• place of production, delivery, transportation costs.

How much is 1 gram of black gold worth today?

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the current price for products made of blackened precious metal:

Rings set with black diamonds

New to the world of gemstones are black diamonds. Many girls were able to appreciate how extraordinary the contrast of snow-white gold and black stones on wedding rings looks. In addition to gold, white metals such as palladium or platinum can be used. The first is considered a budget option and creates a stunning backdrop for a night-colored stone, it is lightweight and durable and is considered an excellent metal for everyday use.

Black diamond engagement ring

If you're looking to buy a black diamond engagement ring, it's worth checking out all the styles available. Thus, jewelers suggest choosing a model with three diamonds. Such products are decorated not only with black stones, but also with various combinations of snow-colored stones. A composition of a pair of dark diamonds and a white pearl located in the middle is considered incredibly stylish.

Another worthy option is the solitaire ring. Various combinations are used here, but the central element of the composition is a large black diamond. a scattering of small pure white as a background This helps to emphasize the size and tone of the main stone.

Wedding ring with black stone

Masters of jewelry art also offer a composition that is based on the contrast of tones. It is made up of variously alternating groups of small black and white pebbles.

The last version of the models are classic rings in which stones are placed in a circle. Thanks to this, the product acquires a special captivating and charm.

Models are not the same width. Depending on it, diamonds are laid out in a checkerboard pattern or parallel to each other

Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage

Jewelry made from black precious metal is quite durable. However, if used improperly, scratches and abrasions may remain on their surface, which will significantly damage the appearance of the products. I offer recommendations that will allow you to preserve your jewelry:

• It is better to remove jewelry during contact with water or physical activity;
• do not expose products to aggressive cleaning agents;
• store jewelry in cases, with small parts and links straightened, avoid creases;
• do not leave products for a long time in rooms with high humidity;
• Clean in soapy water and rub gold jewelry only with a soft cloth, suede, do not use brushes.

Tips for choosing black gold jewelry

When choosing any jewelry made of precious metals, you must check the certificate and passport, which confirm the authenticity of the product. For black precious metal jewelry, it is important to determine how the color was achieved. Products coated with rhodium have a lower cost compared to black alloy. Their quality also differs. Sometimes the manufacturer does not indicate such information, in which case some details will prompt the answer:

• most often the coating is applied to 585 gold, while the alloy is marked 750;
• rhodium plating often has flaws - hard-to-reach places are less well painted, and the color may be uneven.

Also watch the video about black gold below:

Benefits of Jewelry

The rhodium plating process gives the ligature:

1. Strength.
2. Wear resistance.
3. Color.

Blackening of gold gives the metal strength and ductility. Even products of high standard retain all the qualities of yellow metal and at the same time have good strength.

Rhodium plating improves wear resistance. As a result, the jewelry does not oxidize; the film that covers the surface of the product protects it from environmental factors and reagents.

Panther ring in white and black gold

Color is one of the advantages; Along with white, rose and yellow gold, black retains its uniqueness due to its hue. Jewelry of this color goes well with business suits and luxurious outfits.

In addition, metal is combined with the following stones:

• opal;
• emerald;
• ruby;
• diamond.

Jewelers treated ferrous metal with caution; the reason for this was the stones with which jewelry was encrusted. If platinum and gold hide the flaws of stones, then black gold can show them off. Therefore, for a long time, products were decorated only with black diamonds.

But recently you can find jewelry inlaid with other stones on store shelves, and it turned out that this combination is no worse. The stones not only delight with their shine, but also match the texture of metal.

But a wedding ring made of this metal is considered a classic. It represents the direction of minimalism and does not require inlay with stones.

Black gold jewelry is complemented with one stone, this is quite enough.

Reviews

Svetlana: I’ve been wearing a black gold ring for several years now. It looks unusual and attracts attention. Over the course of three years, almost imperceptible scratches appeared on it. I bought it in Moscow at the Diamonds are Forever store.

Yana: I used to see white and green gold, but I didn’t know whether it came in black. One day I saw earrings on the official website of American, couldn’t resist and ordered them. The jewelry is simply magnificent, it looks just like in the photo: voluminous, with a scattering of multi-colored stones. They didn't cheat with the size either. There is no hallmark on them, only a factory imprint, but this doesn’t bother me much, because I took them for myself. And they look simply amazing.

Black gold jewelry is unusual and spectacular. Contrasting combinations of black precious metal with yellow and white gold and multi-colored stones are attracting more and more fans.

If the information was interesting to you, do not forget to share it on social networks.