Gold is an eternal material, valued throughout the centuries by both master jewelers and buyers of their products. To make the right choice, you need to have useful information. Which Russian jewelry brands are the most popular? We immediately introduce you to the leaders of jewelry brands.
TOP
- Karatov
- Thousands of high quality jewelry
- Products made of gold and silver
- Guarantee on all jewelry
- Author's product design
- Our assessment
Buy jewelry from the Karatov brand
- EPL. Yakut diamonds
- Patent for the “FIRING ICE” cutting method
- Our own school of jewelers and cutters
- Extensive network of retail stores
- Award "Best Russian Exporter"
- Our assessment
Buy jewelry from the EPL brand. Yakut diamonds
- Sokolov
- Production at Diamant plant
- International Quality Standard Certificate
- Eastern European leader in the number of jewelry produced
- Stores in Russia and Europe
- Our assessment
Buy jewelry from the Sokolov brand
How to buy gold jewelry without the risk of buying a fake? What to look for when buying inlaid jewelry? What to choose – timeless classics or modern style? You will find answers to all these questions in this article.
TOP Russian jewelry brands
The history of gold mining and jewelry production in Russia goes back many centuries. However, historically it turned out that the last century was not the best period for this line of activity. At a time when Western jewelry houses were conquering the market by increasing variety and originality, Soviet products were characterized by a lack of distinctive features and uniformity.
However, everything changed in the 90s of the twentieth century. The modern Russian jewelry industry is gradually acquiring its loyal customers and is trying to adhere to global trends, working for the future. There are several of the most famous and popular Russian brands.
1 – Karatov
The Russian brand Karatov was created on a base in Kostroma. The holding team has almost 2 thousand employees. The company's wholesale network covers major cities in Russia, Europe, the USA, and CIS countries.
gold Karatov
- Included in the TOP 3 best jewelry manufacturers in Russia
- All products come with a factory warranty
- Jewelry is developed according to original designs
Customer rating 4.6.
2 - EPL. Yakut diamonds
– manufacturer of diamond jewelry from the Republic of Sakha. It has its own cutting and jewelry production, a network of retail outlets and an online store.
- The patented FIRING ICE cutting method is used.
- Our own school of jewelers and cutters
- The brand was awarded five times by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation as “The Best Russian Exporter”
Customer rating 4.5.
3 – Sokolov
Just like Almaz-Holding, it has a history of more than 25 years. The brand produces jewelry, watches, and children's collections.
gold Sokolov
- Production
- Stores in Russia and Europe, including Switzerland
- International Quality Standard Certificate
- Eastern European leader in the number of jewelry produced
Customer rating 4.5.
4 – Adamas
Like many other brands, this company was founded in the early 90s of the twentieth century.
- Holds a patent for a unique gold alloy
- Extensive network of retail stores with branches in Eastern Europe and China
- Winner of the “Product of the Year”, “Best Jewelry” and other awards
- Winner of the title of the most popular brand in Runet
Customer rating 4.5.
5 - KYuZ
The Kostroma Jewelry Factory, known to everyone under the abbreviation KYUZ or KOYUZ, has been operating since 1939 - for 80 years now.
gold KYuZ
- Own full production cycle
- Network of branded stores
- Winner of international diplomas and awards
- Part of the Krasnoselsky Jewelryprom association
Customer rating 4.14.
6 - Esthete
The plant began its work almost 30 years ago on the basis of a family workshop. Now it is one of the leaders in the jewelry industry, and its owner is the chairman of the Guild of Russian Jewelers.
gold Esthete
- One of the largest production facilities in Europe
- A network of its own branded stores, partner stores, as well as Russia’s first “Jewelry Street”
- Also produces products under the Gevorkyan brand
Customer rating 3.91.
7 – Bronnitsky jeweler
The company comes from the 90s. The brand is manufactured at its own jewelry factory in the city of Bronnitsy, Moscow region, and at subsidiaries in China. The manufacturer has its own trading house, retail stores, and an online store.
gold Bronnitsky jeweler
- Bronnitsky Jewelry Factory was founded in 1924.
- Products are sold in more than 2000 retail outlets in the Russian Federation and neighboring countries
- Most retail stores operate on a franchise basis
Customer rating 3.6.
8 — Almaz-Holding
This brand has been around for over 25 years. This diversified brand sells not only jewelry, but also silverware.
Diamond-holding jewelry
- Production of Krasnoselsky Yuvelirprom
- About 200 retail stores, including in China
- Exports almost 30% of total products abroad
Customer rating: 3.6.
9 – Moscow Jewelry Factory
One of the most famous and oldest jewelry productions, whose history goes back almost a hundred years.
Moscow Jewelry Factory gold ring with diamonds, R108-105010AQQUDR, size 16.5
gold Moscow jewelry factory
- Own production
- Has a network of branded stores of more than 300
- Winner of professional competitions
- Certified to international quality standards
Customer rating 3.05.
Silver and products made from it are one of the most common types of gifts. If you are planning to buy just such a gift, read The best silver jewelry - TOP 5 manufacturers →
Stamps of different countries
To figure out whether the product you are buying is real gold, you need to know that the stamps of authenticity vary from country to country. In Russia, until 1927, the stamp was an imprint of a woman’s face in a kokoshnik; the USSR used two options as a stamp: a working hammer and a hammer and sickle. In the east they made imprints in the form of hieroglyphs, European countries made coats of arms of cities and countries.
- USA - sample is recommended, but not required. The main guarantee is the name of the seller (brand, brand), since he is responsible for the authenticity of the product. A hallmark in carat value appears in the form of a hallmark; there may also be an imprint of the manufacturer.
- Canada - the national mark looks like a maple leaf inside the letter C. There may be other marks, each manufacturer has the right to register their own. Also, if there is an English mark, no others are required.
- Great Britain - the mark on gold is made in the form of a crown. In addition, the product must have the mark of the legal entity that sent the product for hallmarking, and the mark of the Assay Inspectorate.
- Germany – gold items are marked with the company’s hallmarks, the hallmark standard (number) and the imprint of the sun circle.
- Italy - each registered manufacturer has its own personal mark received at the Mint. The presence of these marks on products confirms their authenticity.
- Japan – does not have an approbation and marking system. Therefore, you can be sure of authenticity only if you purchase the product in branded stores.
- Belgium – the hallmark is stamped in the form of numbers, each of which corresponds to the corresponding carat value.
TOP 2 jewelry online stores
As a bonus, we offer two excellent online stores with jewelry from different brands.
- 585 Gold
- Jewelry from leading Russian and foreign brands
- Optics, watches, products for men
- Bonus system - 1 point = 1 ruble
- Delivery by courier, pickup
- Our assessment
Select jewelry for 585 Gold
- JV Gallery
- Jewelry from budget and premium brands
- Electronic gift certificates
- Loyalty program - discounts from 5 to 30%
- Delivery throughout Russia and the CIS from 2 to 7 days
- Our assessment
Choose jewelry at JV Gallery
585/Gold
The 585/Zolotoy chain of stores has over 900 stores in 240 cities in Russia and the CIS. The company has an online store and pawn shops.
- The assortment includes jewelry and watches from leading Russian and foreign brands
- There is delivery by courier services, pickup from the nearest store
- Payment is made on the website or in cash to the courier
- There is a bonus system - a loyalty card with cashback and payment with accumulated points. 1 point = 1 ruble
JV Gallery
JV Gallery is an online store that brings together brands and designers from Europe, Asia, America, and Russia. The store offers delivery to your home or to a pickup point. Pickup is available from the showroom in Moscow.
- Jewelry from budget and premium brands
- Delivery throughout Russia and the CIS from 2 to 7 days
- Payment in cash, card upon receipt; map on the website
- Loyalty program assigning account status from Bronze to Brilliant with a discount from 5 to 30%
- Electronic gift certificates
How much is a gold chain worth today?
Having walked through jewelry stores, I came to the conclusion that today you can buy a gold chain at a price of 3,000 to 5,000 rubles per gram of 585 gold. The current price of gold can always be found in the article Gold Price Today.
Chains vary in weight and gold purity:
- The thinnest chain today will weigh 2 grams and cost 6,000-10,000 rubles.
- A chain weighing 5-10 grams can be considered average. This can cost today from 15,000 to 50,000 rubles
- A large chain will weigh from 20 grams and cost from 60,000 rubles.
Types of gold
Pure gold as a chemical element is an extremely soft material, does not have a pronounced color and is not at all wear-resistant. Therefore, the jewelry industry uses metal alloys containing gold in different proportions.
It is the percentage of pure material in the final product that is determined by the sample number - an imprint on the jewelry that confirms its authenticity. The number of different additives also determines the color of the alloy. There are 3 main types of gold by shade:
- Yellow (traditional - with the addition of silver and copper)
- White (alloy of gold, silver, palladium and platinum)
- Red (color saturation depends on the amount of copper)
There are also several additional colors, but jewelry made from them is extremely rare and expensive:
- Pale shades of green (an alloy of gold with silver and cadmium)
- Gray and blue gold (alloy with steel)
- Bright shades of green and blue (synthesis with rubidium and indium) - at the development stage, earlier experiments were successfully carried out in South Africa, but mass production was not launched due to economic inexpediency
- Violet (combination of gold and galium)
- Purple (aluminum included)
- Black (adding cobalt and chromium)
The last five types are not an alloy in the full sense of the word, since the procedure for their creation is based on intermetallic compounds.
Do you prefer platinum jewelry? Read The best platinum jewelry - world brands →
What color gold is better: from yellow to pink and white
The natural color of the jewel is yellow. Other shades appear after different ratios of substances in the ligature. Light redness is created using copper. The white tone is provided by nickel, zinc and platinum. Alloys can also be pink, lemon, darkened, with a purple tint.
The most common colors are yellow, red and white. But there is no point in determining which gold is better based on color. The fact is that the shade has nothing to do with the variety. Decoration with a certain brand can be painted in any tone. Only the ligatures change.
Non-ferrous alloys are usually of similar quality. But the composition of white gold may be contraindicated for allergy sufferers due to nickel and zinc. Adding platinum is not harmful to health, but increases the cost.
Are there blue, blue, green gold jewelry? Yes, unusual shades are interesting to consumers, and jewelers are always ready to experiment. Blue ones are obtained by adding impurities and other metals. Sometimes products are coated with coloring enamel. This option will be cheaper, but not more durable. The coating quickly scratches and becomes worn.
Blue coloration is quite difficult to obtain, so it is not often seen. Also, jewelry of similar colors is more fragile. The green tint is obtained using silver. It is added in large quantities. Jewelers create shades of different saturations: from bright to muted olive.
In the Middle Ages, blue gold was obtained by mixing with copper. Today this method is not used. Experiments have shown that such alloys rust at an accelerated rate.
Therefore, answering the question of which gold is better to take based only on color is not entirely correct. Each buyer chooses a shade according to personal preferences.
Authenticity and samples
The main indicator of the authenticity of the material from which the jewelry is made is the sample, the imprint of which can most often be found on the inside of the product, in an inconspicuous place. There are 3 main classification systems, of which only two are used:
- Metric. The numbers show the amount of gold as a percentage. In the USSR and Russia, 6 types of hallmarks existed and still operate: 375, 500, 585, 750, 958, 999 (bank gold)
- Carat. This system is followed by Europe and the USA. Shows the proportion of pure material in the product in carats, with a carat being equal to 1/24 of the mass. The most common markings are 9, 10, 14, 18 and 24 carats.
- Zolotnikovaya (found in antique jewelry, manufactured before 1927). To convert it to metric, you need to divide the original figure by 0.096.
In addition to the sample print, there are several other simple ways to check the product:
- Examine the jewelry with a magnifying glass, check that the recesses (if any) completely match the size of the stones.
- Pay attention to the inside, the better it is processed, the better the product.
- Drop the jewelry - upon contact with the surface, a clear “crystal” sound should be heard.
- When choosing a chain, try winding it around your fingers (if the flexibility of the weave allows it). It should unwind easily and without getting tangled in the links.
Development of the global jewelry industry
The custom of decorating oneself with items made of precious metals has been around for several millennia. Accordingly, the art of jewelry, which emerged and developed over many centuries before and after our era, is of the same age.
Each continent has its own gold deposits and its own jewelry traditions. Eastern countries prefer high-grade gold with a high content of pure metal. The West competes for the originality of the alloy, winning over buyers with the uniqueness of colors and models.
Based on this information, you can easily navigate market trends.
- Indian, Arabic and Chinese gold are valued for their high levels of pure gold in their products. These products are more of an investment in metal, since they do not have uniqueness, and also due to the preservation of most of the properties of the material - it remains too pliable, soft and ductile, easily subject to deformation.
- Turkish gold is cheap, and therein lies the catch - the alloy contains too many foreign impurities, and there is a risk of allergic reactions.
- In Europe and the USA, gold jewelry is perceived as jewelry, and not as a profitable investment, therefore, attention is paid to the brand, brand, fashionability and other attributes of style elements. The US is also the largest importer of jewelry from Europe, Israel and China.
- On the European gold market, the most widespread is Italian production. Despite the fact that the country does not have its own deposits and the products are made 100% from bank gold, Italian manufacturers have won respect for the uniqueness of their products, as well as for the interesting and stylish combination of gold of different colors. More than 70% of Italian jewelry is exported.
- South Africa began to develop its own deposits in the mid-to-late 19th century. This country owns unique and largest deposits of not only gold, but also platinum, diamonds, and all kinds of ores. At the same time, gold mining is still practically the basis of the country’s economy.
- South America has relatively young, undeveloped deposits, a large percentage of which is exported. However, in the twentieth century, Brazil became one of the leaders in world production.
Also read The best gold jewelry - TOP Russian manufacturers →
Gold Jewelry Styles
The art of jewelry is sensitive to historical eras, so styles of jewelry made from precious metals have changed over the centuries, adapting to general trends. Currently, there are both pure types of styles and their combinations, and the choice of decoration depends only on the taste and requirements of the owner. The most famous areas include:
- Gothic
- Baroque
- Rococo
- Classicism
- Art Nouveau (Art Nouveau)
- Art Deco
- Vanguard
- boho
- High tech
Almost all of these styles are still in demand today, although the history of some of them (for example, Gothic and Baroque) goes back more than three centuries.
Weaving type.
The type of weaving determines the strength of the structure and resistance to deformation and twisting. For example, omega and herringbone chains are more susceptible to twisting and tangling.
Another problem may be the possibility of the chain ruining clothes and collars. For example, a “snake” can become very tangled in a knot and get caught on clothing.
The next important thing is how thick the chain should be. Not only preferences depend on this, but also the ability to additionally wear a pendant or cross.
To put a beautiful and large piece of jewelry on a chain, you need to make sure that it can withstand such weight. The most optimal choice of weaving is the “box” and “spikelet” chains.
They are quite flexible and durable. You can also choose such types of weaving as “figaro”, “anchor”, “rope”, “sea” and others.
Jewelry with inlay
If you want to choose jewelry with precious stones, it is important to pay attention to some details. Methods for securing stones may vary. There is a mechanical method in which the stone becomes a pommel and is secured in special teeth - this is often typical, for example, for wedding rings.
And there is inlay, when stones are inserted into special channels cut directly into the product. These products have features that you need to know about:
- Inlaid stones are vulnerable. Since they are not secured in the frame with anything other than special glue, there is a risk of falling out and being lost.
- Jewelry with inlays cannot be changed in size (which can easily be done, for example, with a ring in which the stone is mechanically fixed)
- For such products, ultrasonic cleaning is prohibited, as well as excessively high temperatures - under their influence, the glue may “float” and the stones will fall out.
Also read The best gold jewelry - TOP 10 world brands →
Which gold should you not choose?
High-quality gold jewelry has an appropriate mark and, although they cost a decent amount, their reputation has been tested by time, which cannot be said about Turkish gold. Although products from Turkey are marked with a high standard, it does not correspond to reality, since in fact they contain a small percentage of gold. Such jewelry can break, and after a short period of time the top gold layer wears off, and copper usually appears underneath. This gold stains the skin and can cause allergies.
High-quality products undergo external and internal processing, which is confirmed by the relevant information on the tag. Therefore, it is better to buy gold in special jewelry stores, which will save you from purchasing low-quality metal. Often low quality products cause health problems.
Gold jewelry should be smooth, even and polished. If you accidentally drop it on a hard surface, it will make a clear and ringing sound. When choosing gold products, you need to be careful to avoid stress and disappointment later.