Which gold is the best and why: review of all samples with cost + reviews

What is a sample?

Gold in its pure form is soft and ductile, so a product made from it quickly becomes covered with scratches and dents, but at the same time has a high cost. To impart hardness, a ligature or auxiliary materials are added to precious alloys, usually silver and copper, less often platinum, nickel, and cobalt.

Fineness is the proportion of noble metal in an alloy. Each piece of jewelry is stamped with a stamp indicating this value.

Blue gold

Another type of consumer gold, the exquisite color of which is obtained after applying rhodium plating (cheap in itself) or adding cobalt to the alloy.

The author of the technology is jeweler Antoniassi from Argentina. Also an important component of blue gold is iron (steel), and the alloy is formed in a ratio of 3 to 1 or 2 to 1. Accordingly, an alloy of 72 and 62 samples is obtained.

Based on the size of the sample, you can judge that the price of gold mixed with steel cannot be high; on the contrary, it is one of the cheapest and is not always considered a precious metal.

Sample systems

There are different standards systems in the world, metric and carat are the most common. According to Russian legislation, all products made of precious metals have a mark, which, together with the product passport, serves as proof of their authenticity and legality. These issues are dealt with by the state assay supervision.

Metric

The metric system, in force in most European countries, was adopted in Russia in 1927 and replaced spool measures, which by that time had become obsolete. According to this system, the numerical number indicates the number of grams of pure substance in a 1 kg ingot.

Carat

In the USA, Canada and some European countries, there is an old carat system for grading alloys. An alloy of 24 carats is equivalent to pure gold; lower values ​​​​indicate the proportion of precious material. For example, a nine-carat mark means that the alloy contains nine parts of the precious metal, and 15 parts are occupied by the ligature.

Zolotnikovaya

The ancient spool system was used in Rus' from the 17th century until 1927. A spool is a measure of weight equal to 1.26 g. The highest grade was designated by the number 96. The mark 56 indicated that the alloy contained 56 parts of gold and 40 parts of impurity.

Sample correspondence table

Let's compare the sample values ​​of different systems:

Gold jewelry from different countries

In Europe there is a carat system for valuing gold. In the post-Soviet space, the metric system is relevant. Pure gold in the composition is measured in grams.

The most popular standard in Russia is 585. Less attention is paid to 750. Although in EU countries it is quite the opposite. For example, in Italy, decorations below 750 are not accepted. At the same time, Italians do not wear jewelry every day, but use them only on special occasions. In Switzerland, the sale of samples below 750 is prohibited by law.

It happens that in different countries the same sample has differences. They do not refer to the percentage content, but to the ratio of the ligature.

What determines the color of the sample?

Pure gold has a yellow color. Other shades are obtained by changing the ratio of metals in the alloy. For example, silver gives the alloy a green color, copper - a red tint, nickel, platinum and zinc - white. There are lemon, pink, orange, black and even purple alloys. They are obtained by changing the ratio of additional metals.

High quality varieties are only yellow in color, because... the proportion of the ligature is so small that it cannot affect the shade.

What is the difference between white, yellow and red gold?

The main colors of gold jewelry are yellow, white and red. The shade of the alloy is not related to the grade. For example, a ring with the mark 585 can be of any color. The changes concern only the ligature:

To obtain a white tint, in addition to nickel, platinum and zinc are used.

Different colored alloys of the same grade have the same quality. However, the components of white gold - zinc and nickel - often cause allergic reactions. Jewelry with platinum is harmless and has a higher value than jewelry of other colors.

Blue, green and gray gold - truth or myth?

The high interest in gold jewelry of unusual shades has pushed jewelers to new experiments. With the help of various impurities, blue, light blue, gray, and black alloys are obtained. Sometimes yellow metal is coated with colored enamel, this simplifies and reduces the cost of obtaining a different color. However, such jewelry is short-lived and quickly becomes covered with scuffs and scratches.

Alchemists in the Middle Ages made blue gold by mixing the precious metal with iron. Modern experiments have shown that this alloy quickly rusts and turns brown.

Now blue and dark blue gold is made using iridium, gallium, and indium. This shade is also obtained using rhodium plating. Casting blue alloy is a labor-intensive and complex process and is more fragile than traditional jewelry. To obtain a gray color, jewelers mix pure precious metal with nickel and manganese.

A large amount of silver gives the metal a green tint. This alloy was found in the form of nuggets. Another name for this material is electrum. The first mentions of it date back to the 3rd millennium BC. Modern jewelers achieve a variety of shades from rich green to olive.

Comparison of white and yellow gold

Which gold is better – yellow or white? Both of these alloys can be produced in 585 or 750 samples. If you compare alloys without rhodium plating, they will be quite similar: the white metal looks like pale yellow gold. Without rhodium plating, the metals are similar in perception, the same stones “suit” them, but if you compare yellow and rhodium-plated white gold, you can clearly feel their difference: rhodium gives the metal a “steel” character - making it colder and more severe.

It should be noted that yellow gold is common abroad, but in Russia it is not so common. Due to this rarity, it may cost slightly more than the other two options. The collections of Russian jewelry factories include a limited number of models in this color; choosing from them exactly what you need can be quite difficult.

White gold ring with diamonds 921403B

Designer ring in yellow gold D3583

Stylists' opinion

Yellow gold is a traditional shade for European jewelry. Any precious stones look good in it - the shade is not so warm as to conflict with cold topaz, aquamarines, tanzanites or amethysts, it goes well with warm-colored stones - padparadscha sapphire, ruby. This color is perceived as premium and is often used to create high-end jewelry - like these diamond earrings on a gold plate. This is a good choice for people who want to emphasize their status.

White gold is not so pretentious. It is more suitable for business style clothing. Its owner is perceived as a calm, strong person with modern views. People who prefer to be the first to embrace new trends should take into account that jewelry made of white gold without rhodium plating is gaining popularity in Europe. This metal looks original, and it also saves the owner from the troubles associated with the loss of the rhodium layer.

Astrologers' opinion

What kind of gold is better to buy if you want the jewelry to be not only an adornment, but also a personal talisman? A person who relies only on his own strength is better off choosing yellow metal. It will give you strength and help you implement your plans. Well, those who trust their intuition and hope to receive the support of others and the universe itself should prefer the white color of gold jewelry.

Where is pure gold found?

There is no absolutely pure precious metal in nature. Nuggets contain impurities of other metals (silver, copper). Sample 999.9 is obtained only under industrial conditions. One hundred percent gold can only be obtained through a nuclear reaction by bombarding it with elementary mercury particles. The price of such an alloy will be astronomical.

Gold of 999.9 and 990 purity is used in the following areas:

1. Production of bank bars and investment coins.
2. To create a gold coating - gold leaf.
3. In instrument making and microelectronics, high-grade material is used, which is a good neutral conductor and a means of thermal insulation.

Selection rules

Experts advise choosing gold depending on the purpose for which it is used. Most often, the precious metal is used to make jewelry. In addition, it is becoming increasingly in demand in the microelectronics, medical, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Principles for choosing material for jewelry:

1. For everyday wear, it is better to choose jewelry made of red alloy.
2. The yellow variety is considered more luxurious and expensive. Products made from it are purchased for special occasions. Such jewelry is not suitable for daily use, since the yellow mixture is too soft and easily deformed. Repairing such products will cost the owner significantly more.
3. Those who decide to get a gold watch inlaid with precious stones are better off opting for the red version. Such a thing will be durable, reliable and look great on your hand.
4. The yellow variety is traditionally used to make wedding rings - it has always symbolized eternal love, stability and marital fidelity.
5. For making fancy ornaments and complex jewelry, white or red metal is more suitable. They are used to make decorative flowers, leaves and buds.
6. Yellow-colored products are distinguished by laconic lines and a minimum of complex details. Even if you make a complex piece of jewelry from such metal, it will not have such an impressive appearance as red or white.

The buyer, based on his preferences, chooses which gold is better - white or yellow.

Characteristics of common jewelry markings

Depending on the ratio of pure precious material and alloy, the properties of the alloys change. Let's look at the features of common varieties.

375 sample

375 standard contains only 37.5% pure gold, the rest being impurities (usually silver and copper).

Main features of this material:

1. Has high strength.
2. It oxidizes quickly and darkens. Jewelry of this type requires regular care.
3. It can be of different shades, most often yellow, red and white. The pink metal is the most durable compared to the others.
4. The price of low-grade jewelry is lower than that of higher-grade jewelry.

375 standard is quite common; all types of jewelry are made from it, which are in stable demand.

500 sample

An alloy with this value is almost never used in the production of domestic jewelry, because it is of low grade and contains 50% pure gold. It is difficult to cast due to the high risk of defects. However, the five hundredth alloy is popular in other countries. Items such as cufflinks, brooches, cigarette cases, pens are made from it, and used as gilding.

Thanks to the large volume of the ligature, craftsmen obtain different shades: dark yellow, orange-red, white. In Russia, this metal is used as a standard during examination.

585 sample

The most common 585 variety in Russia officially appeared in 1994, replacing the common 583 sample, which did not meet international standards. The popularity of the alloy is explained by the ideal combination of quality and price. The material contains 58.5% pure gold - this is enough to prevent products made from it from darkening.

The high copper content provides the necessary hardness. 585 standard allows you to obtain all possible shades of gold alloys.

750 sample

Grade 750 is also widely used for making jewelry and contains 75% pure precious metal. Unlike 585, this alloy is softer; products made from it require special care and careful handling.

The ligature allows you to achieve different shades.

958 sample

958 alloy contains 95.8% gold and is practically not used in jewelry. Jewelry made from it is made only to individual order; it turns out to be massive, without small details; scratches and abrasions quickly appear on the surface.

More often, grade 958 is used to create the thinnest plates - gold leaf, which are used to cover luxury items. Products 958 are only available in yellow.

999 sample

The highest grade is as close as possible to pure gold. It is not used in jewelry because of its softness. The main application is the casting of bank bars and investment coins.

Comparison of white and red gold

From a practical point of view, to the question “Which gold is better – red or white?”, many answer unequivocally: of course, red! After all, products made from a white alloy are usually coated with rhodium, and its layer needs to be renewed over time. This will be especially noticeable on jewelry that you often use, such as rings or chains. Many buyers perceive the presence of rhodium plating as a minus, missing out on the advantages of this coating, which:

• gives jewelry a beautiful steel shine;
• strengthens gold, which is soft by nature (rhodium-plated jewelry is less damaged and scratched);
• particles of precious metal do not wear off - the ring or chain does not lose weight. For jewelry that is worn occasionally, this does not matter, but for an engagement ring that you plan to wear without taking it off for the rest of your life, this may be important.

You can restore the rhodium layer in a matter of minutes by entrusting the jewelry to the care of a jeweler. But if you don't feel like doing this, choose a red alloy. True, it is sometimes worth giving it for polishing and cleaning so that it remains as beautiful as the day it was purchased.

If we compare alloys by their combination with stones, then white gold wins in alliance with diamonds - it was created to highlight and enhance their shine. In addition, a white background is ideal for stones of cool shades - for example, amethyst, topaz. Well, emeralds and rubies look more impressive with red metal. Sapphire and pearls are beautiful in their own way when set in both shades.

White gold ring with diamonds 921350B

Red gold earrings with diamonds 912214B

Opinion of stylists and designers

Red gold is the most neutral in style, suits people of any color type and is most often used in classic models of precious jewelry. Outside Russia, it is not widespread and is perceived as exotic; in the world it is often called “Russian gold.” If you are used to being Western-oriented, gold jewelry with a red tint is not for you. If you are proud of the traditions of the Russian and Soviet jewelry school, then you can always choose something special, for example, a ring with a sapphire track, the shine of which is enhanced by diamonds.

White gold with rhodium plated is more often used to create modern jewelry models, incl. in high-tech style. In addition, it replaces noble and expensive platinum in exclusive jewelry with diamonds: appreciate it in this role in a beautiful union with sapphires and diamonds in a women's ring with stones in a circle. If we consider the same model of jewelry in red and white gold, the latter will look more restrained and more sophisticated. True, this rule only works if we are talking about jewelry with an expressive design. Serial models in white gold look simpler and can easily be confused with silver or even steel.

Astrologers' opinion

Both red and white gold are reliable amulets for their owner: in the white alloy, the silver included in the ligature is responsible for this function, and in the red alloy, copper is responsible. Both metals protect against the evil eye and other bad influences. At the same time, gold jewelry with a red tint gives the owner vibrant vital energy, and white metal enhances intellectual and creative abilities.

Red and white alloys are the most popular in Russia when choosing wedding rings. Which gold is better in this case? Experts in the energy of metals assure that wearing wedding rings made of red gold will make the relationship between husband and wife more trusting, and white models will help each spouse maintain their “self”, not lose their individuality and their own interests, dissolving in worries about the family.

What grade of gold is best to buy?

Any sample has advantages and disadvantages and its own area of ​​application. Let's consider which alloys are more profitable to buy.

Which is better for wedding rings

In Russia, wedding rings are made from 375, 585 and 750 varieties. In rare cases, this jewelry has a 958 hallmark - such jewelry is made to order, but is not practical, so it is not popular.

375 rings are the cheapest. They have sufficient strength and are less prone to bending and scratching. To maintain shine and color, jewelry requires regular treatment.

Rings of 585 and 750 varieties are popular in Russia. They have sufficient strength and do not darken for a long time. The shade of the product can be not only yellow, but also another, characteristic of gold alloys.

Which is better for jewelry

To create jewelry, 585 and 750 gold is used because they have the following advantages:

• strength;
• noble shine and color;
• do not darken, do not stain the skin, do not cause allergies;
• can be of different shades, combined with other precious materials;
• a high level of plasticity allows craftsmen to produce products with complex patterns and small details.

Which is better for investment and savings?

If the main purpose of buying gold is investment, I do not recommend going to a jewelry store. The price of jewelry consists of the cost of the material and the assessment of the craftsman’s work. Don't forget about the final seller's markup. As a result, gold items are quite expensive, and when sold, in most cases they will be valued as scrap.

Expert opinion

Lyudmila Pestereva

Our most experienced gold investor

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The best gold for investment are special 999 fine coins and metal deposits. It is not necessary to purchase a whole gold bar; the bank gives you the opportunity to become the owner of several grams of pure precious metal. The purchase can be kept in the bank, and you receive a profit when gold prices rise.

Oriental or European gold?

Popular Turkish gold is gradually losing its reputation due to the fact that silver is no longer added to it. And due to the high content of copper in the alloy, the product begins to darken after short-term wear and has poor resistance to atmospheric influences. Turkish jewelers have reduced the price of their products due to the love of Russian tourists for red gold, which has noticeably affected the quality.

In Japan, jewelry is made only from pure gold. Such products are considered family heirlooms, they are worn only on special occasions and passed on by inheritance.

Italian gold is highly valued, as 750-carat metal is used for jewelry, and the products are durable and beautiful. In our country, the most practical and common is 375 and 585 gold, but its quality is not inferior to European metal.

Where can I buy or sell?

Buying jewelry and investment gold involves risk. The safest option is to contact large jewelry stores and banks.

There are other places where you can not only buy, but also sell jewelry:

• private advertisements;
• pawnshops;
• market;
• small jewelry stores;
• Internet.

Such a purchase is fraught with risk: the product may be counterfeit, there will be no warranty, and if a defect is discovered, it cannot be returned. The purchase is justified only in the case of collecting antiques. It is better to sell jewelry in pawn shops or jewelry stores that buy metal.

The price of one gram of gold today depending on the standard

The price of the precious metal depends on the rate of the Central Bank, which determines the price of one gram of the highest grade metal. The assessment of lower samples is based on this cost. Let's look at current metal prices in rubles. The graph below shows the cost of 999 samples:

The price for the best one for jewelry is 750:

As a conclusion, it can be noted that any gold alloy has a scope depending on its properties. In Russia, 585 and 750 samples of precious metal are popular.

Should you buy from a pawn shop?

Mostly, purchased items are purchased because of the lower price. You can do this safely at a pawnshop. When handing over an item, the owner’s passport details are recorded, which will protect you from purchasing a stolen item. The price, indeed, is sometimes almost twice as low. But here magicians and psychics intervene, who do not recommend wearing gold jewelry if someone has used it before. Gold is credited with the property of accumulating the energy of the previous owner.

Everyone has the right to choose for themselves. But you should remember that buying gold jewelry is an expensive purchase and should be taken seriously.