What red gold really is, what it looks like and how it differs from yellow: quality reviews + how much does it cost per gram

What kind of gold is this

Everyone has heard the term “red” gold, which is sometimes called red, which is not entirely true. Chervony is an almost pure metal above 900 purity. When heated, it acquires a bright scarlet color.

Thanks to this feature, the presence of a foreign element in the chervonets was checked precisely by heating. When coins made using ligatures heat up, they form opacities.

The red precious metal, on the contrary, is distinguished by the presence of a ligature in its composition. In this case, numerous variations of additives are allowed. And the quantitative ratio of the noble element and the ligature is directly related to color, quality and purity.

Composition and properties

Modern manufacturers prefer various alloys to red gold. This is due to the fact that the ligature increases wear resistance and gives unusual tones to the noble metal.

Today there are several options used in the production of jewelry. Their composition and physical properties are regulated by a system of established Russian GOSTs.

What is responsible for color?

Expert opinion

Vsevolod Kozlovsky

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

The shade of the resulting material directly depends on the selected ligature and its quantitative share in the total mass. However, this precious metal also has some peculiarities. For example, red 900 standard has a slight reddish tint and has almost no impurities.

Strength

To protect products from mechanical damage and make them more durable, alloys began to be introduced into the composition of pure Au. This method increases the service life and makes jewelry more affordable.

Today, limited editions of jewelry are made from pure gold. Basically, these are massive wedding rings that retain their shape more easily.

Shade range

By adding rubidium to the 999 sample, a black metal is obtained. Blue indicates that indium was used. The hardest color to achieve is white. For its production, not only Aurum is used, but also nickel, platinum and palladium.

The palette of red tones looks no less impressive. These shades are achieved by introducing copper ore into the composition. The brighter the metal, the lower its purity and the higher the copper content.

Noble and delicate pink shades are obtained by introducing copper and silver. At the same time, the saturation of pink is regulated by the content of silver.

Samples

Red gold is available on the Russian market in four varieties:

1. 333rd or 375th. This metal contains no more than 38% pure Au. It is practically not used in jewelry, as it quickly fades. There are alloys of orange color.
2. 583rd (Soviet). Depending on the composition, it can change color from bright red to pale pink. Copper and silver were used as alloys. Pink versions contain nickel.
3. 585th. The most common test. Copper, silver, palladium and nickel are used as alloys. A very durable and yet malleable alloy.
4. 750th. Valued for its strength and malleability in forging. It contains platinum, nickel, copper, silver and palladium. May be red or pink.

There are six types of samples in total. All of them determine the quantitative fraction of the main element contained in the alloy. For example, the product has a hallmark of 585, which means: a 1 kg bar contains 585 g of pure gold, and the rest is alloys.

A few words about red gold

Nowadays you can often hear the term “red” or scarlet gold. It gets its name from its simple method of testing the purity of a precious metal. The method involved heating a gold coin until it turned red. At the same time, the inclusion of other metals in the gold alloy changed the original color of the metal.

Red gold consists of pure gold or gold of the highest standard and has a dark yellow color.

From the word “chervonnoe” comes the name of the royal coins - cervonets, which were made from 900-carat gold

How is it different from yellow gold?

The first and main difference is color. And, of course, the composition. In yellow alloys, copper is never found, while in red alloys it is the main alloying element.

Jewelry made from red gold is gaining popularity among Russians, but Europeans prefer classic yellow jewelry. In Moscow you can buy exquisite jewelry from any metal, but it is better to do this in branded stores.

Which gold is better to choose, red or yellow?

The choice of shade depends entirely on personal preference. Today you can find jewelry in three colors at once. The main thing when choosing jewelry is to buy complete sets. Yellow alloys also vary in color, and the earrings you purchase may not match your previously purchased chain or ring.

High-quality and expensive metal has a light, unobtrusive tint. This is especially true for copper alloys. Here it is better to avoid saturated colors.

Which one to choose?

When buying jewelry, the question always arises regarding choice. Whether to choose red or white gold is a very personal question. For some, the deciding point will be the price of gold per gram. Some people may think that one metal color is too faded and want something bright. The third group of women will choose gold depending on their skin tone. For example, yellow gold jewelry will suit dark-skinned girls more. For fair-haired women with light white skin, red gold will be preferable.

Quite often, jewelry is chosen based on love for stones. Bright garnets or rubies will look much more impressive and advantageous in red or rose gold. When it comes to engagement rings, most brides know what red gold is. A ring made of this metal will last longer than all other alloys. It will also be left for the great-grandchildren, as they say.

Which gold is more expensive - red, white or yellow?

The cost depends on many factors. In particular, from the components of the ligature. Alloys containing platinum and palladium will be more expensive.

Expert opinion

Vsevolod Kozlovsky

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

As a rule, the cost of white metal is always higher. The next line in the price rating is occupied by yellow metal, and copper finishes the top three. However, soft pink alloys, which also contain platinum and palladium, may be valued higher than classic yellow ones.

Pros and cons of red gold

Any precious metal has both positive and negative sides.

The clear advantages include:

Durability. Copper in the composition protects the product from external factors. “Red” jewelry often proves to be more durable than white or yellow ones.

Availability. Copper is a fairly cheap impurity, which helps reduce the price of such a metal. This means that such jewelry is available to a wider segment of the population.

Tone. The red tone is perfect for any skin tone.

Fashion. Famous jewelry houses regularly use this alloy to create new collections.

The disadvantages include:

Lack of versatility. The alloy is not compatible with all clothing items

Possible allergic reactions to copper.

Combination with stones

Unlike yellow gold, red gold is inlaid much more often. It has rich scatterings of stones, numerous inserts and ornate patterns. Pink alloys look good with diamonds of any size.

And for everyday wear, 585 standard, inlaid with cubic zirconia or other semi-precious stones, is suitable.

Features of the precious alloy

We already know what it is - a 585 yellow gold marker. Now it is worth mentioning its features, the most common of which are:

• Practical for daily wear;
• High resistance to mechanical damage;
• Excellent ductility and flexibility in processing;
• Affordable cost of jewelry.

Jewelry with precious stones

Humanity fell in love with gold precisely for its sunny color. The rulers of ancient civilizations decorated their signs of power with it, wore crowns and other jewelry made of this metal, as they considered it a true symbol of greatness. At the present time, the yellow precious alloy has not lost its popularity. According to European beliefs, this material symbolizes true love and is considered the most suitable for making wedding rings.

Yellow gold, like no other variety, serves as an excellent setting for multi-colored precious stones. The most popular companions of this metal are:

• Ruby;
• Emerald;
• Sapphire;
• Quartz;
• Topaz;
• Pomegranate.

These gems are most often used by jewelry makers in rings, rings, bracelets and pendants made of yellow metal.

A diamond combined with a yellow alloy is much less common. At the moment, its combination with colder precious metals is most relevant.

To the questions - “What is it - red and yellow gold with a 585 hallmark?” and “What are the characteristics of these precious alloys?”, we have found the answers. All you have to do is choose which one you like best.

Where can you buy or sell

People who sell jewelry secondhand often find counterfeit goods, and purchase prices are significantly reduced. If you want to save money, you can find good options at a pawn shop. But it's best to go to the store.

In addition, in pawn shops you can sell your boring jewelry at a profit. The final purchase price will be influenced by the condition (scrap or jewelry), the presence of precious or semi-precious stones, and fineness.

How much is 1 gram of red gold worth today?

Rates are updated according to global fluctuations in the cost of a gram of gold. Prices are calculated based on the precious metal content of the alloy. The graph below shows the cost of the most popular 585 standard:

How to decipher a gold sample

If we talk about the metric system, then the mark on the precious metal shows how many grams of pure substance are contained in a kilogram of the alloy. For example, hallmark 585 means that 1 kg of alloy contains 585 grams, or 58.5% gold.

In the carat grading system, a chemically pure substance has a grade of 24 carats. The 22 carat mark is equivalent to the 916 metric mark and the 14 carat mark is equivalent to the 585 metric mark.

The unit of measurement in the spool system is the pound, equal to 96 gold units.

Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage

The following tips will help you maintain the shine and beautiful appearance of your jewelry:

1. A soap solution will help keep items made from red alloys from tarnishing longer. Apply it to jewelry carefully, using soft brushes.
2. Inlaid jewelry is wiped with a soft cloth, without using brushes.
3. You can clean your jewelry using a sugar solution. To do this, you need to take 200 ml of warm water, dissolve 3 tablespoons of sugar in it and lower the decoration into the liquid, leaving it for 12 hours.

Jewelers do not recommend using the favorite method of using toothpaste and a brush. This will greatly spoil the appearance of the decoration. You also need to limit the contact of jewelry with chemicals.

To prevent the rings from becoming deformed, it is advisable to remove them when going to the gym or doing physical labor.

How to care?

An unusual bright appearance and even a high price will not be a reason to refuse to buy red gold jewelry. Women know that this metal is extremely easy to care for. To maintain an aesthetic appearance, a careful attitude is enough. It is recommended to wear jewelry for a limited amount of time. Constant wear, as well as contact with sebum or sweat can play a cruel joke on red gold. The sample, of course, will not be erased, but the product will fade considerably.

It is also recommended to avoid water treatments. Remove rings and other red gold jewelry before swimming in an open pond, bath, or sauna. The metal does not tolerate contact with hygiene products or chlorine, and exposure to salt water is undesirable.

It is very important to store products correctly. It is not recommended to put silver and gold jewelry, red gold and white gold rings, etc. in one box. You need to be even more careful with those items that have stones. Unfortunately, not every ring with a stone can be polished and restored to its original appearance.

Where is the best place to buy red gold? Recommendations for selection

It is better to purchase any jewelry in specialized official boutiques. It makes sense to go to a pawnshop if you want to save money. But you definitely shouldn’t buy jewelry second-hand.

As for recommendations for choice, it is worth noting that gold suits everyone, and the red precious metal is an ageless classic. The final choice will largely depend on the style and taste of a particular person.

Women over 40 years old are recommended to purchase massive jewelry. With their help, you can emphasize the line of the shoulders and neck, create the desired accent, and attract attention. Products of small sizes do not look so impressive on older women. They can create the impression of an unfinished image.