Gold samples: what are there for jewelry, which is better, the highest and lowest standards in Russia

The value of any piece of jewelry depends on the purity of the metal used. Almost every person, even if absolutely far from the jewelry business, has heard that jewelry is marked with a special mark. It is from this that the final value can be determined.

The mark conveys quite a lot of information about the product - sample, special mark and code. Deciphering the mark and independently assessing the jewelry is a simple task that anyone who has read the article to the end can cope with.

What is gold purity - definition of the concept

The purest gold is too soft in itself, it is so malleable that it can be molded by hand. Works made from it would be too short-lived. The problem is solved by adding new additives.

Gold samples for jewelry show the ratio of part of the precious metal to the remainder of the impurities. For example, the highest standard 999 contains 99.9% of the purest gold, and the remainder comes from third-party elements.

All jewelry containing more than 30% precious metals is subject to branding.

You can’t do without additives; they give the product hardness and give the jeweler the opportunity to experiment with shades.

Ingots 999.9 fine

Recommendations for care and cleaning

Gold bars of the highest standard are very vulnerable to mechanical stress, so they should be stored carefully, separately, avoiding contact with each other.

It is best to choose cases lined with soft fabric, such as velvet, on the inside. You should not take the ingot with your bare hands - buy gloves for this.

Sample 999.9 is not suitable for abrasive cleaning; it must be protected from interaction with aggressive substances (paints, solvents, acids). There are ways to wash the item with ammonia solution or shampoo, but the best option is special jewelry pastes. Polish using a small piece of cloth or suede.

Does real gold darken?

999.9 and other samples with a low content of impurities do not darken or fade over time (if stored carefully). An alloy with a large number of alloying components can oxidize - this is especially true for copper, and it is present in abundance in red gold and 375-carat gold.

Ligature and main impurities in gold alloys

The added additives are called alloys, and their amount changes the final properties of the alloy. The natural color of gold is yellow, but thanks to the ligature it is possible to achieve a wide variety of shades, from red to resin.

In Russia, for a long time it was customary to add copper to the precious metal, which is why our gold had a characteristic red color. Europe has always given preference to rich yellow color.

The ligature may consist of the following metals:

1. Zinc. In a certain amount it can help achieve an emerald hue, increases the fluidity of the material, and reduces the melting point.
2. Platinum. Increases melting point, helps achieve a shiny waxy color.
3. Nickel. Increases the alloy's resistance to mechanical damage and corrosion, and brightens it.
4. Silver. Makes the precious metal lighter, increases casting properties and final hardness.
5. Palladium. Increases the melting point, improves ductility, and makes the alloy lighter.
6. Copper. The best additive for hardness, gives a reddish tint.
7. Cadmium. Increases casting properties and gives a greenish color.

Interesting fact: to obtain a blue color of the metal, gallium is added to the composition; for a purple tint, aluminum is required. The markings do not affect the color. Precious metals of the same purity come in different shades.

Ligatures of gold alloys

Which sample is considered the best?

The answer to this question lies in the criteria by which the alloy is judged. If we evaluate from the point of view of resistance to damage, then low markings will take the leading position, and when assessing the purity of the precious metal - high ones.

To the dilemma “which gold standard is the best?” Only an individual answer is possible, based on personal preferences.

Highest gold grade

Among absolutely all gold samples that exist, 999 is the highest. The presence of the purest precious metal is 99.9%.

It is malleable and fragile, requires careful handling, and is absolutely unsuitable for creating delicate elaborate works.

The cost of one 999 gram is much higher than the most popular 585.

999 metal is surprisingly flexible, which allows it to take any shape, from a five-leaf flower to the most complex geometric shapes. The ability to create is limited only by the imagination of the master.

Highest gold marking 999

The most successful sample of gold

750 marking is mainly considered the most successful in terms of casting and external features. This alloy is easy for a variety of filigree manipulations, it is ideal for jewelry of varying complexity.

The only drawback of this precious metal is its high cost. Many famous jewelry houses use exclusively this metal or higher in their work to once again emphasize the status of the product. Things made of 750 alloy, encrusted with diamonds, can become a truly royal gift.

In the jewelry field, 750 alloy is called the “gold standard”.

The most sought after standard of gold

585 alloy is loved by most for its outstanding price-quality parity. A decent percentage of the purest metal is combined with an almost equal content of alloy, giving the products an additional strength resource.

This alloy is stable for everyday wear, does not darken due to contact with water, has a wide range of different shades, and is used to create a wide variety of products. It can be called average among other materials in terms of the content of precious metals.

This gold is used to make not only jewelry, but also cufflinks, hairpins, cups, writing instruments, paper clips, gift figurines, and much more.

Hallmark 585

The most durable standard of gold

Z75 alloy contains only 37.5% of the purest precious metal. Its main elements are copper and silver. They increase the wear resistance life.

375 gold is less valuable, and its price is definitely the lowest on the market. Although several decades ago this metal was not inferior in success to 585 marking.

Cheap products cannot boast of a respectable shine after years of wear, but they do not become distorted or scratched. With proper care, they do not leave streaks on the skin and the color does not fade. The lowest standard of gold is the strongest among others.

Pawnshops buy low-quality products in order to send them for melting and processing.

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.

Cost of gold per 1 gram. Fixing gold prices

The calculation of current prices is carried out by the Central Bank of Russia, based on the prices of the main UK exchange. The current quote for other alloys will depend on the cost of the purest 999 purity. On the stock exchange, the symbol for gold looks like this: “ХАУ”.

To determine the current cost of any sample, multiply the current price of the highest alloy by the required coefficient (for example, by 0.375). In this way, you can get the price per gram of precious metal of the required marking.

If you look at the stock exchange, then in 2021 prices for one gram of the purest precious metal vary around 4,256 rubles. Based on this value, the following figures will be relevant:

• 375 sample - 1596 rubles per gram;
• 500 - 2128 rubles;
• 585 - 2489 rubles;
• 750 - 3192 rubles;
• 875 - 3724 rubles;
• 958 - 4077 rubles;
• 999 - 4251 rubles.

Jewelry stores are based on exchange prices, but set their own prices for the goods. The markup can be minimal or 100%; it entirely depends on the company’s policy.

Pawnshops always accept items many times lower than the market price. Moscow pawnshops will buy the most expensive jewelry works.

Jewelry pawnshop

Fifty-fifty

Gold 500 in the karat system is identical to twelve carats. This alloy consists of only half of precious metal, so its cost is low. The color palette directly depends on the ratio of silver and copper. Poor castability does not allow the alloy to be used in the jewelry industry. Moreover, in a couple of years such a ring will become inconspicuous and dull. In our country and the CIS countries this alloy is practically not used. Such products are not presented in domestic jewelry stores, but the world wide production of inexpensive cufflinks, spectacle frames, pens, and brooches is on a large scale.

This is interesting! Modern Olympic medals contain only 1% gold.

Samples of gold alloys in Russian history

Antique markings are no longer relevant; they can only be seen on antique works of those times. They are echoes of pre-revolutionary and tsarist Russia, and the products themselves are of historical value.

Let's take a closer look at what grades of gold were relevant for those times.

Sample of old royal gold

High-grade royal gold was also called ducat gold. Coins were minted from it; it was equal to 93 spools or, translated into the metric system, 969 samples. The precious metal was introduced in 1701, as a result of the monetary reform of Peter I. During this reform, monetary circulation became unified throughout the country.

All ducat currency had a clearly established weight - 3.47 grams, where 3.36 grams is the purest gold.

56 standard gold is also called royal gold. It was used by artisans of those times for their creations. The single composition of 56 markings included copper, nickel, silver, and palladium.

According to today's criteria, 56 is equal to 585.

56 gold standard

Red gold

“Chervonny” means crimson. The copper contained in a small amount gives a characteristic scarlet tint. Half of all wedding rings for nobles during the era of Tsarist Russia were cast from it.

By today's standards, royal red gold is 999 fine.

Now this precious metal is used to cast bank bullion.

Gold samples of the Soviet Union

Almost every piece of jewelry made in the USSR by Fr. The sample is equivalent to the generally accepted 585, had a crimson tone due to the increased copper content and even later received the name “Soviet” or “Moscow” brand.

With the final fall of the Iron Curtain, the entire country abandoned the “Soviet brand”, switching to the generally accepted 585.

The law and body that controls gold transactions in Russia

The body responsible for examining alloys for the presence of precious metals is the Assay Inspectorate of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.

The responsibilities of the unit include checking for compliance with certification, sealing products with a personal stamp, and issuing quality certificates.

The law that controls transactions with gold is called “On the hallmarking of products made from precious metals.”

Assay inspection

GOST and its meaning today. Standard samples of Russia

In Russia, GOST R 5Z197-2008 has been established, which prescribes the labeling of precious metals based on their composition. According to this standard, the following hallmarks are provided for gold precious works: 375, 500, 583, 585, 750, 875, 916, 958, 999.

GOST establishes norms and standards that are mandatory for certified manufacturers.

What is gold marking

Marking is a special code in the form of an imprint.

Labeling has become mandatory for Russian manufacturers from January 1, 2021. It is applied in the Assay Office with a special laser. The purpose of marking is to protect the buyer from counterfeits, including foreign ones.

In the generally accepted meaning, marking is a set of appropriate marks on the surface of precious products.

Marking, hallmarking and assaying of jewelry

Stamp and hallmark on Russian jewelry

The correct structure of the mark is obliged to follow this order:

1. First, the code of the State Assay Supervision Inspectorate is entered.
2. Next is the ideogram of the assay certificate.
3. The last is the numerical value of the sample.

The code looks like a letter by which you can find out the inspection address. For example, the letter “C” indicates that the jewelry was tested in Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Perm or Udmurtia. “L” means the Republic of Karelia, the regions of Novgorod, Murmansk, St. Petersburg.

The hallmark is a tiny imprint of a woman's silhouette wearing a kokoshnik. The stamp on gold guarantees that it has been tested for compliance with the standards set by GOST.

On precious products from the times of the USSR, instead of a woman, you can see a five-pointed star, an integral symbol of that era.

Jewelry of the USSR

Marking of bank gold bars, commemorative coins

Such products are labeled differently. On the bar you can see its weight in grams, the percentage of gold, and the number. There is no sample stamp, since the ingot itself is practically the purest precious metal.

Commemorative coins are made from alloy 900 and higher. The key value lies in the rarity of the memorial coin. For example, numismatists will buy antique coins at the maximum price.

Dental gold test

Gold has been used to create dentures and fillings since antiquity. Dental gold is a special alloy where pure precious metal accounts for 90% of the total mass, 6% for copper, and the remaining 4% for silver.

This alloy corresponds to 900, one of the highest standards of gold.

Copper makes the alloy strong, silver sets off the crimson tint. This alloy is used in dentistry because it is easy to forge, is resistant to corrosion, and does not cause allergies in a significant proportion of clients.

Gold teeth

Sample and marking of gold leaf

Gold leaf is the thinnest leaves of the highest standard 999, traditionally used for decoration. High-grade gold is used to cover expensive designer frames, icons, and domes. It even finds application in cooking - in restaurants that practice gastronomic modeling, it is used as a food additive. The leaf additive has a unique code - E175.

Gold hallmark in electronics

The metal has high electrical conductivity, does not fade, does not rust. Most often it is implemented to cover transistor contacts and connections in semiconductor components.

Over the past five years, more than 1,000 tons of gold have been sold in the electronics sector.

The metal used in electronics is called technical. It has not been purified from foreign elements and cannot be used in precious metals. Therefore, it will not be possible to correlate the technical alloy with any sample.

general information

Gold is a metal that is listed as number 79 on the periodic table of chemical elements. In Latin it is called Aurum, abbreviated as Au. Gold owes its name to its color, because in translation it means “yellow”. If we turn to mythological sources, then there is an obvious parallel with Aurora - the goddess of the morning dawn, who every day illuminates the sky with a morning golden strip of light. Gold is soft; the metal itself in its pure form is quite malleable and easily bends and changes shape.

It is not so easy to extract pure gold, because it can be hidden deep in the depths of rocks, or mixed with soil, silt, sand, and other minerals. Gold mining can be done industrially, in the form of mining a gold-bearing vein. In this case, the rock is sifted using special heavy equipment, leaving behind gold grains and throwing out unnecessary soil. Such equipment can also operate on a platform installed in a large body of water. A more painstaking, but quite relevant method of extraction is working in the mountains and on streams.

Typically, gold is washed out of the rocks and settles at the bottom of the stream. It is not always possible to find a large piece of metal; more often, prospectors are engaged in filtering silt and sand, during which gold grains settle at the bottom of special dishes. This method is possible due to the high density of the material. At the bottom you can also find nuggets - pieces of pure gold. However, the procedure is very labor intensive as the particles are often barely visible to the human eye.

Gold without hallmark. How to determine its authenticity

Why might there be no hallmark on a genuine precious metal? There are several reasons:

1. Year of creation. If it is a genuine antique, it may have been produced at a time when labeling was not treated with the proper rigor.
2. Over the years, the seal may wear off due to the softness of the metal.
3. Unique privately produced products are sometimes not labeled.
4. The item may be from a private jewelry collection.
5. There may not be hallmarks on gold items from other countries due to milder production conditions. For example, Turkish artisans are allowed not to test jewelry. Such a purchase must be treated with special attention.
6. Products that are too small, weighing up to 3 grams, may not be marked.

The absence of a stamp can also indicate a fake. It is sometimes impossible to distinguish a fake by external characteristics alone.

TOP 5 ways to identify a fake

You can determine whether the precious metal in front of you is real or not by visiting a jewelry workshop.

You can verify the authenticity yourself in the following ways:

1. A small test using a lapis pencil from a pharmacy containing silver nitrates. For the test, you will need to wet the product, then run a pencil over its surface. Any metal other than gold will have traces of lapis.
2. Try dipping your jewelry in vinegar. The metal should not darken.
3. Sniff the product. Real precious metal has no odor, this is a very important difference.
4. Place the decoration inside fresh black bread. Leave for several days. When the bread has fermented, you need to remove the product. There will be no traces of mold or oxidation on real gold.
5. Try holding the jewelry to a magnet. The less precious metal the alloy contains, the stronger the attraction effect is observed.

Acid method for determining the gold sample. Nitrogen kit cost

The effect of aggressive chemicals on “solar” alloys is that they leave coffee-colored blotches. There is a rule: the lower the sample, the darker the stains.

This test can be done at home. Almost any acid can be used for the experiment; nitric acid is most often used.

The cost of a nitrogen testing kit is about 1000 rubles in specialized jewelry stores. It is recommended to buy such a set when the inspection is planned to be carried out more than once.

Ingots

Of course, the metal comes in different forms, and the banking “format” of pure gold is the bullion. It can be produced by sheet metal, stamping or cast in one piece. The mass of the precious metal is measured in ounces or grams. There are bars that weigh 1 gram, these are used as gifts or payments on special occasions. In the bank you can buy bars of various sizes - 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, 500 grams. The standard bar in the banking industry is 1000 grams.

An ounce is an international standard that indicates the volume and quality of an ingot. A troy ounce contains 31.1034768 grams. This measure originated from coins that were used in the Middle Ages. The figure for one ounce may vary among different historical sources. The Jewish unit of measurement is also known - the shekel. One shekel is 11.4 grams of pure metal. Asian countries have their own measurement measures.

Variety of shades of gold

Rich and radiant yellow is the color of the purest gold. The following plate examines the most common samples and their ebbs, obtained by adding various elements to the composition.

Shades of gold