Yellow gold is a precious metal widely used in the jewelry industry. However, along with its remarkable properties - resistance to corrosion and oxidation, for example, the substance is extremely soft, and this makes it impossible to use it in jewelry in its pure form. Therefore, the necessary strength and wear resistance are achieved by adding impurities to the metal.
Why is gold yellow?
The precious metal, mined from the depths of the earth, is distinguished by its rich yellow color, even considering that it is not found in nature in an ideally pure form. This is due to its optical properties and, in particular, to the structure of electronic levels. They completely absorb the total radiation of light waves, as a result of which a person sees the yellow color of the metal. When impurities are added in a certain ratio, the shade of the alloy changes.
Tips for choosing gold jewelry
- Ask for a product passport and inquire about certification.
- Carefully inspect the product externally - there should be no traces of polishing or hiding scratches. There should be no flimsy places, stones and links should be held tightly.
- Don't buy jewelry for the sake of "investing in gold." Firstly, this is a very unstable unit, and secondly, in this case it is better to open a metal account in a bank.
- Trust only papers with stamps, do not fall for folk methods of identifying real gold. Even an experienced jeweler cannot always determine which is a fake and which is the original.
Samples and composition of yellow gold
The sample height depends on the percentage volume of pure gold in the alloy. The metric system is used on the territory of the Russian Federation. It directly shows the percentage of gold in the product.
Depending on the type of additive, as well as its amount in the alloy, the shade also varies. 375 fine jewelry, due to the presence of copper, typically has a distinctive red luster. They almost never have yellow color. In addition to copper, the composition includes nickel and silver.
Jewelry marked 585 is the most popular on the jewelry market. If we compare the alloy used for them with a similar foreign one, it corresponds to 18 carats. In addition to gold, copper, nickel, silver, and zinc are used to make it. As a result, the color of the decoration is uniformly yellow.
750 standard is famous for its higher gold content than 585, and therefore has a brighter hue. Its composition contains 75.0% pure aurum, and the remaining mass is equally occupied by copper and silver.
The situation is similar with jewelry of 958 standard, only the total amount of impurities does not exceed 4.2%. Due to this, such alloys are considered almost pure. They are loved for the rich and bright color of their products, often having a lemon tint. However, 958 gold is not very popular due to its low wear resistance.
History of appearance
A new mark appeared on products in 1994. It replaced the most popular standard in the Soviet Union - 583, which had not been replaced since 1927. This was the very first figure after the formation of a system for determining the quality of an alloy in digital format. The replacement occurred due to lower valuations of precious items in the USSR than of the same alloys abroad. Then the jewelers came to the decision to increase the gold content by 0.2%, so that domestic products would be valued higher than foreign ones.
What other colors does gold have?
Most of the jewelry presented in jewelry stores is yellow in different shades. The vast majority of people know about the existence of white, pink and red precious metals.
In fact, the color spectrum of precious alloys is much wider. To obtain the desired shade, you just need to add impurities to the ligature in a certain proportion.
| Alloy color | Gold (Au), % | Silver (Ag), % | Copper (Cu), % | Nickel (Ni), % | Zinc (Zn), % | Palladium (Pd), % | Iron (Fe), % | Cobalt (Ar), % |
| Light yellow | 58,5 | 7,5 | 10,6 | 7,7 | 2,2 | — | — | — |
| Bright yellow | 75,0 | 12,2 | 12,8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pink-yellow | 37,5 | 24,5 | 38,0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Red | 58,5 | 7,0 | 34,5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Green | 58,5 75,0 | 41,5 25,0 | — — | — — | — — | — — | — — | — — |
| White | 58,5 75,0 | 28,2 — | — 15,9 | — 7,0 | 3,8 2,1 | 9,5 — | — — | — — |
| Blue | 75,0 | — | — | — | — | — | 25,0 | — |
| Black | 75,0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25,0 |
How to distinguish from a fake at home
There are several ways to check the authenticity of a gold item at home. The very first, and quite funny way can be seen in many films. The testing tactic is called “On the tooth.” Indeed, if you press your teeth on a gold item, real gold will leave a dent, which fakes will not do. However, this tactic is not always correct, since the gold product may contain lead impurities, and it is also quite soft.
For the second method you will need a ceramic product; it is always present in the kitchen. All you need to do to check is to apply light pressure and run the gold piece along the edge of the pottery. In this case, the gold product will leave a yellow stripe, and the fake will simply draw a black line.
Areas of application
Most of the gold mined in Russia is used to make jewelry. Also, a considerable share ends up in the state reserve. However, there are other options for using the precious metal:
- coating electrical circuit boards and creating gold conductors;
- production of targets for nuclear research and shells of neutron bombs;
- metallization of building windows;
- dental prosthetics;
- preparation of certain medications for the treatment of tuberculosis, cancer, arthritis;
- cosmetic facial cleansing, etc.
How to clean a 585 product yourself
There are several simple methods to deal with contamination of products that consist of 585 gold. One of the most common methods of cleaning jewelry made of 585 gold is the use of ordinary household products. The most common and effective detergent is regular 72% laundry soap. In order to effectively rid a gold item of tarnishing and contamination, it is necessary to add some detergent to the water. You must immerse the product in the resulting solution and boil it for 10 minutes. After this procedure, you need to rinse the 585 gold product under cool water, the last step will finally give your product a brilliant color.
The second method of cleaning 585 gold items is also quite simple and can be used at home. All you need is hot water diluted with two teaspoons of baking soda and a piece of fleecy cloth. Your product also needs to be boiled in a soda solution for literally 10-15 minutes, and then be sure to rinse under cool running water. At the end of all procedures, you should carefully wipe the product with a lint cloth, which will complete the cleaning procedure.
Advantages and disadvantages of yellow metal
The main disadvantage of pure gold is its fragility and low wear resistance. Products based on it quickly break, bend, scratch and deform in other ways.
Despite this, gold is still popular:
- It has an unusual, aesthetically attractive and bright color - products made from it attract the eye, regardless of the method of finishing and the addition of gems.
- It has a long service life - with proper care and careful handling, gold items will retain their integrity for many years; jewelry can be passed on for several generations.
- The metal is easy to process - after being extracted from the depths, the nuggets are cleaned of excess impurities and are ready for processing, without the need to immerse them in anti-oxidizing agents.
Strength
It is copper that provides this parameter. The more it is in the alloy, the more difficult it is to damage the product from friction. For example, “red” gold has a longer lifespan than its counterparts made from traditional alloys.
But this product will also develop cracks and scratches over time.
For an attractive appearance, constant care of the product is required.
Which gold is better: yellow or red?
On the territory of the USSR, jewelry of a red hue predominated. The habit of wearing red metal remained even after the collapse of the republics. Only in recent years has there been a shift in priorities towards the traditional golden hue. Experts recommend that you familiarize yourself with the features of both options before purchasing.
Yellow decorations:
- attractive in appearance;
- have natural shades;
- blend harmoniously with dark skin;
- retain their shine for many years.
Red decorations:
- has a familiar color;
- have higher strength;
- do not deform over time;
- goes well with diamonds.
For wedding rings
Classic wedding rings were traditionally made from yellow precious metal. Today they are also at the peak of popularity. However, as an alternative, jewelry stores offer models that combine yellow with white. The sophisticated and sophisticated design of the products is created with the help of diamond inserts.
For jewelry
When choosing jewelry for every day, it is recommended to give preference to items made of red metal. Gold in combination with copper is more durable and wear-resistant, which means it will last longer. Jewelry in high-quality yellow tones is best suited for holidays and special occasions.
By the way, products made of yellow gold are beautiful in themselves and do not need sophisticated ornaments. It is better to leave them for precious metal in red shades.
Brand
This is the surest way to determine the quality of a product. Firstly, it confirms that the product is truly precious and not a fake. Secondly, it indicates its variety. In the Russian Federation, a mark for decoration is placed in the form of a woman’s profile, and a number corresponding to the alloy is pressed near it.
Products from the Soviet Union depict a hammer and sickle inside a large star. And the number indicating quality will be 583.
Where can you buy or sell
You should buy gold jewelry only in jewelry stores with a good reputation. And although pawn shops offer them at a lower cost, you won’t find the latest models there. Buying centers are good only in cases where it is necessary to sell gold that is damaged or if there are no documents for it.
Gold bullion coins are bought and sold through banks. It is advisable to carry out both operations within the same financial institution.
How much does 1 gram of yellow gold cost today, depending on the standard?
The amount of pure yellow metal in the alloy directly affects the price formation. Here are the current prices for basic samples:
| Price 999 standard according to the Central Bank | Market value of the sample today | Scrap price | Price in jewelry |
Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage
To maintain its presentation, jewelry requires care and cleaning. If the necessary standards are observed, it will last for many years.
- Finished products are stored in special bags or separate cases. It is better to store chains in an extended state.
- Wash your jewelry with warm water and soap from time to time. Do not rub them with brushes or put them in chemical mixtures.
- To return the original color, there is a special paste that can be bought in jewelry stores. If in doubt, you can take the product for professional cleaning.
- When swimming, physical work, or playing sports, it is better to remove jewelry.
