999 standard gold and silver: properties of the highest standard, pricing on the international market, use of metals, recommendations for selection and care

Post updated: Jun 6, 2020

Gold of 999 standard does not actually contain any impurities; since ancient times it has been called red gold. Gold marked 999.9 fineness is not hard, is easily deformed, and is susceptible to chips and scratches during use.

Therefore, it is rarely used in jewelry making, preferring its investment potential.

To level out these shortcomings, various metals, the so-called alloy, are added to the alloy containing 999 fine gold. Materials such as platinum, silver, palladium, copper, nickel are used, which in different proportions in the gold alloy give it different shades. The sample size of the product depends on their percentage in the precious metal alloy.

999 standard of gold and silver: meaning of designation, color and composition of metals

The color of the precious metal is yellow and does not change, since the composition contains a minimal proportion of impurities. Main components:

• iron;
• bismuth;
• silver;
• platinum;
• copper.

Ingot of gold and silver
Due to the low content, the components also do not affect the properties of the metal. As a result, 999 gold remains soft and non-plastic, which limits its scope of application. The material is not used to produce products because it quickly becomes damaged and loses its attractiveness. This requires the creation of special conditions for its storage.

Important: Despite its modest characteristics, gold is flexible; for example, if you use 2 mg, this amount is enough to roll it out and get a wire 1 m long and a thousand times thinner than a hair.

Dependence of price on form

On the Russian gold and foreign exchange market, the cost of gold 999 depends on the form of its release. It can be bought and sold as bullion (the weight of the bullion is also important here), commemorative coins, metal deposits in a bank:

• the retail price of a gold bar is higher than the market price. This is due to the fact that the price includes VAT, which is 18%, and the bank’s commission for the sale of the bullion. To understand how much such an investment costs, you need to know how much a gold bar weighs. In Russia, a 999 gold bar is produced according to GOST, which implies a gold weight of no more than 1 kg. Then the question arises, how much is a kilogram of gold worth? It is not difficult to calculate the approximate cost, based on the price of 05 or 10 grams of precious metal. How much 10 g costs can be traced on the foreign exchange market. It is 22,500 rubles. From this we conclude that for a kilogram of 999 fine gold you will have to pay about 2,000,000 rubles;
• If we talk about the convenience and reliability of investing, then the best option is impersonal metal bank accounts. In this case, the buyer of the precious metal does not need to spend additional funds on the protection and transportation of the metal. In addition, a bank client can sell gold savings at any time. This investment option is also beneficial because its purchase is not subject to VAT;
• An equally profitable investment is buying gold coins. Here the price depends on many factors. As a rule, the cost of commemorative coins is quite high, since it includes the work of production, the exclusivity of the issue, and the number of coins. In addition, other precious metals and stones may be used in production. And many exclusive coins are true masterpieces for collectors. In this case, even after decades, the value of the coins will be high, since it depends not on the price per gram, but on the collection value.

But such a treasure must be handled with extreme care, because when sold, the value is affected not only by the exclusivity of the circulation, but also by the appearance of the coin. Scratches and chips are taken into account here. And if the coin doesn’t look right, the bank may not accept it and refuse to redeem it. In this case, it can only be sold to jewelers at the price of scrap.

The noble metal was and is an excellent means of investment. Its value is not invested and has approximately tripled over the past 10 years. But fluctuations in the foreign exchange market continue to affect the price of one gram of gold metal.

Table: properties of gold and silver 999 + 1 percent impurities

999 gold has contradictory characteristics. Many consider it a standard, because on the basis of pure precious metal the Central Bank (hereinafter referred to as the Central Bank) determines the exchange rate for other jewelry alloys. But in fact, some properties of the metal are considered disadvantages. They prevent the use of gold alloy in many industries. But thanks to other characteristics, it became possible to use the precious metal, although often in a different form (solder, thin coating, etc.). For comparison, 999 silver:

• weight: the gold alloy is heavier in weight than the silver alloy, and it is noted that the first of them is 2 times superior to the second in this parameter;
• density: gold is the leader, its density is 19.32 g/cm3, and silver – 10.5 g/cm3;
• ductility, malleability: both materials are easy to process, but 999 gold is inferior to a silver alloy; for comparison, the latter of these metals makes it possible to obtain up to 50 km of thread from just 30 mg;
• melting point: as before, the gold alloy is superior to silver in this parameter, its melting point is 1063°C, silver begins to soften at 890-930°C, so it is easier to process and does not require much effort;
• thermal conductivity: both materials conduct heat equally well;
• electrical conductivity: gold and silver 999 are used in the production of printed circuit boards, processing of parts of the working mechanism;
• inertness: products of both types almost always retain their properties and do not lose their shape, but the gold alloy does not tolerate the effects of certain acids (nitric) and substances, but retains its color; for comparison, the gold alloy can be stored for a long time without loss of quality, and 999 silver gradually darkens;
• the color of the metal in nature: today people have learned to make jewelry and other products as similar in shade to the original as possible, this means that in nature gold is found in yellow, just like silver is found in white, in addition, it has become possible to artificially change the tone of the alloy;
• chronicle of color changes: when the combination of different components changes, an increase in the depth of shades is noted, and new ones appear (blue, pink, green, etc.);
• hypoallergenic: 999 standard gold, as well as pure silver alloy - both metals do not cause a negative reaction in the body, on the contrary, they have a positive effect;
• antibacterial properties: in this parameter, Au is inferior to its analogue, Ag, since it is the latter that destroys harmful microorganisms.

How to distinguish from a fake yourself when buying or at home

When purchasing a product, the most obvious sign of pure gold is the reddish tint of the product. This is what in the old days indicated the purity of the alloy and the quality of the metal. The product must also bear a state mark confirming that all technical standards were met during production.

It is almost impossible to determine the purity of gold on your own; only jewelers can do this. However, there are several methods that can help. For example, the drip method. It uses acidic reagents. The sample will depend on the color the drop acquires. At 999 fineness gold, the drop should become very bright, and the lower the brightness, the lower the fineness.

An electronic detector will also help you determine the purity of gold at home. In just 5 seconds you will know the sample of your product. At the same time, the price of this device is quite reasonable.

Another way is to use an assay needle and stone. It is necessary to run the product over the stone, drawing a line. Each sample leaves its own characteristic color. 999 standard leaves a fairly bright trace. You can also scratch the product a little and draw a line with this place. Then apply a little nitric acid on top. If it is 999 gold, then the scratch will not react in any way.

Hallmark on gold and silver of the highest standard

The difference between precious metals lies not only in physical properties, but also in the form of the sample. For example, the mark confirming the purity of gold is made in the form of a spatula. 999 silver is indicated by a barrel with numbers inside. Moreover, the stigma is not always the same. There is a sample of 999 gold, the older silver is a five-pointed star. Even earlier it was a woman’s head in a kokoshnik.

Interesting: Branding has its own rules: a distance from the edge of the ingot or other product is provided, but if the option in the form of granules is considered, then 999 silver in this case cannot be affixed directly to the metal; another form of assessing purity is used - a passport.

Table: correspondence of 999 standard to carats

There are 2 main systems for assessing the quality of metals in the world today:

• carat;
• metric.

Different countries use their own version: USA, Canada, China, UAE - carat, European countries - metric. Gold and silver 999 in Russia are also determined by the second of these methods. The principle of assessing the purity of the alloy: calculate the number of parts by weight of the precious metal per 1000 parts by weight of the material. Sample 999 corresponds to 999 g of 1000 g (1 kg) of alloy.

To convert to the carat system, you should refer to a table containing different methods for assessing the purity of metals.

For gold:

For silver:

999 standard is the highest standard of gold

Regions

The table below provides detailed information about the 999 code, indicating the following information:

• mobile operator name,
• region of Russia,
• number range,
• general view of the number (number mask),
• number (volume) of allocated numbers.

Technologies for obtaining other samples of alloys and shades of gold

To change the color, it is enough to deviate from the standard scheme for obtaining a gold alloy. The introduction of copper gives a reddish tint. Previously, such material was called red. But initially this was the designation for an alloy with the maximum content of precious metal. Chervonets were made from it in Tsarist Russia. If you add 999 silver or platinum, the yellow precious metal will turn white.

Important: When choosing a different alloy production technology, you need to remember that changing the composition can negatively affect the properties of the metal: brittleness will increase and ductility will decrease.

Table: areas of application of pure gold and silver

Jewelry alloys of different types have their own purposes. An ingot of gold or silver 999 has found application in various fields:

Interesting: Despite belonging to the same category (999 standard), gold and silver alloys have different properties, and therefore they are used for different tasks.

Advantages of pure gold "five nines"

The purity of the metal is sometimes 999.99 g per 1 kilogram of alloy. This is the highest possible figure, taking into account the conditions that are created during refining. Advantages of gold alloy:

• high liquidity;
• the opportunity to invest funds (a form of investment);
• A deposit account is opened in the bank, and gold is the currency (accounted for in euros, dollars or rubles), since a standard interest calculation mechanism is used.

Gold bars

Self-cleaning of a product made from Red Gold

After a long period of time, even such a gold alloy can lose its original luster and brightness. However, this happens very slowly.

To help the product maintain its appearance, it is necessary to perform the following actions:

• Wipe regularly with a suede cloth;
• Be sure to store in a special box that does not contain dust;
• When washing dishes or cleaning, it is advisable to remove jewelry, since this sample is easily exposed to external influences, scratches and chips may appear. This also applies to playing sports, taking a hot bath and other actions that will lead to deformation of the product. Pressure and other types of mechanical stress are especially dangerous.

In addition, the jewelry must be constantly polished. In this case, you can use special pastes. Products of this alloy usually do not darken or become covered with plaque, but if this does happen, you can use regular toothpaste. It will quickly remove various types of contaminants from the surface. Table vinegar will also help you remove plaque easily. Simply apply it to a cotton pad or cotton wool and wipe the product. These methods will help keep your property in excellent condition for many years to come.

Disadvantages of precious metals of the highest standard

The main disadvantages of pure alloy:

• the metal is only conditionally inert; it reacts with some acids (pure nitric acid, aqua regia);
• has low resistance to mechanical damage (due to increased softness);
• Jewelry is not made from 999 gold alloy: rings, bracelets, etc.;
• due to changes on the stock exchange, the price of material with the maximum content of precious metal may fall sharply.

Receipt methods

Basically, the noble metal is extracted from ore and alluvial deposits using various methods:

1. Sifting is considered the oldest method of extraction. This method is based on the large difference in the specific gravity of the rocks. The disadvantage is a large loss of metal.
2. Amalmagation has also been known for a long time. In this technique, the gold ore is first crushed. Then you need to add a solution of sodium cyanide and precipitate with zinc.
3. Gold ore is a source of precious metal. In this case, it is extracted using the refining method. To do this, the ore is first roasted. Zinc is then added and the metal is separated using sulfuric acid.

The cost of 1 gram of 999 gold today

The Central Bank of Russia sets the exchange rate for precious metals. 999 gold alloy is constantly rising in price. Its current value today:

One gram of gold

Troy ounce of gold of the highest standard, pricing factors and price fixing

Factors that affect the cost of gold alloy:

• determining demand for regular purchase/sale;
• foreign economic policy of the country;
• high cost of gold mining;
• inflation;
• IMF policy.

When determining the weight of a precious metal, a special measure is used - the troy ounce. It corresponds to 1/12 pound. This unit of measurement is used by jewelers and bankers. Considering that the cost of the yellow precious metal is constantly changing, the fixing method is used. It was originally used in the UK by the London Stock Exchange: it involves setting prices on a daily basis.

Price per gram of 999 silver and analysis of exchange rate dynamics

Today, 999 silver is valued lower than gold, but there is an interesting paradox: despite the low exchange rate of the precious metal on the market, there are more frequent investments in it. The average cost on the market is 62 rubles. for 1 gram (according to the Central Bank). The market value is usually lower - 25 rubles.

The price of pure silver, like gold, is constantly changing.

999 silver

Important information

Making a decision to create a gold reserve is a very important moment. Before purchasing bullion, you should pay attention to very important aspects:

1. The bank must be reliable not only according to commercials and promises of the manager. It’s a good idea to find out reviews about this financial institution from its clients.
2. The bars offered for sale are 999 fine. Stamped ones are considered to be of the highest quality; cast ones belong to a less valuable group. Among the powder ones you can find fakes.
3. Individual manufacturer certificates. This means that each bar has its own document.
4. Passport of the plant where the precious metal was produced.

If the front surface does not contain all the necessary data: the country of origin, the weight of the ingot, the name of the precious metal, the hallmark or the individual number assigned to the product at the factory, it is better to refuse such a purchase, as it is most likely a fake.

There is a direct dependence of the cost on the physical condition of the precious metal and its certificates. The number of factories producing stamped bars of the highest status - London Good Delivery - includes several Russian enterprises.

The products of the Yekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant, the Novosibirsk Refinery, the Prioksky and Krasnoyarsk Non-Ferrous Metals Plants have received worldwide recognition in the precious metals market.

Soft, pliable and very plastic aurum requires careful treatment and special storage conditions that eliminate the possibility of damage - chips or scratches.

Question-answer section

Is it worth purchasing or ordering 999 gold jewelry?

Expert opinion

Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich

Jeweler 6th category

Metal is expensive, and therefore the cost of jewelry would be too high. Buying such products is problematic. However, jewelers do not use pure precious metal to make jewelry because of its increased softness and fragility.

Where to buy and sell gold of the highest standard?

Expert opinion

Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich

Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop

Sales and purchases should only be made through a bank. Government and commercial structures guarantee the quality of ingots. You can contact Sberbank or any other.

Which bars are better to buy: gold or silver?

Expert opinion

Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich

Jeweler 6th category

It is advisable to purchase gold and silver bars, the difference lies in the initial price. The increase in cost is influenced by the demand for such products. However, today the acquisition of coins is more relevant.