There is no Turkish, Italian or Russian gold. When assessing pure precious metal, it is impossible to identify the source of origin by chemical or physical means. At the same time, in jewelry factories, gold for making jewelry initially has its original appearance, and only during the production process the precious metal is mixed with impurities of copper, silver and other metals.
Let's try to find out which gold is more expensive and better: white, pink, yellow or red? Although, undoubtedly, the taste and color...
Production of red and yellow gold in Russia and abroad
In the Russian Federation, a precious metal with a reddish tint is popular, and in European countries and the United States, yellow gold is popular. The red color of the metal can be obtained by adding copper impurities to gold , and a yellow tint is obtained if the alloy contains silver. Since the 15th century, jewelers have been deceiving the buyer when making a precious product. This was possible due to the fact that people, while making demands on the purity of gold, did not know what a ligature was.
In European countries, large amounts of silver were sometimes added to gold alloys, but it was impossible to distinguish such precious metals from pure gold by color. Traditional composition of international 585 yellow gold alloy per 1 g of alloy:
gold – 0.585 g; silver - 0.1875 g; copper – 0.2275 g.
To purchase pure gold, pay attention to the sample, the name of the manufacturer, the article number and the price per gram
The sample must be clear and visible to the naked eye. Do not purchase jewelry from kiosks and other dubious places.
Proper care of rose gold jewelry
The delicate pink shade of the jewelry goes well with many styles of clothing and suits its owner at any age. The characteristic shimmer favorably emphasizes the skillful cutting and inlay with precious stones. Wedding rings for a wedding, a memorable gift in the form of earrings or a pendant with a chain for a celebration, so that these family heirlooms do not lose their original appearance, serve and delight for a long time, they must be properly looked after. There are several simple, generally accepted rules that will help preserve the noble shine of the precious metal and its sophisticated pink hue for a long time:
- Do not clean products with abrasive dry materials;
- Do not boil jewelry, allow it to come into contact with acids or mercury, and avoid exposure to soapy solutions;
try to protect jewelry from contact with hard and sharp objects, do not throw them on the table, floor, or scratch them on glass.
Cleaning
When cleaning and caring for rose gold, be guided by the general requirements and rules applied when performing similar operations with jewelry of other alloys. This means soaking in special solutions and grinding and polishing. Be careful about the acids and abrasives you use. Do not use sharp, hard objects.
Comparative characteristics of red and yellow gold
People who want to save money prefer yellow gold, mistakenly believing that it is cheaper. However, it is not. This type is valued in European countries for the durability and color of the king’s crown, which is why its price is higher.
What is 585 red gold ? This is also an alloy of gold, which differs from the yellow precious metal in the presence of a larger amount of copper impurities, which makes it stronger and gives it a unique color tint. The 585 purity indicates 58.5% pure gold in the overall composition. The difference between red gold and yellow gold is primarily in color, but red is usually worn in everyday life, and yellow is worn on special occasions. Products made from yellow precious metal rarely use precious stones, but red gold ones are effectively complemented with them. Both look great with diamonds.
The advantages of red gold are:
ability to keep its shape and maintain its original appearance for decades; therapeutic effects due to copper; strength and durability.
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Yellow gold is popular due to:
bright and rich color; sophistication; compatible with light and dark skin types.
Colors and chemical composition
The word “gold” in relation to jewelry cannot be called absolutely correct. In its pure form, precious metal is not used to make jewelry. Usually craftsmen prepare special alloys with other chemicals. The result is a variety of varieties - red, white, yellow and others. The differences between these varieties are in their qualitative composition.
The ratio of gold and impurities is usually called a ligature. In Russia, the quantitative gold content in an alloy is calculated by its fineness. 1000 is taken as the conventional standard. If the product has a hallmark of 585, the alloy contains 585 units of gold and 415 of other elements per 1000 parts. The more parts of gold in the mixture, the higher the purity.
In the West, the quality of the mixture is determined by carats. The highest standard is considered to be 24 carats. This is pure gold, which is equivalent to the Russian 1000.
The color of gold is determined by the qualitative composition of the impurities contained:
- The yellow variety is a combination with silver and copper. Such a composition has at all times been a symbol of prosperity and reflected the material and social status of the owner. Depending on the amount of silver, yellow gold can be of several shades - from light to rich dark.
- The qualitative composition of red gold is no different from yellow gold. The difference is that there is several times more copper in this alloy. It is copper that gives the mixture its characteristic color. In the last century, in the territory of the former USSR, only such gold was in use.
- White gold resembles platinum in appearance. However, its cost is much lower, which made the metal popular. The white color of the mixture is due to the presence of palladium, platinum, silver or nickel. The latter element is banned in many countries because it often darkens and causes allergic skin reactions. The most noble and expensive is the alloy with a high platinum content.
By adding other chemicals to the alloy, jewelers are able to create a variety of shades - bluish, greenish, etc.
White gold
This variety owes its unusual color to the presence of palladium . Its success in the jewelry market is due not only to its lower price than platinum, but also to the fact that famous fashion houses have created unique jewelry collections from it.
Pearl or diamond inlays are perfect for this alloy. No less often, it is combined with sapphires, emeralds or rubies, which makes the cost even higher. Despite the sky-high prices, the demand for such products remains high. The purity of white gold is most often the same as that of other types - 585.
Red and pink variety
This type includes copper and zinc. The resulting material is durable and malleable, which is very valuable for jewelry processing. The jewelry looks amazing, but is a little cheaper. Most often, diamonds, garnets, and rubies are set in such gold. Products with a slight reddish tint are very durable. Thanks to its high plasticity, it is possible to make the most complex and subtle patterns from it.
In European countries, this material is not highly valued - it is considered to be of low quality. In the West, the yellow species is preferred. Just a few years ago, women in Russia did not care whether gold was more expensive, pink or yellow, since the choice was limited only to red and pink varieties.
Yellow alloy
Yellow gold contains silver and copper . It is highly valued for its warm color. The closest thing to pure native metal. However, such a mixture is more difficult to process, so products made from it do not turn out as exquisite.
There should be much more silver in the composition than copper. In this case, it will be possible to achieve a bright sunny color of the metal. In addition to the 585 sample, there is a rarer 750 and a very rare 958.
How to choose gold depending on the type of product?
Yellow and red precious metals are in demand in areas such as medicine, the chemical industry, microelectronics and others. But more often they are used in the form of jewelry. To choose the right gold, decide on the purpose of your purchase .
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The purpose of red gold jewelry is everyday wear. The yellow precious metal is considered richer and more luxurious, and items made from it are typically purchased for festive occasions. It is much softer than its counterpart, and therefore everyday wear of products made from it is impractical. If jewelry made of yellow gold is damaged, the cost of repair will be significantly higher than that of red precious metal. If you decide to buy a watch trimmed with precious stones , you can safely opt for red gold. They will look great with this shade. The wedding ring is traditionally made of yellow precious metal, since this color is a symbol of stability, eternal love and fidelity between husband and wife. Jewelry made from red gold will look good if it has an intricate texture and fancy patterns. These include decorations produced in the form of flowers, buds or leaves. Traditionally, products made of yellow gold are characterized by a minimalist style , a small number of decorative elements. When choosing an exquisite item made of precious metal for everyday wear, it is better to choose the red version of gold, since it provides a variety of design ideas and the ability to manufacture the product according to any wishes of the client. Openwork details are difficult to make in yellow gold, and the final result may not look as eccentric as in red gold. However, the variety of options for decorating them is limited.
The more complex the processing of the precious metal, the higher the final cost of the jewelry
What kind of jewelry are made?
In jewelry stores, the range of rose gold products exceeds all others, and this is not surprising. This is explained by the fact that with good quality it is relatively inexpensive and affordable to a wide range of buyers.
Due to its soft pink romantic shade, jewelry made from this gold is preferred by both young girls and mature women. As you know, men prefer white or yellow gold . Although they can also purchase, for example, key rings, cufflinks or tie clips from the pink version, only in a more laconic, strict style.
Pendants, bracelets, rings and signet rings, chains, brooches, pins and other jewelry made from this alloy can have a wide variety of designs. These can be either individual copies or sets made in the same style. Watch cases are also made from this gold.
In their production, jewelers use different techniques - weaving, blowing, soldering, cutting. Stylish, original jewelry is also obtained in combination with precious and semi-precious stones, cubic zirconia and even rhinestones.
Separately, we can say about wedding rings made of rose gold - recently they have become especially popular.
Their design is not necessarily in the form of a traditional and ordinary smooth ring. They can be fluted or embedded with precious stones, combined with white or yellow gold or platinum, and with a purely glossy or matte finish. Individual rings with a memorable inscription are also ordered from private jewelers .
Gold of different colors
What is the difference between white, yellow, red and pink gold of the same 585 standard ? The difference is not only in color. In addition to the fact that the corresponding components and their proportional content determine the colors and shades of jewelry, the metals added to pure gold affect its mechanical characteristics: strength, rigidity and resistance to deformation. Rose and red gold are alloys of pure gold and copper: the greater the proportion of copper in the alloy, the more saturated its color will be, from slightly pinkish to red.
There is an opinion that white gold is more expensive than regular gold . The chemical value of products of the same standard is the same: gold jewelry of 585 standard contains the same amount (58.5%) of pure gold. But the marketing price can indeed vary significantly, but mostly due to the design and the more noble-looking white color. The nobility of the shade is achieved by adding platinum to the alloy; nickel is rarely added due to its hyperallergenicity; palladium gives the product an undesirable yellowish color.
Which gold is better - pink, yellow or white?
All 3 options are similar in physical and chemical characteristics. Because of this, the final choice of metal depends mainly on 2 factors: the financial capabilities of the buyer and personal view of beauty.
If a few years ago preference was given to yellow gold, today the situation has changed. Jewelry in white and pink shades is increasingly being chosen as a gift. Also in demand are rings that combine all three metals. Such models are distinguished by their sophistication and unusual design.
Metric and carat grading system
Two types of markings are used for gold: abroad it is mainly the carat system, in Russia it is the metric system. For karat assessment, the following algorithm is used; pure gold of 999 purity is considered 24 carat gold. If the sample is 18 carats, this means that 18 parts of precious metal and 6 parts of ligature were used in the jewelry or alloy. If the jewelry is 7 carats, this means that the alloy contains only 7 parts of gold and 17 impurities.
The proportion of this precious metal in an alloy in the metric system is indicated by a hallmark number. Rose gold is usually 585, 750, 375. This means that it contains 58.5%, 75% or 37.5% gold, and the rest is alloy. The higher the percentage, the more expensive the product.
Application and properties of metal
The precious metal is used in industry, dentistry, and jewelry. Gold in its pure form has the properties of ductility, softness, malleability, high electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.
Its characteristic feature is that it does not react with the environment and easily combines with other metals (alloy) due to its high density.
These qualities have made it the leading and most desirable metal in the world. But for the jewelry industry, working with pure gold is rare. Gold is not used by jewelers in its pure form, but rather as an alloy with other metals.
How to care?
Gold is not called a precious metal for nothing. It does not react with other chemicals, acids and bases. However, since rose gold is an alloy, it must be protected from exposure to various household chemicals, acids or alkalis. In addition, due to harsh mechanical impact, scratches, dents and roughness may appear. Therefore, careful handling and care of jewelry is recommended.
There is a special paste for cleaning the surfaces of jewelry made of precious metals. The product can be purchased in stores and jewelry workshops.
If polish is not available, you can wash your jewelry with warm soapy water using a soft toothbrush or a special brush.
Then polish the jewelry with a soft cloth. However, under no circumstances should you use hard abrasive materials.
What to combine with
One of the features of pink precious metal is that it suits almost everyone. Young girls and mature married ladies can easily add jewelry of this color to their collection, changing only the shades. The alloy can also be combined with any precious and semi-precious inserts. At the same time, the stones look cleaner and brighter.
Sources
- https://zoloto21.ru/stati/rozovoe-zoloto-chem-otlichaetsya-kak-vybrat/
- https://VseoMetallah.ru/zoloto/proba/rozovoe-zoloto
- https://zolotoe-runo-sl.ru/dragocennye-kamni/rozovoe-zoloto-585-proby.html
- https://vplate.ru/zoloto/rozovoe/
- https://zhazhdazolota.ru/vidy/rozovoe
- https://luxediamond.ru/rozovoe-zoloto-585
- https://ToZoloto.ru/o-zolote/tipy/rozovoe-zoloto.html
- https://ringstudio.ru/wedding_rings/rose_gold/
- https://odeon-group.ru/interesno/rozovoe-zoloto-sostav.html
- https://vplate.ru/zoloto/585-proby/
- https://inzoloto.ru/precious-metalls/rozovoe-zoloto-chto-eto-i-skolko-stoit
Reviews
Anna: “For my birthday, the guy gave me a set of pendant, earrings and ring. All in rose gold. Looks great. At the same time rich, tender, and elegant. I wear it with an evening dress and feel like a princess.”
Katerina: “I really liked my friend’s rose gold ring, I wanted the same one for myself. But I was stupid - I bought the cheapest one, 375 samples. As a result, after just six months there are a lot of scratches and several chips.”
Galina: “In practice, in Moscow, I bought a small pendant as a gift for my sister. She is still delighted and almost never parted with the gift. What’s especially pleasing is that the color of the surface does not fade at all.”
general characteristics
Rose gold is often confused with red gold, but in reality these two metals have different alloy contents. Variation of the components in the composition of the precious metal determines the saturation and shade of the final color. For example, yellow and red metals differ in the quantitative content of copper, which changes due to silver. Unlike white gold, pink ligatures reduce the price of the precious metal.
Rose gold is considered universal. Jewelry made from it is suitable for people of all ages; it shimmers beautifully in the sun. This gold is sophisticated and goes well with many precious and semi-precious inserts. In addition, it suits any style of clothing and occasion.
At the same time, the stones look brighter against its background. It is chosen by leading jewelry houses for fashion shows. It makes unique decorations for weddings. Moreover, the size and shape of the products directly depend on the sample. For example, larger jewelry is made from low-quality materials. However, during use, such alloys quickly oxidize and lose their aesthetic appearance.
But analogs that are an order of magnitude higher have better properties and have a pleasant pearlescent glow. Jewelry alloys of this type are malleable in processing, but not too soft.
Where can you buy or sell
You can purchase unusual rose gold jewelry at a jewelry store. Under no circumstances should you buy them second-hand: there is a high probability of getting a fake.
Old or disliked jewelry can also later be returned to a jewelry store or exchanged there for a new model. If the jewelry has significant defects (broken chain, broken lock, etc.), you may be sent to a pawnshop. In this case, gold will most likely be purchased at scrap price.
Next, look at what other shades gold comes in:
Why is rose gold cheaper?
The low price of the alloy is influenced by its alloy. There is a small amount of silver here, the proportion of copper is much larger. It does not belong to precious metals, its cost is significantly less. For gold of other colors (yellow, white), the main component of the alloy is silver or palladium, which are much more expensive. As a result, two products with the same weight and markings will have different prices.
How much is 1 gram of rose gold worth today?
The cost of such jewelry depends on the standard of metal, decoration, weight of gold, presence and size of inserts. The price of precious metals can also affect the price.
Price 999 standard according to the Central Bank | Market value of the sample today | Scrap price | Price in jewelry |
Price per gram
When selling or buying rose gold, be guided by the content of pure precious metal in the product and exchange prices for this metal.
Unfortunately, when purchasing gold jewelry from the public, only the weight and content of the pure substance are taken into account, and not the actual cost of the precious item, that is, when sold, the color of the gold alloy does not affect the cost of pure gold. Scrap gold jewelry of red, yellow, green colors of the same weight and standard will have almost the same price. The only exceptions can be jewelry inlaid with precious stones and white gold due to the content of platinum group metals.
As of 2022, the purchase of gold products in jewelry stores and pawnshops is carried out approximately at the following prices:
- 375th sample in the form of scrap at a price of 1520 rubles per gram;
- 500-560th sample in the form of scrap at a price of 2030 to 2080 rubles per gram;
- 583–585 samples in the form of scrap at a price of 2390 to 2680 rubles per gram;
- 750th sample in the form of scrap at a price from 3060 to 3390 rubles per gram;
- 750-900 samples in the form of scrap at a price of 3370 rubles per gram;
- 900-916 samples at a price of 3680 rubles per gram, in the form of scrap;
- The 958th sample is accepted at a price of 3920 rubles per gram.
Nowadays, products made from rose gold alloy are no longer considered unusual. You can increasingly see them at jewelry exhibitions. Famous presenters of television programs, festivals, and artists, along with classic jewelry made of white, red and yellow gold, also prefer jewelry in pink shades.
Gold is the precious metal from which most jewelry and luxury items are made. Currently, not only the usual yellow gold, but also its red, pink and even blue analogues have become available to people.
Pure gold is a rather fragile, soft and unreliable material with an amazingly beautiful yellow color. But it is not possible to use it alone, since the final product will be extremely short-lived and impractical. For example, today jewelry made from the purest gold is made in Japan, and only in single copies. As a rule, jewelry made from such material is worn by the owners only a few times in their entire lives, after which they are either inherited or safely melted down.
Tips for choosing
Before you buy the rose gold jewelry you like, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with a few simple recommendations:
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
Be sure to look at the stamp - the higher the sample number, the more pure Au the product contains.
For everyday wear, 585-carat jewelry is recommended, which combines low price and sufficient strength, and for special occasions you can buy a set with a higher aurum content.
Rose gold has many shades, so when purchasing, you should try on several different products to choose the most suitable color scheme.
Advantages and disadvantages
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
The main advantage of this alloy is its high ductility. Thanks to this, complex openwork products are created from it, which immediately attract attention. Buyers are also attracted by the lower price compared to classic gold. Another feature of the alloy is its unusual range of shades.
However, such things are of little use for daily wear. This is due to the low strength of the metal. This is especially true for low quality products.
Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage
In many ways, the rules for caring for and wearing pink jewelry are similar to those for their yellow counterparts. However, there are also nuances. First of all, such jewelry should not be exposed to reactions with mercury and strong acids. In this regard, it is recommended to limit the contact of jewelry with household chemicals.
The ligature does not protect the alloy from mechanical stress. When wearing, you must be careful not to hit the metal or scratch it. If there is a strong external load, the product can also be dented, as a result of which it will also lose its attractiveness.
It is recommended to use a soap solution to clean the surface. The water should be warm. Under no circumstances should pink alloys be boiled. Heavy stains can be removed with a cloth or a brush with soft bristles.
Red rings
Today, red gold rings are very fashionable and popular. You can't call them new. Even in ancient times, wedding rings were made from this metal. Although they were made differently before. Copper was also added, but there was very little of it. The bright color was obtained by incandescence at very high temperatures. Thanks to this method, a rich, darkish color was achieved. Over time, the range of shades has expanded. Now they make it from soft pink to rich red. It all depends on how much copper is added to the product.
Red gold rings can be purchased at any jewelry store. Pay attention to the size and appearance. A person with thin, long fingers will want a delicate and small product, not a massive one. Large and bright rings will look better on large and long fingers.
Red gold rings highlight wealth and style. Designers try to make jewelry so that it suits absolutely any consumer in terms of color, beauty and sophistication.