Gold jewelry is always highly valued and never goes out of style. This metal can be given the most varied and bizarre shapes and combined with precious stones. An experienced jeweler can determine which gold is better - red, yellow or white - for creating a particular product.
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.
"People thirst for gold..."
Gold is a metal that, if not loved, is respected by many. Of course, such decoration speaks of the status of its owner.
It's no secret that it comes in several types. It is considered a real misconception to divide this noble metal into Russian, Turkish and Italian. In fact, it is divided into white, yellow, red and pink.
Ligature elements add shade and strength to the decorations. This is an alloy of several components, which is added to give the metal special properties.
- White - the most expensive type, plated with palladium.
- Rose and red gold are plated with copper in different proportions.
- Yellow precious metal is most in demand today.
Reference! Products of 585 and 750 purity are especially popular; the bank uses 999 purity bars.
Comparative characteristics
The purity of all types of gold can be the same, that is, the content of pure gold in any alloy will be the same, only the composition of impurities differs .
Sometimes it is difficult to determine which gold is more expensive: white, yellow or red. It is a mistake to believe that yellow material has the lowest price. In fact, white alloy is considered the most expensive.
The yellow variety is highly prized for its sunny color and durability. This look is not often combined with gemstones. Usually these are diamond inlays. Such jewelry is worn only for special occasions. They are perfect for people with light and dark skin.
But red gold has a more affordable price and is much more often combined with stones. Products made from it can often be found in everyday life. The red mixture retains its original appearance and shape much better, and is strong and durable.
To decide whether white gold or yellow gold is better, you need to take into account the higher cost of the former and the softness of the latter. White alloy is considered the most prestigious and indicates the high status of the owner. As for fashion trends, it's not so much about the type of metal, but about the design of the product itself.
Which gold is better?
When you choose jewelry for yourself or purchase it as a gift, you should understand the purpose of the jewelry.
- If decoration is necessary for special occasions or rare events, then it can be a white or yellow variety. They are impractical if worn frequently; the metal is easily damaged due to its softness.
- When choosing between yellow and white shades of gold, you should be guided not only by your financial capabilities, but also by taste characteristics. That is, cold white gold is most suitable for Scandinavian people with white skin, light brown hair and light eyes.
- As for the red analogue, it is several times stronger. It is purchased not because of its appearance (to be frank, this is not its strongest side), but precisely because of its high strength. Recently, jewelry made from this type of metal has lost its popularity. But cutlery, accessories, and furniture fittings look great and do not require repair or polishing for a long time.
We hope you manage to find “your” color of gold for yourself.
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Selection rules
Experts advise choosing gold depending on the purpose for which it is used. Most often, the precious metal is used to make jewelry. In addition, it is becoming increasingly in demand in the microelectronics, medical, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Principles for choosing material for jewelry:
- For everyday wear, it is better to choose jewelry made of red alloy.
- The yellow variety is considered more luxurious and expensive. Products made from it are purchased for special occasions. Such jewelry is not suitable for daily use, since the yellow mixture is too soft and easily deformed. Repairing such products will cost the owner significantly more.
- Those who decide to get a gold watch inlaid with precious stones are better off opting for the red version. Such a thing will be durable, reliable and look great on your hand.
- The yellow variety is traditionally used to make wedding rings - it has always symbolized eternal love, stability and marital fidelity.
- For making fancy ornaments and complex jewelry, white or red metal is more suitable. They are used to make decorative flowers, leaves and buds.
- Yellow-colored products are distinguished by laconic lines and a minimum of complex details. Even if you make a complex piece of jewelry from such metal, it will not have such an impressive appearance as red or white.
The buyer, based on his preferences, chooses which gold is better - white or yellow.
Story
Gold was used by man many years ago. When wood and stone were taken as a basis, gold was already used for decoration. This is explained by the fact that this precious metal can be easily found in its pure form.
If earlier this metal served only as currency and was used to make various jewelry, then over time it began to be used in various fields. These include electrical engineering, weapons production and medicine.
Many countries store gold bullion in their reserves.
Quality assessment upon purchase
When purchasing jewelry, you need to pay attention to some points that indicate its quality. First of all, pay attention to its sample. It is important that the numbers on the tag and on the product itself match. Reputable jewelry manufacturers put their trademark or logo on them. This can be an indirect confirmation of high quality and authenticity.
Next, you should study the following indicators:
- Information on the tag: it should contain information about the sample, weight, chemical composition, manufacturer and cost.
- Appearance of decoration. All fastenings and soldering points must look neat and of high quality. A good product has no unevenness or visible defects.
The manufacturer is of great importance. Today, Italian-made jewelry is becoming increasingly popular. It is not worth buying products from Turkey - the composition of the ligatures in them leaves much to be desired. Very often, only the clasp with a sample is made of high-quality material, and the entire product contains a large amount of copper. With constant wear, it will quickly come to the surface.
In general, which gold is better - red, white or yellow - depends on the purpose for which the jewelry is purchased and on the financial capabilities of the buyer.
Jewelry: pure gold or alloy?
Of course, it is foolish to believe that jewelry is made from the purest mineral.
Reference! Each product made of precious metal has a test mark, which indicates the amount of the metal itself in relation to the portion of the alloy in 1000 grams.
Accordingly, the higher the standard, the more gold is in the product . Let's look at the most basic tests.
- 375 is a low quality connection. It contains more impurities than gold itself. Such products soon lose their original appearance.
- 500 is a low-cast alloy from which jewelry is not made.
- 585 - most in demand among jewelers. This alloy, regardless of the composition of the alloy, is ideal for the production of all types of jewelry.
- 750 is an expensive look that is not only famous for its looks, but is also durable. This alloy is mainly offered in yellow and white versions.
