September 7, 2022 Yellow gold is one of the most popular varieties of precious alloy in the world, which is as close as possible to the natural color of the metal. It is precisely this criterion that made jewelry made from it in demand for special occasions - from parties in cocktail dresses to weddings. It’s not easy to keep up with manufacturers - every jewelry brand considers it its duty to supplement the current catalog with similar products for women and men.
The Karatov online store and its range of yellow gold products will pleasantly surprise you with its quality and affordable prices for all designer lines.
What is the difference
Red and yellow alloys differ in appearance, have different composition and strength. Depending on the sample of gold, its cost, scope and demand will change.
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
The higher the purity, the more beautiful the gold looks, since the reflectivity of pure metal is very high. The lower the grade, the duller the shine.
Composition and strength
Pure gold is yellow in color, but it is not found in jewelry. It is used as a material for the production of bank bars and commemorative coins. This variety is extremely soft and impractical for everyday wear.
Alloys of 375, 585 and 750 samples can also be yellow if at least 17-19% silver is present in the alloy as a master alloy. This metal is much stronger and is often used to make jewelry intended for daily use.
Red gold acquires this hue due to the predominant copper content in the alloy. The fineness of the alloy will not be higher than 585, but it is copper that makes the precious metal much stronger and colors it red. For rings or earrings that are worn without taking them off, this composition of gold is most suitable, since it is resistant to scratches and deformation.
Appearance and features of the brand
In Russia, the mark represents a woman’s profile in a kokoshnik, a letter designation of the regulatory authority and a digital designation of the purity of the metal. All together is called a breakdown. In addition to this marking, a name tag is affixed to the product - the letter coding of the workshop or manufacturer.
The imprint on precious metal must be clearly executed, clearly visible, without corrections. Poor quality of the stamp is the first sign of a fake.
Difference between different purity grades
The testing system used in Russia is called metric. Products from foreign manufacturers can be stamped using the karat system. The relationship between the various graduations can be determined using a table.
| Metric standard | Carat hallmark |
| 999,9 | 24k |
| 958 | 23k |
| 916 | 22k |
| 875 | 21k |
| 750 | 18k |
| 585 | 14k |
| 500 | 12k |
| 375 | 9k |
Differences in GOST standards and quality
It would be wrong to say that red or yellow gold with a lower purity is of inferior quality. This criterion is regulated by the general GOST, where exact characteristics are established for each type of gold: the list and proportions of alloy components, permissible impurities and their quantity, as well as density characteristics.
If the metal does not meet the standard, it is sent for recycling, regardless of what grade it is.
Price and demand
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
The price of a precious metal is influenced by its purity: the higher it is, the more expensive it is. The red or yellow color of gold, the composition of the alloy - copper or silver predominates in it - as a rule, does not change the cost of the alloy, unlike the work of a jeweler, which can account for up to 80% of the total price of the precious jewelry.
The purity of the alloy also influences demand - products made of 14-karat red gold are leading the domestic market by a wide margin, although jewelry stores provide a wide selection of different varieties - white, yellow and even lemon shades. But I am inclined to explain this as a fashion trend, since in different countries preference is given to a variety of grades of precious metal - from ordinary budget ones to the most valuable.
What stones are suitable
Precious and semi-precious stones look exquisite in their own way on yellow and red gold. It is impossible to make a comparison and say that one or another brand of metal is used more often than others in jewelry with inlay - it all depends on fashion trends, artistic taste and the individual preferences of the jewelers who develop the design of jewelry.
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.
Advantages and disadvantages of red and yellow gold
I would like to note that all the pros and cons of the red and yellow varieties of precious metal depend on the composition and alloy components that affect the final properties of the alloy.
The main positive difference between red gold is its higher hardness compared to other brands. Disadvantages include increased oxidative capacity.
Yellow gold, as a rule, is softer, loses its luster faster due to the appearance of small scratches, but is more resistant to environmental influences, and alloys of 750 carat and higher are not subject to oxidation at all.
What color decoration is better to choose?
This is a matter of taste and practicality. Items that will be used intensively, such as a watch, a cross necklace or a wedding ring, are better to choose from red metal as it is more durable.
Expensive jewelry that you plan to wear on exceptional occasions is better to choose from yellow gold - the likelihood of them being brought in is small, but you won’t have to worry that the item has darkened while it was lying idle in a jewelry box.
Stones suitable for metal
Red metal is best inlaid:
- stones with a pink tint: ruby, garnet, spinel, topaz;
- inserts with yellow, orange, brown tint: amber, sapphire, topaz;
- pink, golden, white pearls.
Yellow metal looks best with:
- stones with a greenish tint: emerald, chrysolite;
- transparent stones: zircon, cubic zirconia, sapphire.
- White stones: opal, moonstone.
Ring with stone
Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage
To store gold, you must choose a dry, dark place. You should not put all items together; it is better to use individual cases or covers for this.
The noble metal itself is slightly susceptible to oxidation. To restore its presentable appearance, it is necessary to clean the product from contamination. It is not recommended to use mechanical cleaning methods.
It will be enough to treat it with special products, which are offered in an assortment by jewelry and hardware stores. For care, you can use available products: soak the jewelry for several hours in aqueous solutions of ammonia or detergent, rinse under running water and polish with a lint-free cloth.
Here's another way:
From time to time it is advisable to seek the help of professionals. The jeweler will not only return things to their original shine, but will also check for defects.
How to distinguish gold from fake
Since the cost of gold is quite high, it is very important to be able to identify the craft when purchasing. The best option is to buy products only from trusted stores. You should not trust little-known kiosks and unverified online stores. You can buy a fake there for the price of the original. The price of 1 gram of gold cannot vary significantly in different stores. If it is too small, then there is a high probability that it is a fake.
When purchasing, you need to study the product. There must be a sample on it; if it is difficult to find it, then it is better to use a magnifying glass. But this option does not guarantee authenticity, because a sample is also applied to fakes.
When studying, you should look at all the edges of the material. If it changes color at the joints, then it is a fake.
How to recognize copper in a composition?
Aristotle argued that the best way to determine copper is to taste it. To do this, you need to use two cups made of different materials. They pour the same water into them and drink from them. Water with copper will have a metallic taste, but water with gold will not be at all different from ordinary water.
How to distinguish a fake at home?
To determine the authenticity of gold in a ring, you can throw it on a table (any flat surface) and listen to the sound. If it is crystal clear, then it is original. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not suitable for bracelets, earrings and chains.
- You can try to scratch the product with a sharp knife or a “tooth”. The latter method can often be seen in period films. There will be a mark on the original gold. But there is a high probability of error, because lead also leaves a mark due to its softness.
- Iodine is suitable for testing, which can always be found in the first aid kit. One drop is enough to apply to the decoration. If after 3-5 minutes there is no trace left on the product and no reaction has occurred, then the product is original. There will be a trace on the fake.
- Nitric acid is suitable for identifying the original. If you drop it on gold, no reaction will occur. If the metal is gilded, it will become milky in color. And the fake will turn green. For convenience, this should be done in a metal container.
- When the ring is placed in vinegar, it will not change its color at all. It is often used to purify gold.
- When in contact with a magnet, gold does not react in any way. This method can be safely used when purchasing in a store.
- To check, you can use the decoration of the same sample. You need to take a sheet of paper and run them across it with a little force. The tracks must be identical.
- Color. The shade of gold in the sun and in the shade will help determine authenticity. It should be absolutely the same even in different light. A fake can shine much brighter in the sun than in the shade.
- To determine whether only a product is gold-plated or gold, you should scrape the metal in one place. Gilding may wear off, but gold will not change color.
- If necessary, you can buy a clumsy pencil at the pharmacy. Any material other than gold darkens upon contact with it.
Each of the methods is good, but none of them will accurately answer the question of the authenticity of the jewelry. To be on the safe side, it is better to contact a jewelry maker who specializes in this.
Customer Reviews
Zhanna: I like to buy jewelry on vacation abroad, they often sell yellow gold there. I like it better, since I associate such jewelry with pleasant moments.
Lyubov: I’ve never thought so seriously about what kind of gold to buy, it all depends on how much I like the product itself. It seems to me that this is what is important to all girls.
Veronica: I’m used to the fact that jewelry has a reddish tint; I like such products more and first of all attract my attention.
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:
