You can protect yourself from buying cheap fakes by purchasing gold items exclusively from trusted jewelry stores that are ready to provide all the necessary certificates for the products, but even in this case there is a small chance of deception from unscrupulous sellers. The best option for checking the authenticity of jewelry is to order a paid examination from a jewelry workshop that is not interested in falsifying the results; however, knowing the basic physical and chemical characteristics of the materials, you can determine the material from which the product is made at home, without resorting to the services of specialists.
Design
Bronze is a versatile metal: it looks beautiful on any skin tone. The yellowish-brown color of jewelry goes harmoniously with almost all shades - both warm and cold. Therefore, adding a couple of bronze items to a fashionable look is not at all difficult.
Bronze jewelry is typical for the following styles:
- ethnic;
- Greek;
- steampunk.
Most bronze items are large, massive, and deliberately rough. These are wide rings, cuff bracelets, spectacular necklaces and pendants. For greater expressiveness, golden-brown metal is complemented with inserts of colored cubic zirconia or inexpensive jewelry stones.
Gemstone Testing
Products with stones are most valuable. Knowing how to test gold, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the procedure for testing stones. In a pawnshop, the procedure is carried out according to the global 4C methodology for four indicators:
- mass of stone;
- color;
- purity;
- cut.
The weight of the material is measured in carats. Stones are small - less than 0.29 carats, medium - less than 0.99 and large - more than 1 carat. This indicator is determined by weighing and subsequent visual inspection using a magnifying device.
The color is clearly visible if you place the stone on a white piece of paper or plastic. In this case, gemological lighting with white rays is used.
The most important criterion for a stone is purity. To identify it, GOST tables have been developed. There are 12 purity values. Stones with severe damage are of least importance. Cracks that are visible at 10x magnification or with the naked eye are taken into account. Higher magnification is not used to evaluate purity. Scratches can be on the surface of the material or inside.
To evaluate the cut, a scale with graduations A-G is used. The methodology was developed by GOST. This parameter is subjective, since the same cut may attract one consumer and not appeal to another. But often a product is purchased based on its cut.
A complete gold inspection includes an assessment of the precious metal and stone, mounting option, appearance of the product, manufacturer and level of wear. How the gold is checked at a pawnshop determines whether the owner will be able to sell it at a decent price. At home, it is impossible to accurately determine the quality of the decoration. Therefore, it is worth resorting to the help of professionals.
Affordable Home Remedies for Gold Testing
The easiest way to determine the “solar” metal quickly and accurately at home involves using a small amount of iodine. This simple medicine is sure to be found in every family. All you need for this:
How to recognize gold using iodine
- bottle of iodine;
- cotton swab;
- toothpaste;
- cotton pad.
Dip a cotton swab into iodine and place a dot on the surface of the supposed gold item. It is recommended to do this not in the most visible place of the decoration. For example, if you are faced with the task of checking a gold ring, then do this procedure from the inside of the jewelry.
Further, determining the authenticity of precious metal is quite simple. If after a few minutes the iodine point remains its original dark color, you can be sure that this is gold and not some other metal. But if the speck has acquired a light, milky hue, then in front of you is anything but gold jewelry.
When you have verified the authenticity of the jewelry, you have to wipe off a drop of iodine so that it does not spoil the overall appearance of the jewelry. You can't expect it to wear off over time. To do this, you will need the toothpaste indicated in the list of necessary tools. Apply a small amount to the iodine stain and leave it on for five minutes. Then rub gently with your finger to remove the stain. When it disappears, rinse the jewelry under running water and wipe thoroughly with a cotton pad.
Another quick and affordable way to distinguish real gold from other metals involves the use of vinegar, which is also probably found in every kitchen. Just pour a little vinegar into a clean bowl and dip the product into it. Three minutes is enough to understand the authenticity of gold jewelry. If within three minutes its surface does not become darker than it was initially, this is a good sign. But obvious darkening indicates that the jewelry was made of some other metal. After the experiment, simply wash the product with clean water and dry with a soft towel.
Look in your medicine cabinet and find a lapis pencil. This miracle drug is an antiseptic made on the basis of silver nitrate. It is usually used to get rid of warts, papillomas and other skin problems, but in addition to its direct purpose, it can also be useful to us in distinguishing genuine “solar” metal from others. In particular, it is the easiest way to distinguish real gold from gilding. Unlike iodine, which enters into a chemical reaction with gold, lapis pencil, on the contrary, does not react to it, but actively interacts with other metals. To check the quality of gold jewelry, you need to lightly file the product in an inconspicuous place. Then moisten the pencil with water and apply it to the surface of the file. Wait about five minutes to evaluate the result.
If a dark streak appears from the lapis, it means that this is a fake.
Air signs
The most suitable metal according to the zodiac signs of the air elements is silver, copper, bronze. “Air” people are communicative, freedom-loving, and changeable. Therefore, metals and stones are suitable for them, helping to activate their best qualities and saving them from hasty decisions and senseless risks.
Aquarians are eccentric and energetic people, despite their apparent modesty; deep thinkers with a passion for helping people. They know how to solve problems easily; They are friendly, so they can boast of many friends. Metals for Aquarius are determined by their ruling planet, Uranus. Their talismans are green gold, copper, lead. Of the precious stones, sardonyx, coral, and fluorite are considered their amulets.
Communicative Geminis are very enterprising. This sign needs intellectual stimulation; he always seeks development physically, mentally and spiritually. Since the patron saint of Gemini is Mars, metals such as mercury and silver are suitable for them. And their stones are considered to be aquamarine, emerald, and crystal.
People born under the sign of Libra are calm and fair. They really want to love and be loved, they hate loneliness. In pursuit of equality and justice, they must strive for spiritual harmony. Metals such as bronze and white gold help them achieve this. They prefer malachite, emerald, and carnelian as precious stones.
TOP 10 ways to distinguish gold from brass at home
They consider different possibilities to determine what metal an object is made of:
- perform an inspection: check the external characteristics (evaluate the appearance of the product, sound upon impact, etc.);
- they use methods to determine that it is brass or gold that is being considered;
- They use available means to ensure that the choice is correct.
Brass and gold ring
Ways to check brass jewelry by eye and sound
Before purchasing, it is not always possible to test with chemicals or use another method to determine the authenticity of a gold product. In this case, you should rely on indirect signs and some characteristics that are characteristic of the precious metal.
Availability of stamp and sample
Different types of equipment are used to mark jewelry:
- hallmark: placed on the product, confirms that the metal belongs to one group or another (common options for gold: 583, 585, 750), the shape is always rectangular;
- name book – contains information about the manufacturer;
- jeweler's mark or manufacturer's logo imprint.
Imitation gold
A variety of alloys are used for fake gold jewelry.
Aluminum bronze, which resembles gold in color. This alloy consists of 90% copper and 10% aluminum.
Aluminum bronze coin.
Belgica is an alloy similar to platinum. It contains about 74% iron, approximately 16% chromium, and almost 9% nickel.
Mosaic gold, which includes almost 70% copper and 30% zinc. Gives a hint of native gold.
Product made from tombak.
Tompak - this alloy is very similar to real gold. It is often brought by tourists from Turkey, Israel or China. If you don’t know how to distinguish gold, it’s better not to buy it in these countries.
There are a huge number of such alloys. Thanks to such materials, they learned to imitate real gold. Most often it is transported through smuggling. Counterfeiting gold is a very common phenomenon. Try not to fall into the “trap”.
What you need to know when buying bronze jewelry
Bronze is the first alloy invented by man. It has been in use for over 5,000 years and has played a key role in history during this period. The reason is the durability, strength, wear resistance of bronze, as well as the availability of its constituent components.
Bronze jewelry has been around almost as long as the alloy itself. They are found not only among antique products, but also in the collections of modern masters. The attractive golden brown hue and subdued shine give bronze jewelry a special vintage charm.
Useful uses of brass in electronics
Brass is not a noble metal, but is a sought-after alloy. Parts of various mechanisms are made from it. Products made from brass:
- pipes for appliances;
- foil;
- sheets;
- bushings;
- wire;
- rods;
- tape, etc.
Brass is used in the installation of radio components, and is also used in radio instrument making (hardware, gears, and printed circuits are made). Moreover, the material is sent for re-melting, after which it can be reused.
Use of brass alloys in electronics
gold standard
In different countries, gold alloys of different composition and quality are used for jewelry. Let's say, the inhabitants of Japan choose precious jewelry made of pure gold, i.e. from gold of the highest standard. Assay is a determination of the superiority of precious metals, which shows the ratio of metal and alloy. The higher the purity of “gold”, the more valuable it is. There are two main hallmark systems: metric and carat. In the metric system, the unit of measure is a gram in the ratio of pure gold to alloy 1 to 1000. In other words, the 585th sample shows that 1000 grams of the alloy contains 585 grams of gold, and the remaining 415 is the alloy. The metric system is used in Russia and the CIS countries; in other countries, the gold standard is measured in carats. The ratio of gold to alloy is 1/24. Accordingly, the highest standard is 24 carats. In the Russian Federation, the following standards are established for gold jewelry: 375, 500, 585, 750, 958, 999. To facilitate international trade in gold, there is a ratio between the standards of the metric and karat systems. Thus, an alloy with a proportion of pure gold of 99.9% has a purity of 999, which corresponds to 24 carats. 958 standard is equal to 23 carats (23/24 = 0.958), etc.
How to identify bronze
You will need
- -sulfuric acid;
- -potassium dichromate;
- -ammonia;
- -acetic acid;
- -water;
- - wood sawdust;
- - soda ash;
- -protective glasses;
- -glassware;
- -latex gloves;
- -woolen rag;
- -wax or paraffin.
Instructions
If the bronze has not oxidized too much and you only need to clean individual spots on the surface, use the following method. Degrease the item by washing it in a warm soda ash solution. Rinse with water.
Make a porridge from acetic acid and sawdust. When the sawdust swells, wipe the bronze object with the resulting mass using a woolen rag. Acetic acid corrodes oxides, and sawdust polishes the product. After finishing the treatment, rinse the item with cold water and dry thoroughly.
If the surface of the object is heavily contaminated with oxides, prepare the following composition. For 1 liter of water, take 10 g of potassium dichromate and 20 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid. Fill the solution into a glass vessel not to the top (taking into account the volume of the object). Dip the object into the solution and observe the process of dissolution of the oxides.
As soon as areas of a clean metal surface appear, immediately remove the item and place it in a solution of ammonia to neutralize the acid. After this, rinse the product with water and dry thoroughly. The process with sulfuric acid and potassium dichromate requires some care and skill so as not to damage the metal.
After cleaning the bronze, it is advisable to wax its surface. This can be done using wax and a rag or an alcohol solution of wax or paraffin. This treatment will protect the surface of the object from oxidation.
note
You need to remember the rules for working with acid. In particular, when preparing solutions, it is necessary to pour the acid into the water, and not vice versa.
A solution of sulfuric acid and potassium dichromate is a very caustic and aggressive substance. It can only be poured into glass containers. When working, be sure to use gloves and safety glasses.
Helpful advice
Potassium dichromate can be purchased at chemical stores. Sulfuric acid is also supplied in auto shops.
www.kakprosto.ru
Jeweler's recommendations on how not to buy a fake
Molokanov N.M.
Jeweler, 26 years of experience in jewelry production.
Ask a Question
First of all, you should pay attention to the price. If it is low, then do not consider the purchase option. When the cost remains the same regardless of the composition of the material, you can inspect it and touch it. In most cases, the properties of the product are carefully studied. Brass is lighter than gold due to its low density.
What is the value of brass?
Brass
used in various industries and
valued
for its high strength, low thermal conductivity and low manufacturing cost.
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