Incredibly sensational and amazing 925 test - what metal, silver or gold, photo
Today, the issue of the 925 sample is especially acute and is the subject of ongoing debate to which metal this alloy should be attributed to gold or silver. Jewelers can easily tell gold from silver at a glance. But for ordinary people this question is very difficult. And the easiest way to find out what kind of metal was used in the manufacture of jewelry is marking. She will tell not only about the quality of the product, but also about its composition. But what does 925 mean in the end? We will analyze in detail in the article.
Story
The Egyptians are one of the oldest civilizations that highly valued jewelry. Huge wealth, intricate and elegant decorations were found in the tombs. And it is believed that it was the Egyptians who first began to calculate the percentage of gold content in jewelry. And in Greece, letters were applied to the coins indicating the content of the precious metal.
This method came to Russia much later. The first samples were found on coins of the seventeenth century. Up to this point, they used a different system, which was called the spool. The point was to determine how many of the ninety-six parts of the alloy were gold.
And depending on this, they put the corresponding two-digit figure on the product. After the revolution, they switched to the already familiar three-digit designation. Today, the approved GOST is in force in Russia.According to him, the brand means the content of the precious metal in one kilogram of the alloy.
Today, the test means the ratio of the weight of gold to the total weight of the product.
The ratio is calculated as grams of metal to kilogram of total alloy. If you see a sample of 375 on the product, then the precious metal content is 37.5%. This is a low gold content to call this alloy precious and suitable for jewelry. Such an alloy is called technical. The highest standard is 999, which means that the alloy is pure gold. It is extremely rare to find jewelry with this mark.
In European countries, a carat system for assessing the value of an alloy is common. The history of this method was founded in Britain where it is still used today. One carat equals one twenty-fourth of the entire alloy.
Gold
Gold products are different in composition and, accordingly, in value. The most common samples of gold:
- 375 sample - a product of a reddish color;
- hard 583;
- 585 multi-colored;
- white 750;
- yellow 958.
Low-gold alloys with 375 fineness have a red tint that wears off when polished to give way to a gray color. Products that can most often be found in jewelry stores have a sample of 583 and 585. The 583 sample indicates an alloy of gold and copper. If the ring is with an opal or other precious stone, then its price will increase several times.
This alloy is strong, but lends itself to the work of a jeweler. Sample today can be found only in a few countries. Most countries use 585 alloy, which consists of several components. Products can be pink, white or yellow.
750 sterling silver is especially white or yellow with a green tint. This is due to the content of silver and copper.958 samples are very soft and malleable metal, which is why polishing remains very short. Gold 999 with the highest gold content is used in the banking sector and is stored in the form of ingots.
Silver
Silver is one of the softest and most malleable metals. Any jeweler will tell you that working with silver is very easy. To strengthen the alloy and ensure strength, copper is added to silver, and the process is called alloying. These metals are similar in their properties, so their connection does not cost much effort.
Each country previously had its own system for grading silver products. This complicated the process of exchanging silver items between states. To facilitate the process, they invented a percentage scheme similar to gold valuation.
An impressive amount of copper is included in the 800 and 750 alloy and the alloy is considered low quality, used in industry and not suitable for the jewelry industry. For precious jewelry, an alloy of 925 or 875 samples is used.
Precious items from 999 samples are rare and highly valued by collectors. Jewelry is distinguished by its white color and this alloy is often used with precious stones such as diamonds. The 999 metal itself contains a large amount of silver and is not durable, so the products are very susceptible to change and deformation.
Sterling metal
925 is very unusual. It is put on silver products and is called sterling metal. The name comes from English coins, which were minted from the same alloy.
This metal is not only distinguished by a special breakdown, but also by hardness, strength and durability. Sterling metal is often used to make quality knives that do not lose their shape and retain their color.Since the alloy contains 7.5% copper, the material becomes flexible and ductile.
But thanks to the durability of silver, 7th century sterling metal jewelry is still kept in museums or passed down as family heirlooms. Despite the centuries, due to the properties of the metal, the products have retained their shape, light and pure shade.
925 alloy is quite ductile and even one gram can be turned into a long and thin thread.
The alloy is treated with sulfur before starting work, which leads to the formation of oxidized silver. The material seems to be aging due to the appearance of dark spots. Next, an oxide film is applied to the product and proceed to the final polishing to a shine.
This alloy is suitable not only for making fine jewelry, but also for everyday items such as crockery and cutlery. Previously, a wealthy house must have had silverware, but today it is part of extensive collections.
Due to its qualities, 925 alloy is widely used in industry. In the Soviet Union, the alloy was especially popular in the production of contacts and other connecting elements. Since there was no money for gold or platinum, 925 sterling silver was a good substitute for the production of cufflinks, icons and crosses, cigarette cases, medals and pins.
Photo 925 proof
