What color of gold is the most expensive?
Creating a jewelry alloy can be compared to culinary art. Like any dish, it is prepared painstakingly and consists of various ingredients. How long your treasured piece of jewelry will last depends on their connection. May 31, 2021 256 0 –> What makes gold so special? Shines, does not age, does not oxidize. This, but not only, is the magical power of yellow metal. Gold, as we are accustomed to seeing it in jewelry, is not just one chemical element. In the shadow of the yellow aurum there are a couple of other, no less important components. They are the ones who give the gold ring/earrings/chains the necessary jewelry properties and a variety of shades. The strength of gold products depends on their quantity and the skill of joining. Which standard of gold is the most durable? How to distinguish original gold earrings from fakes? Where does green, purple, black gold come from? Read about this and more in a new article from YK.
What is special about gold as a metal?
- Softness (only 2,5-3.0 on the Mohs scale). To the touch it can be compared to a fingernail.
- Natural sunny yellow color (sometimes with a greenish tint);
- High resistance to water, air, acids and alkalis;
- Plasticity and low resistance (1 gram can be rolled into a sheet up to 0,0001 mm thick or into a wire 3000 meters long).
For many centuries, the yellow precious metal has had an irresistible power over people: it was worshiped as the Sun God, they fought and killed for it, they sealed destinies and promises with it. And this is still the case today. Gold is perhaps the only metal that has retained all these qualities since BC.
Today, the scope of use of gold is not only jewelry. This includes medicine (surgery, dentistry), electronics.
Is gold used in its pure form?
Pure gold is usually a bright yellow shade of the sun. It is like this by nature and this is its distinctive feature from other metals. But there is a fly in the ointment in this barrel of honey. Gold cannot go through life alone. Excessive softness makes it unsuitable for fine jewelry work.
Products made of pure gold exist, but mostly they are antique jewelry or works of art. In its pure form it can only be used in decoration (gold leaf). In all other cases, yellow aurum is supplemented with alloying components (impurities). The most common “companions” of gold are silver, copper, platinum, palladium, zinc, and nickel. They determine the final properties of the alloy and make it suitable for jewelry work.
Marking of gold and gold products
Gold marking indicates the composition of the alloy and is recorded with a specific code.
Jewelry marking – this is the application of an assay mark on them, which consists of a state certificate (in Ukraine – a trident) and an assay mark. Marking means that the product has been tested by an authorized state body (Assay Chamber of Ukraine) and corresponds to the specified standard.
Gold content
The gold standard determines the ratio of pure gold to additives in the alloy (based on how many milligrams of pure gold are in 1 g of alloy). This is how they differ from each other: for example, 585 is at least 58.5% pure gold, and 750, respectively, is at least 75%.
The most widely used is 585, but the rarest is 375. The latter contains the most silver and copper, which is why technologists call it a gold-containing alloy. Such metal quickly tarnishes in air, which makes it of little use in jewelry production.
Sample 375/XNUMX/XNUMX
This means that it contains 37.5% pure gold, as well as a large percentage of copper (48%) and silver (10%). Due to the high copper content, the alloy quickly oxidizes and tarnishes, so products made from it are considered low quality.
Most often, jewelers call 375 not gold, but a gold-containing copper alloy.
Sample 500/XNUMX/XNUMX
Also considered low grade, so it is mainly used as gilding. The shades of the alloy are red and green, depending on the percentage of copper/silver in it.
Castings made from 500-grade alloy are heterogeneous and porous, so they are practically not used in the manufacture of earrings, rings, and chains.
Abroad, 500-carat gold is used to make decor for inexpensive accessories (for example, glasses, pens, cigarette cases).
Sample 585/XNUMX/XNUMX
The most popular jewelry alloy, which contains up to 59% pure gold, the rest is silver, palladium, nickel, copper, zinc. The alloy is quite hard and durable, not as susceptible to scratches and abrasions as higher grades.
In addition, 585 standard practically does not tarnish and is perfectly forgeable. Time plays in her favor: the jewelry acquires a certain trace of vintageness. Jewelers love to work with 585 alloy using various techniques (blowing, engraving, weaving).
Among the undeniable advantages is a wide range of shades of white, red, yellow of varying degrees of saturation. A brighter color indicates that there is more copper in the alloy, but this does not mean that there is less gold.
Sample 750/XNUMX/XNUMX
The highest standard in jewelry. The pure gold content here is higher – 75% (the remaining quarter is impurities). That is why the prices for such jewelry are much higher than others. Most often used for the manufacture of exclusive branded products.
It has a wide range of shades (from bright yellow to pink, red, white). It can serve as a setting for precious stones, and is also suitable for making thin, relief patterns.
Jewelry made from this gold is of average strength, polishes well, but scratches quickly. This especially applies to the traditional yellow metal. White gold, thanks to rhodium plating, is more durable to wear.
Sample 900/XNUMX/XNUMX
This alloy is considered one of the most expensive, since the percentage of impurities in it is minimal (about 10%). These are mainly copper and silver.
Products of this sample have a bright yellow color, almost identical to the shade of pure metal. Most often, 900 standard is used for the manufacture of coins and bars, as well as in medicine (in dentures and crowns).
The cost of such gold is kept at a high level, so the alloy can be a profitable investment.
Sample 958/XNUMX/XNUMX
The most expensive because it contains up to 96,3% pure gold and only 4% other impurities. 958-carat gold has a rich, bright yellow color. Can be used to make wedding rings and pendants. This alloy is resistant to the external environment, but very ductile.
Sample 999/XNUMX/XNUMX
This is pure gold without any admixture of other metals. It is too soft and quickly deforms, so it is practically not used by jewelers in its pure form.
What color is gold?
Making jewelry alloy can be compared to culinary art. Like any dish, it is prepared painstakingly and, in addition to gold, consists of various “ingredients”. The color and strength of the future gold product depends on the choice of alloy (impurities).
Impurities interact differently in the alloy and give gold a certain hue. Adding more of one element can darken the alloy or make it brittle. During the work process, it is important that the gold not only acquires the desired color, but also remains suitable for jewelry work.
For example, a green tint is obtained by adding silver to an alloy, and pink and red are obtained by adding copper. Palladium in combination with pure gold gives the alloy a grayish tint, and platinum gives it a pure white tint.
Red Gold
It is because of copper that bracelets, rings and other jewelry acquire a red tint. The more copper there is in the alloy, the redder its color will be.
If the composition contains more than 14% copper, the shade of the alloy becomes bright red. But if you add copper little by little, you get rose gold. Additions of silver help soften the red color.
Jewelers value red gold for its strength, which allows them to create airy, openwork jewelry without fear of deformation. Most often, red gold is used in jewelry without inserts, sometimes with semi-precious stones. However, due to the high copper content, such gold products are more susceptible to oxidation.
White gold
White gold is at the peak of popularity today. Lovers of elegant luxury believe that it best emphasizes the elegance of jewelry, effectively highlighting the precious stones.
The white alloy contains up to 4% zinc, from 6% to 20% nickel, and the rest is copper.
Platinum gives a pure white color to gold. However, a product made from such an alloy will be an order of magnitude higher in cost. The most affordable white gold alloy containing nickel, zinc and copper.
Most often, white gold items are coated with a thin layer of rhodium/palladium to create a beautiful, even shine. But such a coating is not permanent and can wear off during wear.
Gray gold
In addition to gold, this alloy contains a high percentage of nickel, copper and zinc. Because of this, the yellow metal loses its brightness and acquires a faded grayish tint. Please note that the color of the alloy is prone to fading. Over time, greenish tints may appear on the surface of the metal.
This alloy has good hardness and high casting properties.
Yellow gold
To obtain a warm tone, add copper and silver (in a ratio of 1 to 2). To make the shade more saturated, silver and copper are taken in equal parts. Yellow metal has a wide range of shades – from pale yellow to red through greenish or reddish tones. The alloy becomes paler as the amount of silver in it increases.
Pink gold
This type of metal is obtained by adding copper + a small amount of silver for shine. The main advantage of rose gold is its relatively low cost due to the cheapness of copper.
The pink hue can range from barely noticeable to more vibrant.
green gold
Green gold metal occurs, but is quite rare. This is a two-component alloy, which is a mixture of gold + silver. By changing the proportions you can achieve different shades of green. To give the metal an olive or pale yellow tint, potassium is added to the alloy.
Another possibility to get a green color is to add cadmium with copper. But the alloy can be given a light green color using indium impurities.
Blue gold
Perhaps the most unusual type of gold. The exotic color attracts buyers, but the share of gold in the ligature is only about 46%. The rest is impurities of indium or gallium.
purple gold
Most often found as a decorative element on decorations in the form of flowers and butterflies. The violet tint is given to gold by the admixture of aluminum, which must be at least 15%.
Purple gold is very fragile. It is possible to make a single piece of jewelry out of it, but be prepared for the fact that it can easily break with sudden movements.
An alternative use is in a gold pendant/earrings instead of a gemstone.
Black Gold
Another unusual color that is becoming increasingly popular. To obtain a black color, cobalt is added to the alloy, which is oxidized at high temperatures. Chromium is used to give the alloy a dark brown color.
The process of obtaining black gold is quite expensive. Therefore, jewelry is often coated with a layer of ordinary black rhodium, ruthenium or amorphous carbon. The more intense the black shade, the more likely it is that the product has such a coating.
Types of hallmarks on gold
The mark is certainly placed on all original jewelry made of precious metals. This includes models with inserts of precious and colored stones. The mark is evidence that the product has passed tests and meets all quality requirements. It consists of numbers that indicate the sample, as well as graphic symbols.
Attention! If there is no such mark on the product, then its quality is quite questionable!
As a rule, a rectangular mark is used for gold, a rectangular one with rounded ends for silver, and an eight-pointed mark for platinum.
The numbers decipher the type and quality of the metal, and the letters indicate the region in which the alloy was tested and the sample was taken. The graphic symbol in the stamp indicates the place of manufacture.
In Ukraine, the state hallmark consists of a trident sign and gold fineness numbers. For each type of metal there is a separate form of mark.
State hallmarks of Ukraine of a new type, introduced in 1994.
According to the rules, the mark on a piece of jewelry should not affect its appearance. Depending on the type of decoration, it may have a different location. For example, on rings the mark is placed on the inside of the jewelry, on pendants and chains – near the clasp.
The question “what is the most expensive gold” relates to the field of investment. The highest price is given for “red” gold of 999 purity. This is the chemical element Au in its pure form with a gold content of 99,9%. During the time of Tsarist Russia, gold coins were made from this gold, called “chervonets”. 999 gold is too soft to make jewelry from.
Red gold has a bright yellow color, and the addition of impurities – alloys – changes the color of the alloy. The spectrum of gold alloys ranges in color from white and pale yellow to various shades of pink and red. In order to find out which gold is more expensive: white, red or yellow, you need to understand the composition of the alloys.
Comparison of multi-colored gold
Fineness is a value indicating the number of parts of gold in an alloy. The physical characteristics, color and cost of the metal depend on the number on the sample. Obviously, determining which gold standard is the most expensive is quite simple. The most valuable is the presence of a large amount of gold in the alloy. This means that the higher the purity value, the higher the cost of the gold alloy.
Pure 999 gold is a metal prone to deformation. To ensure that precious metal products retain their shape, alloys are created. The main components of the alloys are:
- gold as the main component, in the amount of 375, 585 or 750 parts;
- silver;
- copper;
- palladium;
- platinum;
- sometimes nickel;
- Rhodium is used as a coating on white gold to give it shine and durability.
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Gold of any color can be represented by alloys of 375, 585 and 750 samples. The most expensive option in each color is 750 sample. The percentage of precious metals in the alloy will help answer the question of what is more expensive – white or yellow gold. Adding platinum to white gold makes the metal more valuable than the yellow alloy containing silver and copper.
Yellow gold
The yellow gold ligature consists of 585 or 750 parts of gold. The remaining parts are filled with copper and silver. Moreover, the amount of silver should significantly prevail over copper, muting its red tint. The price of yellow gold per gram reaches up to 3000 rubles. When deciding which gold is better: red or yellow, you need to pay attention to the sample.
Advantages in comparison with gold alloys of pink and white shades:
- the color of natural, naturally occurring gold;
- does not lose shine;
- Pairs perfectly with certain jewel tones.
Features of Yellow Metal:
- subject to deformation;
- Scratches appear on jewelry.
Lemon yellow gold has a lower percentage of gold in its composition, so it is more durable. It costs less than metal with a sunny golden hue. Therefore, lemon gold jewelry is in great demand.
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Pink gold
The pink tones of the metal tell us about the high copper content in the gold alloy. This is the gold of the Soviet period, which we saw on our grandmothers. Soviet gold, distributed throughout the trading network to a wide range of consumers, was a metal with a red tint of varying intensities. Rose gold is more expensive than yellow gold only if the standard of the yellow metal product is lower than pink gold. The price of rose gold per gram today ranges from 900 rubles 375 samples before 2100 rubles for gold 750 standard.
Advantages of rose gold:
- affordable price;
- resistance to mechanical deformation;
- Corrosion resistant;
- Looks great as a setting for diamonds.
Rose gold is valued by fans of the USSR heritage and modern jewelers. Global jewelry brands produce many of their collections in gold of these shades. The auction price of jewelry from Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Graff and others is incommensurate with the price of the metal. Designer products are sold at prices that are tens or hundreds of times higher than the cost of gold material.
White gold
White gold consists of a master alloy, which includes gold in predominant quantities, as well as nickel, silver and palladium. Metal additives give the gray-white color to this type of gold. White gold price per gram is from 2100 to 6500 rubles. It is impossible to clearly determine which gold is better: white or yellow.
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White gold has several varieties:
- 375 white gold is used for making jewelry, as it has low value. The alloy contains nickel, zinc and silver. Such a ligature is susceptible to oxidation and has a grayish tint;
- Palladium is added to modern 585k white gold. The product is plated with rhodium. Such gold is more expensive than pink and yellow alloy of a similar standard;
- The most valuable is 750 white gold. 25% platinum is added to the alloy, which affects the cost, visual qualities and physical characteristics. White gold with 750 hallmarks is more expensive than all types of gold alloys, has a beautiful light shade, but requires careful handling.
This is why white gold is more expensive than yellow gold, although the untrained eye may well judge yellow gold to be more valuable when compared to the silver-like white alloy.
