What standard is red gold?
Outside of Russia, this gold is perceived as exotic. “Russian gold,” Europeans and Americans call it and look at the precious metal as if enchanted. But in our country, red gold sits on the pedestal of popularity: it is in every store, and in every box, and in every “jewelry memory” from the times of the USSR.
Does red gold occur in nature?
Places where gold veins lie are found all over the planet: river sand, mountain ranges and mysterious mines. But don’t even try to find the red gold from which your favorite ring is made. To make the decoration durable, other metals are added to the natural material – due to these additives, the color changes. Gold pendant earrings 000-317525 For example, white gold, in addition to pure metal, contains nickel, silver, platinum or palladium. Yellow contains copper, silver, nickel and zinc. In the red alloy, copper and silver coexist together. This is where the secret of the beautiful shade of red metal lies: the bright pinkish-orange copper colors the gold red.
Composition of red gold
Sometimes a person who has nothing to do with jewelry asks: why not make products from pure metal, because it is more valuable than alloys? The answer is: pure gold is too soft and not suitable for jewelry. Today, pure metal is stored in safes in the form of ingots, but it is completely unsuitable for wear – the precious accessory will be scratched, wrinkled and broken. We won’t see a variety of shades in pure gold either. But if you add an alloy, that is, alloys of other supporting metals in the form of granules, gold will become more durable. Thanks to different jewelry recipes, the same variety of gold palette is obtained. A rich red tint is obtained if you add more copper to the precious recipe – the higher its content, the brighter the desired undertone in the finished product. There are many ligature recipes, they are all different, and manufacturers usually keep them secret. Approximate ratios are:
- 75% aurum, 25% copper – for 750 sample;
- 58,5% aurum, 41,5% copper – for sample 585;
- 58,3 aurum, 33,7% copper, 8% silver – 585 and so on.
At the same time, red gold is stronger than yellow gold because it has more different impurities that make it more stable. Copper, which is part of the red alloy, is hypoallergenic, so products with a red tint do not cause irritation and are suitable for the most sensitive skin.
Children’s earrings with cubic zirconias made of red gold 000-345311
During ancient civilizations, gold generally had a reddish hue, which is why various ancient authors describe the noble metal as “red.” And in Slavic texts we find the adjective “chervonets”, from which, in fact, the name of the gold coin came – chervonets. True, there is one nuance: in modern metal there is less aurum than in the red alloy, which at different times had a grade of 900 and higher.
What types of red gold are there?
The fineness of gold depends, of course, not on the color, but on the ratio of pure metal and the added alloy. In Russia today you can see gold accessories:
- 375 standard is not a very valuable alloy that has taken root in our country. Pure aurum is only 37,5 – 38%, and accessories of this sample quickly fade and darken, so jewelers try to avoid them. Russian buyers don’t like this alloy either, but Europeans trust it completely, happily purchasing products because of their low price and availability.
- 585 is the most popular option. Here the precious fraction is 58,5 Au to 41,5% alloy, which may contain copper, silver, nickel or other metals. In this ratio, the material becomes more durable, less demanding for care and storage, but at the same time more malleable when making jewelry.
- 750 standard – this is used to mark premium jewelry. In an alloy of 750 fineness, respectively, 75% of pure gold, and the rest is made up of an alloy of silver and copper or other satellites of the precious metal. Jewelry made from this alloy is a little more flexible, so you need to wear it very carefully.
- 500 standard is a rare visitor to jewelry display cases, so let’s talk about it only in passing. There is 50% pure gold, the rest is the same alloy, and this alloy is used mainly for expensive souvenirs – pens, glasses, cigarette cases, figurines, medals.
The color scheme depends on the proportions of impurities that are added to the precious alloy.
For example, the more silver in the ligature, the softer the shade, even soft pink. There is very little silver in scarlet, and some do not add it at all – thanks to the high copper content, the alloy gets a rich shade.
What properties does this gold alloy have?
This amazing metal is so popular today that a lot of qualities are attributed to it – from completely understandable and logical to almost mystical. Here are some of them:
- red gold is quite resistant to damage and therefore does not require additional protective coating;
- it does not change color or darken with proper care (however, this characteristic applies only to 585 and 750 samples, since low-grade accessories are not so stable);
- has a healing effect on a person when worn daily, this ability is manifested due to the copper content in the composition;
- It is believed that red gold jewelry is favorable to generous and magnanimous people, but can have a negative impact on lazy people and idle people.
Fans of folk methods and traditions claim that this wonderful metal is capable of rejuvenating. They recommend young women up to 35 years old to wear gold jewelry. It is believed that this will help preserve youth and delay the appearance of the first wrinkles due to the chemical composition that affects the body. By the way, in Japan they generally believe that if you wear a gold ring on your right hand, it will prolong a person’s life, and not by a year or two, but by several years.
Residents of the northern regions of our country love to buy this precious metal – for a very long time they have believed that this metal warms the soul with its warm shimmer and brings comfort to the house. That is why most talismans, amulets and other symbolic products were created from gold.
Gold accessories are credited with the ability to accumulate the energy of their owners. For this reason, it is not recommended to get rid of family jewelry that has been passed from hand to hand within the same family for years and generations. Therefore, you should not buy old jewelry that someone already owned – you never know what kind of energy is contained in them.
Those family heirlooms that are religious symbols and have been consecrated are especially valued. Golden crosses and icons have a powerful protective power that should not be neglected, and selling these attributes is a completely reckless decision. These symbols can save you in difficult times, protect you from illness and adversity. If you don’t want to carry them on yourself, you can simply store the relics at home, for example, in a separate box or closer to the holy books, on the iconostasis.
What is the difference between red gold and yellow gold?
We love noble alloys for their diversity, because you can find something of your own. True, it would be good to keep in mind what differences exist between them.
For example, “Russian gold” is chosen by those who value not only a beautiful rich shade, but also the strength of the material. Such products are stronger than their yellow counterparts, and their durability is due to the addition of impurities. Red metal holds its shape perfectly without deforming during everyday wear, and this is a particularly important quality in openwork weaves of thin chains.
Due to the high strength of the red alloy, today it is most often chosen by jewelers and designers if they need an exquisite item with many small, delicate details. The yellow alloy is not so resistant to processing, and therefore it is most often used to make minimalistic jewelry. Of course, there are also craftsmen who masterfully work with yellow material, creating stunning jewelry masterpieces, but such a product will be quite expensive.
Gold earrings with diamonds and chrysolites 000-072981
The rich scarlet shade of gold is more pleasing to the eye and goes well with both dark and fair skin with warm undertones. Such jewelry looks especially beautiful on brunettes or those with red hair, emphasizing their bright appearance.
What is the difference between red gold and rose gold?
In order not to get confused in the color scheme, it is worth mentioning rose gold. Sometimes manufacturers use the terms “red” and “rose” gold interchangeably. But, if you look carefully, the truth is this: the rich red alloy contains more copper than the soft pink alloy.
Craftsmen use this technique and create masterpieces by adjusting the composition of the metal. Need a bright color? – Add more copper. Do you want to create a delicate image? – We reduce copper and add more silver.
It is impossible to say which is better – red or rose gold, since there are no obvious characteristic advantages to either one or the other. The choice of products of a certain shade is purely a matter of taste.
Sometimes fashion trends change, and women all over the world rush to buy rose gold jewelry to demonstrate their commitment to trends. In this case, red gold remains the choice of those who are faithful to the classics, not susceptible to fickle fashion.
Who is red metal suitable for?
Designers today say that the color of red gold is so neutral and practical that it suits people with any skin tone. All you need to focus on when choosing jewelry is the design. Thanks to the efforts of creatives, our eyes run wild: red gold, decorated with gems, dotted with ornate patterns and jewelry shapes, adjacent to white metal.
A rule worth keeping in mind: depending on age, younger girls should wear more minimalistic, elegant jewelry, and older ladies should wear more massive accessories (rings with large stones and other inserts, elaborate pendants, spectacular earrings).
You can also focus on the event that you want to decorate with your appearance.
For example, accessories without bright inserts, or at most a scattering of delicate colorless stones, are suitable for an office or a business meeting. Wearing flashy jewelry in a professional environment is usually considered bad manners.
At a party or celebration, more intricate gold patterns, bright large inserts in the form of stones, and modern designer products that will definitely attract attention will be excellent companions. For example, cocktail rings set in gold look expensive and stylish.
Gold ring with diamonds, amazonites, prasiolites and topaz 000-191235
A feminine wedding look will be decorated with an elegant combination of gold and pearls or transparent stones in delicate shades. Light chains, dangling earrings, and delicate weaving of exquisite bracelets will create a charming, sophisticated look.
Can red gold tarnish?
Some metals tarnish over time and turn into useless trinket. But this is not about red gold. It shines amazingly brightly in the sunlight and does not fade. Of course, if you do not neglect the care rules recommended by the manufacturers.
But there is one peculiarity: over the years, the color of copper may become more saturated, and the red metal will darken. For connoisseurs of vintage items, such a metamorphosis is a pleasant and long-awaited event. After all, the shade of antiquity gives the metal a particularly noble appearance. Such decoration can be proudly passed on to generations.
Let us recall the basic rules of care that will help keep the accessory in its original form:
- If possible, store jewelry separately from each other so that they do not get scratched;
- remove them before playing sports to protect them from sweat, which can oxidize the metal with regular exposure;
- Clean precious accessories 1-2 times a year or when dirty with soapy water and a soft brush, and then carefully polish with a soft cloth.
Let’s not forget that:
- the main enemy of any jewelry is household chemicals, which cause the greatest harm to gold, so before cleaning you must remove all jewelry;
- The second aggressor on the list, but not least, is cosmetics (and perfumes), which contain all the same chemical components that have a strong effect on our favorite jewelry when used regularly;
- Friends of cleanliness and perfectionists, but enemies of precious metals and stones – abrasives and rough brushes, which are used to clean jewelry accessories.
If you follow these simple steps, your gold will always delight the eye with its beautiful shine.
How to care?
The principles of caring for red gold are still the same: care, care and attention. There are only a few nuances that would be nice to know for those who are ready to look after not only themselves, but also their gold favorites.
For everyday care of gold jewelry, you only need a piece of microfiber. Before putting your accessory back in your jewelry box after a long day, lightly wipe it with a cloth – it will remove dust, dirt and grease from your favorite jewelry, and at the same time lightly polish it. This will also be useful for the precious insert, which will sparkle with renewed vigor.
If the accessory has been stored in the box for a long time, and you find severe contamination on it, you should not rush to study the entire arsenal of household chemicals. Order a special cleaner for cleaning jewelry accessories – now they are easy to find, and they are not at all expensive.
Another option for those who are used to trusting specialists is to bring your gold jewelry to one of our salons. We are ready to clean them for free in a special device for ultrasonic cleaning, and it doesn’t matter whether the accessories were purchased from us or somewhere else – we will quickly restore the beautiful appearance of any of your jewelry.
Look at ourgold.ru for the hottest new items and expand your collection of “Russian metal” jewelry.
So to the question, why red gold red, the answer is one: because, the alloying components include copper, which, as you know, has a reddish tint. And the more “cuprum” (copper in the periodic table – Cuprum, Cu) in the alloy, the more saturated red its color will be. And if you add a little copper, you get rose gold.
Incidentally, yellow gold is added to improve performance more silver than copper, so the end result is yellow and the price is slightly higher.
You can make gold and brown. For this, a proportion of palladium is added to it.
Held today a lot of experiments with noble metal color. Designers, stylists and jewelers are trying to come up with something new and special so that they can pleasantly surprise their consumers and increase people’s demand for jewelry.
Products received particular popularity this yearmade from braids of gold in different colors, such as black, yellow and white. From the entire list, stylists distinguish bracelets. These accessories look very elegant, cute, delicate and inexpensive. If you do not have such items yet, then it may be worth looking at the page of the jewelry store and looking for something new, especially if a birthday or some significant event is ahead.
What samples of red gold are there
On the Russian market, this alloy color is presented in four versions:
1. Pink gold 375 samples. This metal contains about 37,5 – 38% pure Au. This alloy has not received the popularity it deserves here in Russia, since it quickly fades and people don’t want to work with it. However, in Europe this type of gold is very popular. The color range of sample 375 varies from yellow-orange to scarlet due to different percentages of the main components of the copper and silver alloy. The alloy acquires an orange tint if it contains 37,5% noble metal, 13,2% copper and 49,3% argentum. A scarlet color is obtained if 57,2% Cu and 9,5% Ag are added to pure gold;
Bellissima Tentazione K/571-120
Vesna jewelry 7077-156-02-00
2. Red gold 585 (also called Soviet gold) is the most widespread gold in the post-Soviet space. The same copper and silver are used as the ligature, and nickel is added to the pink versions.
The advantage of 585 is that this type of gold is very durable, but at the same time pliable to work with.
Depending on the composition, alloy 585 changes color from bright red to pale pink:
3. Still exists 500th sample. Its composition contains about 50% of pure aurum; copper and silver are used as ligatures in various percentages. On the Russian counters of jewelry stores, products made of 500 gold are almost never found, but for many years it has been successfully used in some countries of the world for the manufacture of cufflinks, glasses, pins, brooches, pens, bill holders, caskets and cigarette cases.
4. Sample number 750 the composition contains 75,5% pure gold, silver, platinum, nickel, copper and palladium in different proportions are used as impurities. The 750th alloy has sufficiently high strength values, due to which it is appreciated by customers. However, this metal is still very ductile, and you need to be extremely careful with it when wearing.
The 750 fineness is prized for its ductility in forging, so this alloy is easy and pleasant to work with.
The color palette also depends on the presence of impurities.
- a scarlet hue is obtained in the proportions: 75% gold, 4% silver and 21% copper;
- pink – 75% gold, 12,5% silver and 12,5% copper.
Properties of red gold
Who is red gold for?
Stylists say with confidence that red gold goes to everyone, both young and old. The only thing to look for when choosing accessories is their size and style.
For older ladies it is recommended to wear massive, heavy jewelry. These things will create the necessary accent in the image, and draw attention to the richness and luxury of accessories. Small rings, too thin chains, small earrings can give the image of an older woman the impression of self-doubt.
Some leading designers believe that red gold is preferred for older women. This is due to the fact that this color is close to the skin tone and stands out in contrast.
For young people light openwork jewelry, minimally decorated with stones, is suitable. It is considered bad manners if a young girl is wearing, for example, several massive rings with huge inserts. These products are best left for older ladies. Youth is charming in itself, it does not need unnecessary sharp accents and excessive pathos. Excessive accessories add age to the girl. It is recommended to wear large jewelry for an evening look: a beautiful fluffy dress, an expensive suit or a wedding dress, i.e. for those clothes where luxury products are appropriate. If a girl in chic earrings decides to go to the store just like that, it may seem tasteless.
Men you can also wear red gold products. If even some 20-30 years ago it was quite difficult to imagine an adult representative of the stronger sex wearing a gold bracelet (only gold watches were in fashion), today many young people allow themselves to wear various jewelry in gold. The look can be complemented with a ring, watch, cufflinks and even a tie clip made of red gold.
How much does it cost?
It is not possible to say exactly the price of 1 gram of red gold. The market value can vary from 2000 rubles. up to 6000 depending on which region of Russia and from which manufacturer you purchase the products.
Ordinary buyer jewelry is not particularly interested in the price of a gram of gold. Often people want to understand how much money they need to collect, for example, for a birthday present or New Year’s. Let’s quickly go over the cost of red gold jewelry.
Remember that the true price of a red gold jewelry is not the ratio of gold to copper, but the design of the jewelry and the presence of precious inlays.
If you want to purchase earrings, then you will need at least 6 thousand rubles. This is if we talk about small “studs” without any inserts that you can wear to work every day. And if you need jewelry with a scattering of diamonds, then you will have to set aside approximately 30-40 thousand rubles.
Women’s gold bracelet the minimum cost will be about 10 thousand rubles. And if you want to purchase a men’s accessory, the cost will be about 25 thousand.
Women’s red gold rings they cost differently. Please also note that today it is quite difficult to find products without stones. The most budget option for inserts are cubic zirconia or jewelry enamel. Such products will cost from 5 thousand rubles. Men’s models usually cost much more, since they are larger in size and, accordingly, there is more gold in the product.
Chain price will depend on the type of weaving and length of the product. A 40 cm long chain of openwork “Nonna” will cost approximately 8 thousand rubles, and the cost of the same 55 cm long chain will be 12 thousand rubles. The type of weaving determines how much material is spent on one link of the decoration.
We hope that today we were able to slightly broaden your horizons regarding red gold jewelry. If you are a true fan of this alloy, you have good taste. The price of items made of red gold of 575 assay value is very democratic, and such jewelry is worn for a long time and does not require any special care and attention.