One of the dilemmas that people often face when buying jewelry is the choice of gold. The most popular tests are 333 and 585. There are also products with a test of 750 on the market. What are the tests of gold, what is the difference between them and how to choose really high-quality products — we will provide such information in this article.

What are the samples of gold?

The sample shows the content of pure gold in the alloy, that is, how many units of mass of the precious metal per 1000 units of the mass of the alloy. Gold itself is a very soft material, therefore, to increase its strength and stability, I add other metals — the so-called impurities.

The term «gold assay» was introduced to standardize the characteristics of products containing precious metals. The assay chamber checks the content of precious metal in this product (in a wedding ring or earrings) and puts a stamp on this product. It indicates the type of precious metal and its sample.

The higher the assay, the more gold in the product. The price of gold jewelry largely depends on the type of gold.

Among gold jewelry, the most popular is the sample of the 585th test, from which engagement rings, bracelets and necklaces are most often made. According to jewelers, gold grade 585, i.e. 14 carats, is the best compromise between durability and nobility of the product. 750 or 916 jewelry will have more pure gold, but it is very soft, so such jewelry will be prone to scratches or damage. The highest quality 999 gold is used exclusively for the production of investment products, such as bars and coins, which are packaged in a special way that protects them from damage.

For a person who does not deal with jewelry every day, it is difficult to distinguish 333 gold jewelry from 585 fine jewelry. However, the difference lies in the cost. Very often, buyers compare the prices of jewelry from different manufacturers, look at the shape, beauty of the model or the method of weaving. But few people know that jewelry with the same appearance is produced with different calibers.

What are the types of gold samples?

The most popular in the world is the 585th sample, which is mainly used for the manufacture of wedding rings. It is considered an ideal compromise between the value of the product and its durability.

750 — is more noble due to the purity of the metal, however, due to the softness of gold, it may turn out that after a short period of use, deep scratches or bends will appear on the product.

333 is a good solution for people who don’t want to spend too much money on jewelry. They are visually no different from products of higher quality and their price should be much lower, but stains from them are very difficult to remove.

Another measure that is used to find out what type of gold is karat (denoted by kt or ct). It is a unit of mass used in jewelry to indicate the size of the stones, as well as for the purity of the gold in the alloy. In Europe, this metric system is not very popular. But in the United States, this is the main and often used indicator. 1 carat is 1/24 of the gold content in the alloy. This means that 24-carat is pure gold corresponding to the 999th sample. Below we present how the measurement in carats correlates with the previously listed samples in percentages:

What is the assay of gold in Ukraine?

In Ukraine, the State Assay Inspection is responsible for the assay of gold on jewelry. According to the standard, every manufacturer or importer must mark gold products weighing more than 1 gram.

Accessories with the most saturated shade of yellow are created from gold of 750 proof with a value of 18 carats. This gold is softer and pliable. Most often, this alloy is used to create custom jewelry with stone inserts, especially if a diamond is used.

The most popular gold is 14 karat 585 proof. This alloy contains more than half of the gold itself. It is quite plastic, elastic and allows you to play with additives of other metals, creating different shades — from red to light yellow. They do not affect the noble properties of the metal itself, but make it hard and more resistant to abrasion.

The lowest grade of 333 is found in 8 carat gold, which is used to make the most fragile jewelry. The clasps of such chains, bracelets and earrings can quickly break or fall apart. Due to the large number of impurities of other metals, products of this sample often stain the skin in a dark color and cause an allergic reaction. This is due to a large number of impurities. They react with cosmetics or with compounds contained in our sweat (most often it is sulfur), which causes oxidation, i.e. darkening of the metal.

What color is gold?

The color of the ring is affected by the admixture of other metals that are added to the alloy during the production process. How to find out what the test of gold is? Pay attention to its shade. The lower the sample, the more intense the color of the alloying additive in the alloy.

• Yellow gold is a classic shade of this metal, which consists of gold, silver and copper. Traditionalists and minimalists like this color. Yellow gold wedding rings are relatively durable and at the same time very aesthetic. If your loved one chooses gold accessories the most, give him a classic yellow gold ring. Yellow gold suits women with darker skin.

• White — contains an element such as nickel or palladium. Because of the allergenic effect of the former, palladium is mainly used. To strengthen it, a rhodium coating is applied. Perfect for fans of minimalism, which will delight with its nobility. If your partner wears silver jewelry every day, a white gold ring should match his style. Perfectly combined with light skin and light hair. White gold with an admixture of palladium has a beautiful rich platinum color. Due to the fact that it is a precious metal from the platinum group, it does not cause allergies, and gold with palladium is 10.5% heavier than yellow or red. Solid palladium gold rings are considered solid.

• Pink — made from an alloy of gold with palladium and zinc or copper. It is often called «Russian». If the amount of silver in the alloy increases due to copper, the red color acquires a delicate pink shade. Extremely attractive and feminine, this delicate shade of pink and red will emphasize the beauty of the chosen one. It attracts the attention of fans of vintage jewelry, which are extraordinarily suitable for jewelry art. It harmonizes perfectly with precious stones.

• Red — a combination of yellow gold with an admixture of copper and silver, which causes a change in color. The more copper in the alloy, the more intense its shade will be. Red gold has the same weight and price as yellow gold.

• Blue — created by adding an impurity of iron, nickel or cobalt.

• Purple and dark purple — formed by adding aluminum.

• Black — made with the addition of carbon, rhodium or ruthenium.

However, the color of the decoration does not determine the purity of the metal, it is only a designation of its additives. Regardless of the color of the product, the stamp is a mandatory marking that shows the quality of this gold.

The choice is yours — read the Silvers online store catalog and place an order!