875 standard - what is it: gold or silver? Proof 875 with star

At all times of human existence, these precious metals have been valued: gold and silver. Today, these metals are still valued, but the world does not stand still, new metal processing technologies are being improved, irradiation and sputtering are widely used. An ordinary person may make a mistake when buying a precious item, mistaking silver for gold. Let's figure out how to avoid making mistakes and becoming a victim of fraud. By passing off silver items with hallmarks 875 and 925 as expensive white gold, adventurers easily deceive gullible buyers.

What kind of metal is this

In the jewelry environment, marking metals using stamps has become widespread. They are based on the metric system of samples, which means the percentage of the base component per 1 g of alloy.

It can be assumed that the most valuable piece of jewelry is the one marked with the “1000” mark. Alloys with absolute purity are practically not found in the world; they are not suitable for industrial and jewelry making: pure metals are very malleable and are not suitable for the practical use of products, while their cost is unreasonably high.

The following sample categories are represented around the world:

• gold: 333, 375, 500, 583, 585, 750, 958, 999;
• silver: 800, 830, 875, 925, 960, 999.

Gold and silver match only in one standard - 999. Accordingly, the mark 875 can be found on silver. The presence of a specific yellowish tint in jewelry with such a hallmark is associated with artificial gilding, made for decorative purposes: it does not contain real gold.

How does the star brand affect the cost?

Why does a star on silver items significantly increase their value even in pawn shops that are not generous with overpayments? Let's try to identify the main reasons:

• The mark in the form of a star was placed on items of 875 silver standard during the existence of the USSR.
  If Cutlery is 875 standard specifically, then in the time period from 1958 to 1994 inclusive. Nowadays such jewelry and crafts have the status of rarities, rarely seen, and therefore can be valued more expensively at a pawnshop;
• Some items of tableware and decorative items manufactured in the Soviets are no longer produced at all. For example, cup holders, ashtrays, vases for sweets and cakes. Naturally, such exclusivity significantly increases the price;
• Unconditional quality of Soviet jewelry alloys. And the point is not that the current manufacturer smelts alloyed compounds with poor quality characteristics - they, as before, strictly comply with GOST. The reason lies in the increased share of imports of precious metals, and imported alloys (especially Turkish, Egyptian, etc.) often contain a lower percentage of precious metals than required by the standard.

Composition and properties

Silver products are made from alloys to which other metals are added - alloys. Their task is to give the material additional characteristics that increase its practicality, strength or visual component.

Silver with purity 875 has a certain composition, set out in the international standard:

Silver metal content in 1 gram of 875 grade product

The carat system has become widespread along with the metric system for assessing the degree of purity of alloys in the Arab world, the USA, etc. Carats refers to the amount of the main substance in the metal, the maximum value is 24 (equal to 100% concentration).

The main additive of 875 silver alloy is copper. In addition to it, nickel, silicon, germanium or platinum are alloys.

Copper is a cheap metal that, in addition to reducing the cost of the finished alloy, increases its strength and durability. The disadvantage of alloying with copper is the change in appearance over the years: the surface becomes dull and the shine disappears. To eliminate this phenomenon, many products made from 875 standard are coated with rhodium: it gives additional shine and metallic luster and protects against mechanical stress.

Main characteristics of metal with the mark 875:

• hardness;
• plastic;
• impact resistance;
• low melting point values;
• high light reflection rate (almost 100%);
• light yellow tint.

Strength

The strength and stability of 875 silver depends on the final volume of copper impurities. The alloy is distinguished by higher strength and ductility than silver of the highest standard: the metal in its natural state is soft, the higher the proportion of pure Ag, the lower the strength of the product.

Spool test

In pre-revolutionary Russia there was no value of 925 to determine the quality of silver. The spool system used standard 84, which corresponded to modern 875 standard, so this ratio can be considered traditional. But, in 1927, the USSR replaced the old system with the metric system accepted throughout the world.

A serious disadvantage of jewelry made from white precious metal is its tendency to blacken under the influence of the environment and many other factors. There are many cleaning methods, so this property should not be a warning if you want to purchase products made of noble silver.

What is 875 sample with a star?

Each state uses its own labeling system, approved by the relevant control body. The appearance of the mark differs depending on the country that issued it.

Silver products made in Russia are marked with various types of hallmarks. It depends on the period of manufacture of the silver alloy:

• issued from 1958 to 1994 - marked with a stamp with a symbolic design of a five-pointed star containing a hammer and sickle;
• after 1994 - marked with a profile picture of the girl.

875 silver from the Soviet period (it has a star) is the most valuable. It is not currently produced, which already increases the value, and the image indicates the authenticity of the alloy: in the USSR there were no imported metals with a lower content of the main element. For these reasons, the cost per gram of metal with a star is higher than for products with a kokoshnik.

The cost of sterling silver is 875

Now let’s figure out how much 875 silver costs. The price of precious metals largely depends on the London Stock Exchange. Everything is moving, everything is changing, the picture is approximately the same here, but the approximately fixed prices today are 30-50 rubles per gram of silver.

Why, unlike gold, is it so cheap? It has always been this way; silver has always been less valuable. The price of products can be much higher if inserts made of semi-precious stones are used in the work; a separate fee is for the work of the jeweler. If we compare it with the cost of gold, we see a huge difference, although the quality of silver items is not particularly different from gold ones. But precious metals like gold and silver will never lose value and their value is not affected by inflation.

Many countries use the metric system, including Russia. A girl’s head in a kokoshnik indicates that this is a product for which 875 silver was taken. Also in the USSR they used certain symbols. Thanks to it, the composition of the alloy of jewelry was determined. At that time it was the same sample 875 with a star. Inside the stamp itself one could see the symbol of the Soviet era - a hammer and sickle, and the number itself was indicated next to it.

What does the mark mean?

A hallmark is a state guarantor that confirms the presence of a certain proportion of the most valuable metal in an alloy. If you can read the mark on a piece of jewelry, you can learn more about its history and making.

In Russian jewelry production, a branding system with 3 elements is used:

• a three-digit code indicating the letters of the state inspection inspectorate (8 cm): it contains the year of manufacture, the inspection inspection code and the manufacturer’s code;
• hallmark mark: for products of the Soviet period - a five-pointed star, in modern Russia - a female profile with a kokoshnik;
• license plate.

Video: Detailed review of the hallmarks of Tsarist Russia 84, USSR 875, England lion, Sterling America

The information presented in this video will save several months of personal time for those who are beginning to understand the jewelry business, love silver and want to learn more about it. This knowledge will allow you to avoid being deceived when purchasing silver items and jewelry.

What is a sample?

Rarely are any objects made from pure precious metal. Without impurities, silver is malleable, brittle and short-lived, so other metals are added to it: copper, nickel, aluminum, cadmium, zinc. Additional metals (ligature) help preserve the original appearance of silver and increase its strength.

Silver can be endlessly diluted with alloying materials. Its value deteriorates, and visually it is not so easy to distinguish high-quality silver from “diluted” silver. For this purpose, a sampling system was developed. It was introduced in 1927 and today operates in Russia and the CIS countries.

They began to brand the metal to make it clear what alloy it was made of. The designation applied to the jewelry is called a hallmark. The sample informs about how many parts of the precious metal are in a thousand units of weight of the alloy. That is, a product that has a 925 standard is made of an alloy, a kilogram of which contains 925 grams of silver and 75 grams of alloying metals.

Of all the standards that silver has, the minimum is 750, and the highest is 960. Silver products of the lowest standard are distinguished by a copper tint. Silver with small impurities delights with its clear and pure hue. Fineness below 800 is not applied in Russia - such objects are not considered to be made of precious metal.

In many countries, 925 white metal is widely used. The exception is France, where they prefer 800-grade products.

What is the difference from 925 standard

The main difference between 875 and 925 silver items is the precious component they contain.

Differences in the percentage of the main component determined a number of characteristics:

Price per gram of silver 875 in 2020

In 2021, the cost per 1 gram of 875 silver at the Central Bank exchange rate is 33.24 rubles.

The price for the alloy on the Russian market is dynamic: over the past 3 years it has changed by 10%. Exchange rate fluctuations for the period 2013-2020 are shown in the graph.

In a jewelry boutique, the cost per 1 gram of silver will be higher: it includes the work of the jeweler, the store’s profit, advertising costs, etc. Usually the price is 40-50 rubles.

Price

1 gram of 875 silver with a star costs about 30-50 rubles. This is significantly less than the cost of 1 gram of gold. But the cost of items marked 875 with a star differs significantly from the price of scrap. These are things with history, and not just products made of precious metal.

Regardless of the price of silver in the market, the price will always rise.

The originality and uniqueness of products is important to the consumer, therefore the mark with a star serves as an old type of marking, ensuring the uniqueness of a small-run item.

When manufacturing precious metal alloys in the USSR, strict standards were strictly observed. This sample was used to produce many souvenirs and objects that had already passed out of everyday life: cup holders, cigarette cases, shot glasses, candy vases, ashtrays.

In addition, products with hallmark 875 are no longer produced. Every year the age of the products increases. They become antiques. Silver sports cups made in the post-war period can now cost a fortune.

The “star” brand still evokes the respect of jewelers to this day. It was set on 875 silver from 1958 to 1994. Most of these products are classified as antiques, so their cost is much higher than the average price of 30-50 rubles per gram. They are sold at least 2 times more expensive.

Why do they fake it? Does 875 gold exist?

Externally, 875 silver differs little from white gold. The similarity effect can be achieved using a special coating - gilding. Unscrupulous sellers often pass off silver items as gold with an 875 marker. This way they increase the cost of jewelry: silver costs no more than 60 rubles per 1 gram, while the price of white gold starts from 5,000 rubles.

It is important to remember: there is no gold with such a marker.

How to distinguish a fake from a genuine product.

To be able to avoid the tricks of scammers and not pay the price of gold for a silver item, you need to remember the following differences:

1. Price: too low cost of white gold jewelry is the first sign of deception. This is an expensive alloy, special sales and promotions rarely apply to it.
2. Stamp: the borders of the image must be smooth and distinct, of the same depth, without dents or abrasions. It should have both a picture and a number. If there is no sample at all, this is a complete fake.
3. Fastening elements: if there are stones on the jewelry, they must be carefully and securely fastened. Poor quality and negligence indicate falsification. Scratches are not allowed on genuine jewelry.
4. Iodine test: if the purchase is in great doubt, conduct a test: drop a couple of drops of iodine on the surface. On silver the stain will begin to lighten, on gold it will darken.
5. Magnet test: silver is attracted to a magnet, but gold is not. Simple and fast.
6. Certificate: In a licensed jewelry store, the seller must have documents. Read them carefully to understand which metal is the main one in the product.

Video: How to quickly test silver at home

How to recognize silver?

After we have dealt with the question, 875 standard - what is it, gold or silver, we will find out how to distinguish the first precious metal from the second. First of all, you need to pay attention to the cost of the product: the price of silver is an order of magnitude lower than the cost of gold. Silver is very popular, and that is why it is very often counterfeited. Aluminum, zinc and even lead are used for these purposes. There are also cases when products are lightly coated with a silver layer. Pay attention to the presence of a stamp: if it is erased or is not clearly visible, this is a fake.

Not always purchased silver items can be considered counterfeit if they turn black. In this case, toothpaste will help restore them to their former shine. The quality of a product can be checked in several ways. First of all, this is not only the presence of a mark, but also its numerical value, do not forget about the peculiarity of the type of print itself, which has the shape of a barrel. Professionals in their field can very clearly distinguish silver from gold. This is due to the fact that white gold products contain palladium and platinum, which give a unique cool tone, and silver products, as you understand, include less expensive metals, such as copper. When combined with silver it gives a completely different shade.

Using new technologies, spraying can be done so professionally that it is impossible to do without special reagents. In this case, you may also need the help of a jeweler. There is another ancient, even barbaric way to distinguish between silver and gold: drop iodine on the product. If you have gold in front of you, you will see a dark spot on its surface. If it turns out to be silver, the surface will become significantly lighter.

Application area

875 silver, especially with a star mark, is a practical and reliable precious alloy. The scope of its use is wide: from tableware to luxury jewelry.

Decorations

Our most popular jewelry made from silver marked with a star is:

• pendants and pendants;
• brooches;
• rings;
• cufflinks;
• earrings.

Bracelets and chains were less commonly made.

Many Soviet products contain precious stones, glass inclusions, and crystals.

Dishes

Tableware is the main area of ​​application for 875 alloys:

• spoons, forks, knives,
• cup holders,
• trays,
• candlesticks and vases,
• bowls and glasses, etc.

Industry

Slaves with a silver content of 0.875 are used in industry:

• production of contacts and relays,
• as an integral component of rechargeable batteries,
• element of capacitors, microwave ovens, etc.

What are the features of 875 silver alloy

875 jewelry mark shows a high percentage of argentum content in the combination of metals - 87.5%. However, such silver is not sterling, like samples 925 and 960 - the percentage of ligature is too high.

When alloying, copper, germanium, silicon and even platinum can be added to the 875 marking alloy. Alloying is a mandatory process for the production of any jewelry material, since pure metals have an increased density, which makes them difficult to process.

The ligature can influence not only the enhancement of the beneficial qualities of the natural precious base, but also the color of the final product. The price of the finished alloy also depends on the alloy metals: the content of platinum, a rare and expensive metal, increases the cost of a gram of silver several times.

Most often, copper is used in the 875 standard alloy. This metal enhances the strength and elasticity of the finished material, but has a bad effect on the external characteristics: without proper care, a product made of silver of the specified standard quickly becomes dull and becomes covered with a black coating.

During the Soviet Union, silver with this marking was also marked with a special mark in the form of a star. Confidence in the quality of the product of those years is so high that even now pawn shops are more willing to buy silver with a star than products with a modern hallmark.

Recommendations for care and cleaning

Since the products contain a high proportion of silver - a soft and elastic metal - their care requires compliance with the following rules:

1. Strong mechanical impact is not allowed: the surface should be wiped with suede or a soft cloth;
2. Jewelry should be removed when doing housework and preparing food;
3. To clean products, use a vinegar solution (2 spoons per 1 liter of water).

Any item made from this alloy must be used carefully and carefully, avoiding impacts or falling.

Is 875 silver in demand now in production?

The answer to this question is clear: Argentum with the mark 875 is widely used by jewelers from all countries in the manufacture of jewelry, tableware, and decorative items. Sputtering and rhodium plating, that is, processes of additional metal processing, make it possible to give the alloy a magnificent shine and bright shine, which makes it possible to make things of high artistic value from it. However, it is the useful rhodium plating and plating that often misleads buyers: argentum treated in this way is difficult to distinguish from white gold.

Basic ways to recognize silver

First of all, you should pay attention to the price: too low a price for supposedly “white gold” should definitely alert an attentive buyer. No one will sell a truly valuable alloy at a price below the market price.

It is worth carefully studying the type of mark and its numerical value: the samples of silver and gold are not the same, the mark on Argentum looks like a small barrel.

A professional who understands jewelry can easily visually distinguish one metal from another - palladium and platinum are often added to white gold, which give the alloy a unique hue and shine. The combination of silver and copper gives a completely different color. However, in the case of sputtering, the situation is more complicated: you cannot do without reagents and a jeweler-appraiser.

You can use the old method of testing gold and drop a little iodine on the surface of the product: the iodine on the gold surface will quickly turn dark. If the iodine, on the contrary, becomes lighter, it means that the product is made of a different metal.