Gold is a metal known since ancient times. The origin of the Russian name comes from the Proto-Slavic word “zolto”, the generally accepted name recorded in the periodic table is “aurum” (Au). Both options mean "yellow", which characterizes the color of pure metal. It is valued all over the world, but the color and quality of gold from different countries varies. So what kind of gold should you buy?
Russian and European gold: which is nobler?
Gold with a reddish tint is popular in Russia; it resembles the color of paintings in palaces and royal treasuries. Yellow gold is loved in Europe and America, considering the lemon color of gold to be more noble. In fact, the color of gold is given by impurities in the jewelry alloy. A little more silver and the original gold will have a lemon yellow hue, more copper and the gold will have a reddish color.
It is impossible to make jewelry from pure gold. This metal is very soft. But buyers, wanting to buy a thing made of pure gold, forced jewelers to “cunning” by adding silver and copper to the gold. At the same time, the color of the metal did not change, remaining the same gold, and none of the buyers paid attention to the shade that appeared.
When heated, gold oxidizes, acquiring a reddish tint, and receives the title of pure gold. It was this type of gold that was so loved by Russian fashionistas. It was believed that gold of this color is the purest, since with the slightest amount of impurities it will not turn red when heated. Craftsman jewelers have learned to circumvent this fact by adding silver and copper to gold.
What is gold
The view of the origin of gold in nature has recently changed. Scientists believe that it appeared as a result of the collision of neutron stars. The resulting powerful burst of gamma radiation persists in space for a long time and forms a large amount of heavy elements, such as gold.
Subsequently, metal particles in the form of dust cross space and condense on celestial bodies or during the formation of planets. The liquid core of the Earth contains a lot of gold, the rest appeared in the crust and mantle when the surface was bombarded by asteroids in ancient times. As magma escapes, metal particles settle in the rocks.
In microscopic sizes, gold is present in all living organisms, water and other elements on the planet. Larger particles are found during the development of primary rock deposits (bedrock), as well as in the form of nuggets (placers). When magmatic formations are destroyed by external forces, grains of matter fall into the water, etc. gold is a dense and heavy metal, they settle at the bottom of rivers.
The density of the substance greatly facilitates its extraction, which can be done by washing the soil manually or using special machines. The found particles vary in size - from tiny fragments to nuggets of different sizes. Nuggets are considered to be pieces of at least 5 g in weight and 0.5 cm in length. The largest variant found weighed about 2.5 tons and was found in Afghanistan; there is almost no information about it.
The largest nugget in modern history is the “Holtermann Plate” from Australia, its mass is 100 kg; among the Russian ones, the “Big Triangle” (36 kg) stands out.
Distinctive characteristics
The characteristic features of pure metal are:
- Softness and plasticity. Gold can be easily processed, and can also be scratched and deformed.
- Density. It ranks 7th among all metals on the periodic table in terms of this parameter. Even a small nugget is quite heavy.
- Inertia. Gold reacts weakly with most elements, under normal conditions it almost does not interact with acids and alkalis, and cannot be oxidized. Therefore, it is classified as a noble metal.
- High degree of thermal and electrical conductivity.
- Shine.
Metallic shades
The natural color of pure metal without impurities is yellow. However, in this form the metal can only be found in ingots, since jewelry and coins in this state will not be able to keep their shape. Other shade options are obtained when alloys are created by adding other metals (ligatures), as well as additional physical processing. The colors of gold other than yellow are:
- Red (pink). It is obtained by combining the main element with copper. This alloy is known as red gold. A pinkish tint is achieved if the addition of copper is minimal, or if silver is present in the alloy as a whitening component.
- White. Also one of the most common options. It is obtained with sufficient presence of whitening metals in the composition: expensive palladium and platinum or more affordable nickel. The strength of the connection depends on the properties of the additional element.
- Green. It does not have a rich tone, but rather belongs to the greenish-yellow range. This shade is given by the silver in the alloy.
- Blue. Formed by adding indium or gallium. In the first case, a blue-gray tint is observed, in the second, a bluish tint.
- Purple (violet or amethyst gold). A fragile compound with aluminum, first obtained in 2003. It has a very high cost, even compared to pure gold, due to the difficulty of obtaining.
- Black. It is obtained by combining the main element with: black rhodium, sulfur, ruthenium, amorphous carbon, chromium, cobalt. In this case, additional processing is used (galvanic method, patina coating, plasma deposition, controlled oxidation).
You can read more about what color gold is here.
The Japanese and Italians are lovers of gold of the highest standard
If you wear gold all the time, then it is completely clear that jewelry made from pure gold will not be as durable as products made from an alloy. But still, in Japan they prefer pure gold. There, gold items are family heirlooms, passed on to subsequent generations and worn only on the most special occasions.
The situation is similar in Italy. They prefer gold only of the highest standard, and since it is quite soft, it is not used for everyday wear. Italian women wear it on holidays, but on weekdays they limit themselves to bright jewelry.
Recently, Malaysia has become actively producing gold jewelry. It is likely that we will soon have the opportunity to evaluate the quality of Malaysian gold.
What to look for when choosing
The value of any precious item is determined by its fineness. Therefore, before choosing an item, you should carefully study the stamp and tag. In Russia and other countries, the quality ranking system is different. On the territory of our state in 2000, a metric measure was adopted, which shows how many grams of the main substance are contained in kg of alloy. In other countries, the carat scheme is used. The ratio of both options is presented in the table:
| Metric standard | Carat hallmark | Gold content, % |
| 375 | 9 | 37,5-38 |
| 500 | 12 | 50-50,5 |
| 585 | 14 | 58,5-59 |
| 750 | 18 | 75,0-75,3 |
| 958 | 23 | 95,8-96,3 |
| 999 | 24 | 99.9 |
| 999.9 | 99.99 |
The following rules will also help you choose high-quality gold:
- it is necessary to check the presence of a mark on the product, as well as its correct image;
- each product must have a tag, and expensive high-quality items must have a certificate;
- the label indicates the manufacturer, weight and name of the product, cost, sample;
- It is better to buy in a store directly related to the factory that created the jewelry;
- coins must be purchased from a bank or auction with a good reputation, they must also have a certificate of origin;
- the surface must be perfectly flat, without scratches;
- gold, due to its density, even when thin, will have significant weight compared to other metals;
- it is necessary to carefully inspect the protruding edges, clasp and joints for abrasions (if it is not pure gold, but gilding, the color will be uneven or completely different);
- noble metal will not be attracted by a magnet;
- the metal has a warm tint and shine, heats up quickly in your hands;
- when struck, a small object makes a ringing sound;
- gold does not darken when exposed to vinegar, iodine, lapis pencil, and does not turn green in nitric acid;
- if you carefully run the ring over the ceramic surface, it will leave a golden color;
- It is worth considering that gold is a rare element, so if you come across a cheap product, you should think about its authenticity.
To purchase a beautiful gold item without counterfeits, you must, regardless of the country of purchase, contact large stores with a good reputation or departments at factories. You should be wary of markets and small shops. In this case, it is imperative to inspect the product from all sides, including under a magnifying glass. After the buyer is convinced of the quality of the goods, it is undesirable to let it go and give it to the seller for packaging and other actions, because the fraudster can replace the item.
TOP 2 jewelry online stores
As a bonus, we offer two excellent online stores with jewelry from different brands.
- 585 Gold
- Jewelry from leading Russian and foreign brands
- Optics, watches, products for men
- Bonus system - 1 point = 1 ruble
- Delivery by courier, pickup
- Our assessment
Select jewelry for 585 Gold
- JV Gallery
- Jewelry from budget and premium brands
- Electronic gift certificates
- Loyalty program - discounts from 5 to 30%
- Delivery throughout Russia and the CIS from 2 to 7 days
- Our assessment
Choose jewelry at JV Gallery
585/Gold
The 585/Zolotoy chain of stores has over 900 stores in 240 cities in Russia and the CIS. The company has an online store and pawn shops.
- The assortment includes jewelry and watches from leading Russian and foreign brands
- There is delivery by courier services, pickup from the nearest store
- Payment is made on the website or in cash to the courier
- There is a bonus system - a loyalty card with cashback and payment with accumulated points. 1 point = 1 ruble
JV Gallery
JV Gallery is an online store that brings together brands and designers from Europe, Asia, America, and Russia. The store offers delivery to your home or to a pickup point. Pickup is available from the showroom in Moscow.
- Jewelry from budget and premium brands
- Delivery throughout Russia and the CIS from 2 to 7 days
- Payment in cash, card upon receipt; map on the website
- Loyalty program assigning account status from Bronze to Brilliant with a discount from 5 to 30%
- Electronic gift certificates
Investments in gold
Today, in order to be the owner of a precious metal, you do not need to sift through tons of sand in search of particles of gold, as our ancestors did. Thanks to modern market conditions, you can buy gold in different ways and in different places - from pawn shops to the stock market. How to choose gold
and what to look for when buying - you will learn from this article.
Many investment experts are of the opinion that it is worth investing in physical gold. At a minimum, this eliminates the participation of an intermediary and allows you to independently dispose and manage gold assets. To store precious metal, you can provide a small home safe, and you can also wear assets as jewelry.
Investments in gold
differ significantly from regular bank deposits, which allows you to independently monitor risks and take action. It is still better to invest money in an investment instrument such as gold for the long term.
Where is the best place to buy gold?
Hot question: where is the best place to buy?
gold so that the product is of high quality and meets your preferences? The answer will depend on your goals:
- If you want to save money, you can purchase jewelry at a pawnshop. Here you can always find a high-quality product that was forced to be pawned, but could not be redeemed. Attractive prices in pawn shops and for antique items that can be put up for auction. It is also profitable to purchase gold for secondary casting here;
- The most popular places to buy gold are jewelry stores. Jewelry is sold at a premium, but you will receive full service and a wide range;
- visiting stores at jewelry factories - if there are any in your city. The same selection as in salons, only without extra charge;
- to save money, you can wait for the sales season in various jewelry chains or buy jewelry from an old collection;
- To buy gold, you can visit Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, if possible. How to choose gold
in these countries is worth talking about separately. Quite often, tourists are deceived by offering low-grade gold or fake gold. In order not to make a mistake, ask for a certificate and study the labeling.
