5S5 Sample | 5S5 gold standard - what is it?

Many people think that the highest standard of gold is 585 or 750, but in fact the highest standard that exists in Russia is 999.9. It appeared back in Soviet times and was mainly used for making ingots, not jewelry.

The 999th hallmark is still found today; jewelry can be made from metal with this marking. But basically money is invested in gold of this standard, and sheets of metal are also used as a coating, which is called tinsel.

Gold bars 999.9 purity

Characteristics of gold

Gold has characteristics that have made it the No. 1 metal in the world.

Gold, from which various jewelry is made, is durable and reliable. Thus, ancient products are passed down through the female line from generation to generation.

Over the years, the metal does not fade and does not lose its beauty. This applies to a greater extent to products that contain the highest standard of gold. Jewelry with a lower marking loses its luster over time.

Products are not made from metal of the highest standard, because it is fragile and susceptible to deformation. Another unpleasant issue that arises with metal is its susceptibility to mechanical stress. That is why various alloys (platinum, palladium, silver, etc.) are added to gold. And as a result, the products last longer, and their cost is significantly reduced.

One of the main advantages of gold is that it does not react with air and does not oxidize. Therefore, jewelry can serve its owner for a long time and not corrode.

Recommendations for care and cleaning

Gold bars of the highest standard are very vulnerable to mechanical stress, so they should be stored carefully, separately, avoiding contact with each other.

It is best to choose cases lined with soft fabric, such as velvet, on the inside. You should not take the ingot with your bare hands - buy gloves for this.

Sample 999.9 is not suitable for abrasive cleaning; it must be protected from interaction with aggressive substances (paints, solvents, acids). There are ways to wash the item with ammonia solution or shampoo, but the best option is special jewelry pastes. Polish using a small piece of cloth or suede.

Does real gold darken?

999.9 and other samples with a low content of impurities do not darken or fade over time (if stored carefully). An alloy with a large number of alloying components can oxidize - this is especially true for copper, and it is present in abundance in red gold and 375-carat gold.

Properties of gold

In ancient times, only rich people could afford items made of gold. By buying such jewelry, a person emphasized his high position in society. Now such products are widespread. At the same time, gold jewelry (earrings, rings, bracelets) look aesthetically pleasing on their owners. The properties that the precious metal has explain its high cost. Gold Features:

1. It has increased ductility (from 1 gram of gold metal a wire 3 km long can be made).
2. Contacting human skin, it acquires the temperature of the human body.
3. Precious metal conducts electricity well.

In addition, it is worth saying that 999 gold (the highest standard of gold) has properties that increase the body’s defenses and have a beneficial effect on the human cardiovascular system.

Let's take a closer look at the indicators of the precious metal.

Gold samples according to the metric system

In Russia it is now customary to use the metric system of samples. This system is characterized by ease of use. In other words, the metric system shows how many grams of noble metal are in one kilogram of the total alloy. For example, if one kilogram of alloy contains 415 grams of ligature and 585 grams of pure precious metal, then according to the metric system, this jewelry will have a 585 standard.

Russian jewelers in the vast majority of cases use the following samples:

• 958;
• 900;
• 916;
• 585;
• 750;
• 500;
• 375.

Previously, the 583 standard of the precious metal was widely distributed, which, according to the metric system, corresponded to 14K. Then a proposal was adopted to slightly change the gold standard (due to the difference in the price of gold) from 583 to 585 samples, so that Russian gold jewelry would not be at all inferior in value (per gram) to Western samples.

Existing gold samples

When we purchase precious gold jewelry, we see a special hallmark indicated on them in the form of numbers. From this data you can find out how much precious metal is contained in the alloy. The most famous hallmarks are: 500, 585, 750 and 958. The higher the value, the more gold the product contains and, accordingly, the higher its price.

The question of what standard of gold is the best worries not only admirers of precious jewelry, but also people who want to make profitable investments. What is the highest standard of gold in jewelry?

What are the hallmarks of gold with letters?

The old masters did not issue certificates to their masterpieces. To distinguish jewelry items, a convex marking was made with a company monogram or designation of who and where the jewelry was made. Some jewelers add additional hallmarks to the gold to make their products stand out from the crowd. This sign is called a “name sign”. It is placed next to the brand and consists of 4 letters. The first letter indicates the year of manufacture. The second letter will indicate the place where the products were tested in accordance with the catalogue. The last 2 letters contain the name of the manufacturer.

"Golden mean"

Products with 585 purity are most often found in stores. The alloy composition includes: gold (58.5%), silver, copper, nickel and palladium. The product is durable and does not lose its appearance for a long time. By adding alloy metals, you can change the color of the alloy: from yellow to white. Jewelry made from gold of this standard is purchased with pleasure by people with different levels of income. In Russia, such gold is considered the standard of the domestic jewelry industry.

Other samples

Along with 999, there are several more samples, the gold content of which is quite high, these include:

1. 920.
2. 750.
3. 585.

920 standard, like 999, is rare. In the jewelry industry, metal of this standard is not particularly popular due to its high cost and tendency to deform.

Ring 750 gold

585 test is an alloy of several metals. Silver, nickel and copper are added to the alloy. In Europe, silver is added to the alloy, while in Russia copper is preferred. Therefore, gold jewelry made in our country is more durable.

And women in Spain prefer jewelry of only 750 standard, considering it the most durable and practical. But in Spain it is not customary to wear jewelry made of precious metal every day. Women prefer jewelry, and wear gold only on holidays.

According to many, 750 is the best standard of gold because:

• metal does not corrode easily;
• does not oxidize upon contact with air;
• has an acceptable cost.

The price of jewelry depends on the quality of the alloy and the composition of the ligature, but such jewelry cannot be called affordable.

585 standard is extremely in demand on the market, the reason for this is:

1. Price.
2. Availability.
3. Easy to use.

Jewelry of 585 or 583 samples can easily be found on the store counter. Such products are invariably in demand, the amount of pure gold in the product is 58.5%, the rest is silver, copper, nickel and brass.

Jewelry is combined with stones, suitable for any skin type and at the same time has high strength, they are not prone to deformation and retain their color and shine for a long time. Naturally, in comparison with 750 samples, jewelry of 583 or 585 samples is inferior in some factors, the reason for which is their oxidation upon contact with air and water. In addition, such products cannot be damaged when in contact with chemicals. But their cost is much lower.

During the Soviet era, they put a stamp with the numbers 583, and the hallmark 585 did not exist at all, but later the numbering was changed, and the stamp with the number 585 began to be put instead of 583.

It is difficult to say exactly which sample is the best; preference can be given to jewelry of varying quality. Products bearing the mark 750 or 585 come in various colors and shades.

Reliability of investments

The subject of investment can be gold, which has a high content of precious metal. Why is investing in gold profitable?

At all times, the precious metal was in constant demand and did not lose its value during periods of financial instability. Gold can be used in any country in the world.

Investments in precious metal are considered the most profitable. But when pure precious metal is purchased (the highest standard of gold, number 999), the invested funds do not pay off immediately, but within several years. Such investments are usually called long-term. The best period for making a profit from investing in gold when selling it is considered to be at least ten years.

Sometimes people who want to invest in gold ask the following question: “Is it more profitable to invest in bullion or gold jewelry?”

Gold items are worth purchasing if they have high artistic value. Such jewelry can be kept in a personal collection or sold at auction. In another case, gold jewelry will have to be taken to a pawnshop, which will purchase it as scrap, without taking into account the value of the precious stones and labor costs.

Buying bank bullion is considered the most profitable investment in gold. This gold has the highest standard. The maximum benefit from purchasing bars weighing up to 100 grams, because the price per 1 gram is lower than the cost of a billet weighing up to 20 grams.

The purchased bullion can be left for storage in a bank, and then sold at a favorable rate to any financial institution.

The disadvantage of purchasing bullion is the payment of value added tax, which is paid at the time of purchasing gold. In Russia this tax is 18%.

Another profitable type of investment is the purchase of investment coins. There are also some subtleties in this issue. Such investments require the necessary knowledge about the advantages and priorities of purchasing different types of coins.

Spool sampling system

Until 1927 in Russia, and after that in the USSR, a spool system was used to designate the sample of precious metal. The key difference between such a standard and the karat system was the designation of pure precious metal through the number 96. All other gold products containing an admixture of other metals were designated by other, lower numbers.

Sample selection

The article answers the question of what is the highest standard of gold that exists. What kind of precious metal is best to buy? This is a concern for many people who want not only to purchase a beautiful product, but also to make a profitable investment. For investment, as already mentioned, the highest standard of gold is most suitable - with a stamp of 999. This metal is regarded as the most expensive in the world, and therefore it has the maximum value when sold in all countries and at all times.

When purchasing luxury jewelry, sample size is not of fundamental importance. Fine jewelry is usually made from 18k gold, which has the necessary elasticity. After all, it is high-grade gold that has the ability to gracefully frame beautiful precious stones.

Carat sample system

Based on the British carat system, one carat (K) is equal to twenty-fourths of the alloy. A similar sampling system is common in Switzerland, the United States of America, Canada and Western European countries. In Ireland, two standard systems are used equally: carat and metric. The noble metal of twenty-four carats (24K) is considered the purest. It is completely free of any other impurities. Next comes 14-karat gold, which contains fourteen parts of the precious metal and ten parts of other metals.

Which sample should I buy?

Everyone in their life has visited a jewelry store at least once and bought gold jewelry. If it was not a purchase for yourself, then it was a gift to loved ones, relatives and friends. In order not to panic and get confused in jewelry stores, you need to imagine in advance: the cost of the desired product, its sample, shade and appearance.

Having clear ideas in this regard, the seller will not be able to be taken by surprise with the question “ten carat gold, what is the hallmark?”, if the store uses not the metric, but the carat standard system. You can always remember that ten carats equals 375 fineness.

You should never chase after more expensive gold jewelry, or dream of owning the noble metal with the highest purity (999). It is not for nothing that for more than a decade, people have given their preference to 585 standard, which has proven itself in matters of strength and long-term use. Products with 999 fineness, although they have the highest level of gold content, are characterized by a high degree of deformation and can become soft. Such products are short-lived and are not suitable for constant use.