Not everyone knows how to choose a high-quality gold item and not stumble upon a fake. In this matter you need to know some nuances. Choosing jewelry is always a holiday for the soul. They will never depreciate. Even if you get tired of such a thing over time, you can always return it and not lose money. After all, buying gold works in any crisis. This precious metal is only becoming more expensive every year. Let's consider the important nuances that you need to know when choosing jewelry.
TOP Russian jewelry brands
The history of gold mining and jewelry production in Russia goes back many centuries. However, historically it turned out that the last century was not the best period for this line of activity. At a time when Western jewelry houses were conquering the market by increasing variety and originality, Soviet products were characterized by a lack of distinctive features and uniformity.
However, everything changed in the 90s of the twentieth century. The modern Russian jewelry industry is gradually acquiring its loyal customers and is trying to adhere to global trends, working for the future. There are several of the most famous and popular Russian brands.
1 – Karatov
The Russian brand Karatov was created on a base in Kostroma. The holding team has almost 2 thousand employees. The company's wholesale network covers major cities in Russia, Europe, the USA, and CIS countries.
gold Karatov
- Included in the TOP 3 best jewelry manufacturers in Russia
- All products come with a factory warranty
- Jewelry is developed according to original designs
Customer rating 4.6.
2 - EPL. Yakut diamonds
– manufacturer of diamond jewelry from the Republic of Sakha. It has its own cutting and jewelry production, a network of retail outlets and an online store.
- The patented FIRING ICE cutting method is used.
- Our own school of jewelers and cutters
- The brand was awarded five times by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation as “The Best Russian Exporter”
Customer rating 4.5.
3 – Sokolov
Just like Almaz-Holding, it has a history of more than 25 years. The brand produces jewelry, watches, and children's collections.
gold Sokolov
- Production
- Stores in Russia and Europe, including Switzerland
- International Quality Standard Certificate
- Eastern European leader in the number of jewelry produced
Customer rating 4.5.
4 – Adamas
Like many other brands, this company was founded in the early 90s of the twentieth century.
- Holds a patent for a unique gold alloy
- Extensive network of retail stores with branches in Eastern Europe and China
- Winner of the “Product of the Year”, “Best Jewelry” and other awards
- Winner of the title of the most popular brand in Runet
Customer rating 4.5.
5 - KYuZ
The Kostroma Jewelry Factory, known to everyone under the abbreviation KYUZ or KOYUZ, has been operating since 1939 - for 80 years now.
gold KYuZ
- Own full production cycle
- Network of branded stores
- Winner of international diplomas and awards
- Part of the Krasnoselsky Jewelryprom association
Customer rating 4.14.
6 - Esthete
The plant began its work almost 30 years ago on the basis of a family workshop. Now it is one of the leaders in the jewelry industry, and its owner is the chairman of the Guild of Russian Jewelers.
gold Esthete
- One of the largest production facilities in Europe
- A network of its own branded stores, partner stores, as well as Russia’s first “Jewelry Street”
- Also produces products under the Gevorkyan brand
Customer rating 3.91.
7 – Bronnitsky jeweler
The company comes from the 90s. The brand is manufactured at its own jewelry factory in the city of Bronnitsy, Moscow region, and at subsidiaries in China. The manufacturer has its own trading house, retail stores, and an online store.
gold Bronnitsky jeweler
- Bronnitsky Jewelry Factory was founded in 1924.
- Products are sold in more than 2000 retail outlets in the Russian Federation and neighboring countries
- Most retail stores operate on a franchise basis
Customer rating 3.6.
8 — Almaz-Holding
This brand has been around for over 25 years. This diversified brand sells not only jewelry, but also silverware.
Diamond-holding jewelry
- Production of Krasnoselsky Yuvelirprom
- About 200 retail stores, including in China
- Exports almost 30% of total products abroad
Customer rating: 3.6.
9 – Moscow Jewelry Factory
One of the most famous and oldest jewelry productions, whose history goes back almost a hundred years.
Moscow Jewelry Factory gold ring with diamonds, R108-105010AQQUDR, size 16.5
gold Moscow jewelry factory
- Own production
- Has a network of branded stores of more than 300
- Winner of professional competitions
- Certified to international quality standards
Customer rating 3.05.
Silver and products made from it are one of the most common types of gifts. If you are planning to buy just such a gift, read The best silver jewelry - TOP 5 manufacturers →
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
Types of gold
Pure gold as a chemical element is an extremely soft material, does not have a pronounced color and is not at all wear-resistant. Therefore, the jewelry industry uses metal alloys containing gold in different proportions.
It is the percentage of pure material in the final product that is determined by the sample number - an imprint on the jewelry that confirms its authenticity. The number of different additives also determines the color of the alloy. There are 3 main types of gold by shade:
- Yellow (traditional - with the addition of silver and copper)
- White (alloy of gold, silver, palladium and platinum)
- Red (color saturation depends on the amount of copper)
There are also several additional colors, but jewelry made from them is extremely rare and expensive:
- Pale shades of green (an alloy of gold with silver and cadmium)
- Gray and blue gold (alloy with steel)
- Bright shades of green and blue (synthesis with rubidium and indium) - at the development stage, earlier experiments were successfully carried out in South Africa, but mass production was not launched due to economic inexpediency
- Violet (combination of gold and galium)
- Purple (aluminum included)
- Black (adding cobalt and chromium)
The last five types are not an alloy in the full sense of the word, since the procedure for their creation is based on intermetallic compounds.
Do you prefer platinum jewelry? Read The best platinum jewelry - world brands →
Gold as a precious metal
Let's remember our school chemistry lessons: gold is the 79th chemical element of the periodic table, a noble metal of yellow color. Its Latin name is aurum (abbreviated in the table: Au) and translates as "yellow". Historically, the Russian word “gold” carries the same meaning, as it comes from the ancient root *ghel with the meaning “yellow, bright, sunny”, present in many European languages.
Man has been mining gold since ancient times, first discovering it in the 5th millennium BC. e. The valuable metal has become the equivalent of money and an expensive jewelry material. The oldest gold jewelry that has survived to this day was found in the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharaohs and dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. e.
Dakota Johnson in Cartier
Blake Lively in Lorraine Schwartz
Miranda Kerr in Cartier
Gold belongs to the noble, or precious, metals along with silver, platinum and platinum group metals - these are osmium, iridium, ruthenium, palladium and rhodium. They are united by rarity, high chemical resistance - resistance to corrosion and oxidation, as well as a beautiful shine.
In terms of physical properties, gold is a soft, ductile metal (which is especially valuable in jewelry) and at the same time very heavy: its density is 19.32 g/cm3. That is, for example, a gold bar measuring 5 x 5 x 5 cm (cube) will weigh 2 kg 415 g! Throughout history, humanity has mined, according to various estimates, from 88,000 to 183,000 tons of precious metal.
Gold is one of the rarest chemical elements in the earth's crust: there is only 4 mg of gold per ton of rocks. The largest deposits of the precious metal today are located in Australia, the USA, Russia, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the Republic of South Africa, and Uzbekistan.
Authenticity and samples
The main indicator of the authenticity of the material from which the jewelry is made is the sample, the imprint of which can most often be found on the inside of the product, in an inconspicuous place. There are 3 main classification systems, of which only two are used:
- Metric. The numbers show the amount of gold as a percentage. In the USSR and Russia, 6 types of hallmarks existed and still operate: 375, 500, 585, 750, 958, 999 (bank gold)
- Carat. This system is followed by Europe and the USA. Shows the proportion of pure material in the product in carats, with a carat being equal to 1/24 of the mass. The most common markings are 9, 10, 14, 18 and 24 carats.
- Zolotnikovaya (found in antique jewelry, manufactured before 1927). To convert it to metric, you need to divide the original figure by 0.096.
In addition to the sample print, there are several other simple ways to check the product:
- Examine the jewelry with a magnifying glass, check that the recesses (if any) completely match the size of the stones.
- Pay attention to the inside, the better it is processed, the better the product.
- Drop the jewelry - upon contact with the surface, a clear “crystal” sound should be heard.
- When choosing a chain, try winding it around your fingers (if the flexibility of the weave allows it). It should unwind easily and without getting tangled in the links.
What gold is considered the highest quality in the world?
Pure gold is the same all over the world. Only the alloys made of this noble metal differ. Gold also comes in different colors. Products made of white gold are considered the most expensive. They contain an alloy of platinum, palladium or nickel. Russian gold is considered impeccable in quality. American gold differs in that the fineness is indicated in carats. For example, 24 carats is 999th fine. Turkish gold is also very popular. But it doesn’t really matter in which country it was produced.
Gold Jewelry Styles
The art of jewelry is sensitive to historical eras, so styles of jewelry made from precious metals have changed over the centuries, adapting to general trends. Currently, there are both pure types of styles and their combinations, and the choice of decoration depends only on the taste and requirements of the owner. The most famous areas include:
- Gothic
- Baroque
- Rococo
- Classicism
- Art Nouveau (Art Nouveau)
- Art Deco
- Vanguard
- boho
- High tech
Almost all of these styles are still in demand today, although the history of some of them (for example, Gothic and Baroque) goes back more than three centuries.
Jewelry with inlay
If you want to choose jewelry with precious stones, it is important to pay attention to some details. Methods for securing stones may vary. There is a mechanical method in which the stone becomes a pommel and is secured in special teeth - this is often typical, for example, for wedding rings.
And there is inlay, when stones are inserted into special channels cut directly into the product. These products have features that you need to know about:
- Inlaid stones are vulnerable. Since they are not secured in the frame with anything other than special glue, there is a risk of falling out and being lost.
- Jewelry with inlays cannot be changed in size (which can easily be done, for example, with a ring in which the stone is mechanically fixed)
- For such products, ultrasonic cleaning is prohibited, as well as excessively high temperatures - under their influence, the glue may “float” and the stones will fall out.
Also read The best gold jewelry - TOP 10 world brands →
How to choose the right gold earrings
Gold earrings are the only piece of jewelry a woman can ever have. Therefore, buying a precious product is always a joyful and pleasant event. But the positive emotions from the purchase can instantly disappear if a hidden defect or discomfort is suddenly discovered during wearing. To avoid such troubles, you need to choose the right gold earrings, taking into account all possible subsequent problems.
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What problems can occur due to inattentive choice of model
First of all, you may notice belatedly that an earring with a bow sits beautifully in one ear, but in the other it seems to “fall” back, falling out of the hole of the lobe under its own weight. This happens when a puncture in one lobe is made poorly, or the skin is stretched more. This problem could have been prevented in advance. For example, choose a model with a different clasp, lighter in weight, or studs. The fact is that in a store, fitting is carried out in front of a small mirror, in which only the ear is visible, and not the entire bust. A girl tries on earrings in a “stationary position” when she is not walking or moving. It creates the erroneous impression that a pair of earrings is attached to the ear equally securely and neatly. And the defect is detected already when worn. Another problem is the color and play of the stone. In a store window illuminated by lamps, as in the interior of an elite salon with bright chandeliers, the stone looks sparkling and bright. But as soon as you go outside wearing earrings, the bright decoration in daylight turns into dull and nondescript. This does not mean that the quality of the mineral is poor, but such differences in visual perception under different lighting must be taken into account so as not to experience disappointment later.
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Many people like drop earrings. Packed in a beautiful velvet box, they shimmer and cause admiration. And when wearing it, discomfort suddenly begins: the earrings get tangled in the hair, cling to the collar, and pull the earlobe. For such models, you should properly style your hair and choose appropriate clothes.
Which earrings to choose for every day
If you want to buy stylish earrings to wear to work or school, the following options are suitable:
• ring-shaped miniature models;
• carnations with pearls, cubic zirconia, diamond, amethyst;
• classic raspberries or awnings with a dark insert;
• graceful corrugated stripes with English clasp;
• teardrop-shaped small pendants with neutral-colored crystals (smoky topaz, pink corundum, moonstone, alexandrite).
Such models are distinguished by a discreet but stylish design, emphasizing the elegance of the wardrobe, hairstyle and makeup, and are combined with office suits. For special occasions, you can buy a more luxurious model with large stones and rich trim. The most convenient way to buy earrings in a wide range is in the online store. For example, the EFREMOV website offers a wide selection of high quality gold products. You can choose the appropriate option based on price and appearance by using the illustrated catalog with detailed descriptions. Here you can find gold earrings in all styles and prices.
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The advantages of ordering jewelry online are cost savings, receiving discounts when participating in promotions, issuing discount cards for profitable future purchases, expert advice, and a wealth of choice. The only drawback of such a purchase is the lack of the possibility of preliminary fitting of earrings. But the store’s service allows you to exchange a model if for some reason it does not suit the buyer.
