925 sterling silver: features, where it is used, cost
Jewelry made from precious metals will always remain at the peak of popularity. This is due not only to their attractive appearance, but also to increased wear resistance, corrosion resistance and the ability to maintain their original properties over a long period of time.
Such products are also attractive from a financial point of view and become excellent investment objects due to their constantly rising prices.
It is no secret that craftsmen do not use gold or silver in their pure natural form in the manufacture of jewelry, since the too soft texture of the metals creates certain difficulties in the work.
To impart hardness in industry, they are strengthened with the help of various impurities. This is how alloys are obtained, which are subsequently used to make jewelry.
In order to determine what role gold or silver plays in the alloy, markings called assays were invented, reflecting the amount of metal in grams contained in one kilogram of the alloy.
And today, most people continue to ask the pressing question: what metal content does 925 standard indicate: gold or silver?
Sample 925: what is it?
This test very often causes numerous debates among those who know practically nothing about precious metals or have a superficial understanding of them. The subject of the dispute is always the same: silver products, like gold jewelry, are marked 925.
How then to distinguish these two metals? First of all, you need to understand the basic testing systems. In Russia and the CIS countries, gold is marked with the following hallmarks:
- 375: a shade of red that turns to gray after the top polish comes off the product;
- 583: The alloy contains copper, so the color is most often reddish;
- 585: the most common and ranging from red or pink to yellow and white:
- 750: includes copper and silver in the alloy;
- 958: Almost pure gold of a bright yellow color.
There is also a 999 standard, but this is the metal in its purest form, and it is practically not used in the production of jewelry.
As for silver, its samples in the Russian Federation are as follows:
Consequently, 925 silver shows that the alloy contains 92.5% pure metal, the rest comes from other components.
Thus, the hallmark marked 925 is typical only for silver. It is impossible to find gold jewelry with this marking due to its absence in the generally accepted list.
Although theory suggests that the presence of 925 noble metal is acceptable. However, international standards contradict this opinion, since such markings are inherent in the metal being too soft, as a result of which its use in the jewelry industry is inappropriate.
Fraudsters often try to pass off silver of this standard as gold. And this is not surprising, since the price per gram of the noble metal is much higher.
To obtain real white gold, several methods are used:
- adding palladium or platinum to the alloy;
- applying radium to the surface of the decoration, the price of which is much higher than the cost of gold.
Nevertheless, gold-plated silver continues to be passed off as gold by unscrupulous manufacturers, guaranteeing them excellent income.
What are the features of 925 silver?
Another name for this type of silver is coin or sterling. It is characterized by a dazzling white color and high strength.
The history of the alloy goes back to the 12th century. At that time, coins of this standard of silver were produced in Germany. The next state to take advantage of this experience was England.
Such silver is much stronger than gold. Due to this feature, it is often used to make jewelry decorated with precious stones. Main areas of use: jewelry industry, production of coins and souvenirs.
Despite its strength, jewelers highly value 925 metal. It is flexible to work with and provides ample opportunities for the production of the most sophisticated jewelry.
The silver alloy differs from the gold ligature. As a rule, it includes silicon, germanium, and platinum. They strengthen the strength and give the desired shade to the finished ingots.
925 silver contains 92.5% pure metal, the remaining 7.5% is allocated to various impurities. This marking is more common among jewelers than others, since other samples oxidize and darken faster.
This metal is also treated with silver plating. This provides additional brightness, shine and protection from external damage.
In addition, the 925 alloy is coated with sulfur. The result is silver, called oxidized. From the outside it looks like an antique. But the color qualities only benefit from this.
The next stage is coating the product with an oxide film and control polishing. Thus, the concave parts acquire a darker shade, and the convex elements become lighter. Such jewelry is easy to care for and does not require frequent and regular cleaning.
Therefore, 925 is the standard marking for the precious metal. Disagreements can only arise when choosing gold-plated products, since they are not branded.
Where is 925 silver used?
In addition to the jewelry industry, 925 sterling silver is widely used in the production of cutlery and tableware.
Metal objects with such markings do not lose their shape for a long time, do not oxidize, and perfectly withstand contact with food at any temperature.
The ability of silver to stretch provides ample opportunities for the imagination of jewelry craftsmen in making unique lightweight jewelry (rings, earrings, chains and bracelets).
How much does 925 metal cost?
The price per gram of silver is determined by several factors:
- payment for the work of the master;
- transport and customs costs (in case of import into the country);
- taxation;
- seller's income;
- brand awareness. Very often, silver items from famous manufacturers cost much more than gold jewelry of the same weight and quality from a little-known master.
To determine the cost, the accounting price is multiplied by a factor of 0.925. The discount price is set by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for all metals of precious origin every day at 15:00 Moscow time.
The next day, the information received is used in financial and credit organizations and accounting.
You may be interested in: Palladium – is it a precious metal?
The prices used for purchase and sale relationships are determined at the market average level. Since such transactions are associated with monetary risks. For them, it is necessary to take into account market conditions.
The cost of one gram of 925 silver in different jewelry varies from 40 to 100 rubles. This is influenced by the popularity of the manufacturer, industrial technology, complexity and quality of decoration.
Externally, the brightness and shine of white gold is more expressive than that of silver products. However, modern technologies, through which metal is irradiated and other components are deposited on its surface, have come far ahead.
This provides great opportunities for illegal activities by jewelry fraudsters. Therefore, in order not to become an object of deception, at the slightest doubt you should contact professional appraisers and insist on laboratory testing of the product using special equipment and tools.
Source: http://VseoZolote.ru/precious-metals/serebro-925-proby.html
What you need to know about 925 standard - gold or silver, composition, price per gram
Often participants in specialized jewelry forums are interested in the question: what is included in the 925 alloy, is it gold or silver? Let's figure out what metal with a purity of 925 consists of. What do these numbers mean?
Gold or silver?
In order to determine the metal by sample, you need to know what assay systems for gold and silver exist.
In Russia and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a system has been adopted according to which the following samples of gold are distinguished:
- 375, which has a reddish tint, turning into grayish when polishing is lost;
- 583rd, which is an alloy of gold and copper, due to which a reddish tint predominates in it;
- 585th, which has different shades from red and pink to yellow and white;
- 750th, which includes silver and copper;
- 958th, bright yellow alloy.
Silver standards accepted in Russia are as follows:
- 800th;
- 830th;
- 875th;
- 925th;
- 960th.
It is important! Thus, a sample value of 925 indicates that the alloy contains a larger amount of silver, namely about 92.5% of the total composition of the alloy.
Peculiarities
925 silver is called differently:
- Sterling silver;
- silver standard;
- standard silver;
- sterling.
Pure silver, which does not contain any impurities, is a very soft metal. That is why it is unsuitable for the production of jewelry, coinage and other things. To give silver strength, copper is dissolved in it. But this combination leads to the loss of the natural shine that silver is endowed with.
The silver alloy, which contains 92.5% pure precious metal, holds the shape of the product well, is not damaged, and also allows you to enjoy the natural white color inherent in natural silver.
Did you know that hallmark number 925 is much stronger than pure 999 silver? It is more in demand among jewelers, who create real works of art from such an alloy.
The alloy number 925 may contain not only copper, but also, for example:
- platinum;
- germanium;
- zinc;
- silicon.
! The above metals when combined with silver produce unique colors and also allow you to change the oxidation ability of the precious metal.
925 silver is marked with the word “sterling” and is marked with a special sign, the image options of which depend on the country of origin.
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The following compositions can be used when marking sterling silver:
- sterling;
- sterling silver
- ster;
- 925.
Often, 925 silver is coated with a layer of white rhodium or an oxide film, which allows it to resist corrosion of the precious metal or change its color.
Depending on the nature of the coating, the following types of silver are distinguished:
- rhodium-plated;
- oxidized;
- blackened;
- with enamel;
- other.
Rhodinated 925 sterling silver has a bright white color, while oxidized sterling silver takes on the appearance of antique silver. Blackened silver is a precious metal covered with niello. Any coating allows you to create new styles and types of silver.
Physical and chemical properties
Silver in its pure form is a heavy, shiny, white metal with a unique reflective ability - about 95% of the entire visible part of the spectrum. It is this property of silver that has led to one of the most common areas of its use - the production of mirrors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrB9y-aUNEE
The density of silver is 10.5 g/cm3, which is almost half the density of gold, several units less than the density of lead, but heavier than copper and iron.
The main physical properties of silver include:
- the presence of the highest thermal conductivity among all metals;
- unique electrical conductivity;
- the melting point is 961°C (the lowest among all precious metals), which allows it to be processed by smelting.
The chemical properties of silver include:
- inertness of the metal - in its natural state it does not interact with other substances;
- Among precious metals, silver is the most reactive metal;
- the substance has the ability to dissolve in nitric acid, as well as in hot concentrated sulfuric acid and mercury;
- unlike platinum and gold, it does not dissolve in aqua regia.
We recommend reading: Gold market: overview
How to care for silver
Features of caring for silver depend on the specific factors that have a negative impact on the precious metal.
Darkening of silver can be caused by:
- increased air humidity;
- storing products next to sulfur-containing drugs;
- when worn – deterioration of the owner’s health;
- interaction with cosmetics and perfumes.
Basic principles of care:
- When cleaning silver, you should never use rough sponges or abrasives;
- regular care involves initially soaking the products in soapy water, followed by rinsing, removing excess moisture and polishing with suede;
- For proper care, you should use products specially designed for this purpose.
Caring for 925 sterling silver has some features.
Firstly, it is best to care for such products using a special product - Silbertauschbader. Instructions for using this product are included in the kit. There are many different alternatives to this substance, but this is the one that is most effective.
Secondly, to clean silver of this standard, under no circumstances should you use citric acid and lemon juice, which are suitable for cleaning silver of lower standards.
Meanwhile, 925 silver can, for example, be cleaned with ammonia. To do this, you need to add this substance to water at the rate of 1 milliliter per 10 milliliters of water. After this, immerse the product in the solution for half an hour, remove it, rinse it under running water, and wipe it with a soft cloth.
What is the difference between 925 and 999 samples?
The 999th standard of silver means that the alloy contains absolutely no impurities or additives, that is, it is a pure precious metal, in our case, silver. This precious metal is not suitable for use in jewelry; it is a soft, fusible substance.
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Pure silver is an excellent material for various types of production, but not for jewelry.
It is important! If a piece of silver jewelry is stamped with 999 purity, this is a fraud!
925 standard is the highest possible standard of silver for jewelry. This alloy contains a minimum amount of ligature - up to 75 parts out of 1000, which gives such jewelry a universal shine and beauty.
The cost of silver is 925 prom per gram
To calculate the price of 925 silver, you need to know how much one gram of pure silver costs. For calculations, let’s take the data from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for silver in February 2019 - 33.18 rubles per gram.
In jewelry stores and pawnshops, the price of silver today ranges from 40 to 110 rubles per gram.
Thus, we learned that 925 standard means that the product is made of silver; this alloy contains 92.5% silver, the rest is an alloy, which can be in the form of platinum, copper, germanium, zinc, silicon. This silver sample is of the highest quality, is durable and can be easily melted, which allows you to produce unique jewelry.
Source: http://inzoloto.ru/cena-na-zoloto/vse-detali-o-925-probe
What do we know about 925 gold
There is often a lot of controversy surrounding the 925 hallmark. Questions are asked by people who want to know what they were offered in a jewelry store: white gold or silver. It is quite easy to deceive a person who does not understand the jewelry business and sell him a cheaper precious metal under the guise of gold. Is there a 925 gold grade?
Samples of precious metals
The sample represents a certain standard indicating the ratio of the pure substance and the additional components of the alloy. Each of the precious metals has its own system of such standards, as well as a corresponding type of mark, which an ordinary consumer can see on the finished product.
Gold samples listed in Russia.
In the Russian Federation, the following markings are provided for yellow precious metal: 375, 500, 585, 750, 958 and 999. The 585 marking is considered the most common in use. It is characterized by good resistance to mechanical stress, wear resistance, and an affordable price.
The next in order, 750 standard, is already more expensive; it is used for products with filigree, thin drifts and for settings of fragile precious stones.
Gold of the highest grades is very soft, polishing on a product made from an alloy with an element content of 95.8% will not last long, so it is not practical to use such metal in the mass production of jewelry.
What other types of gold are there in jewelry? The number 925 is not in the specified list, because it refers to silver markings. For this metal in the Russian Federation there are 800, 830, 875, 925, 960 and 999 standards. According to the requirements of Russian legislation, the mark with the number 925 can only appear on a silver product.
Theoretically, the existence of 925 yellow metal is possible, that is, it can have the same markings as cheaper silver. But in world standards that apply to jewelry activities, there is no such gold alloy. Gold 925 will be practically no different from the already available options, as well as the pure substance. It will be inconvenient to use it in production due to the technical characteristics that are transferred to the alloy from other components of the alloy.
925 silver marking
The history of silver jewelry keeps in mind many legends and beliefs associated with this metal. At different times, magical and sometimes even medicinal properties were attributed to it. What exactly is an alloy, does 925 contain gold or silver? A ligature marked 925 does not contain gold at all; it contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% additional components, which usually include germanium, silicon and platinum.
Due to the high concentration of the main precious metal, such an alloy is called sterling. The components of silver alloys differ from those of gold alloys. They provide the silver alloy with enhanced strength and the desired shade of the finished jewelry.
Metal markings from 720 to 830 are characterized by a high copper content, which is expressed in their yellowish tint and poor resistance to oxidative processes. These samples are used mainly in industrial production.
875 silver is sometimes used in jewelry, but due to its yellowish tint it cannot boast of excellent aesthetic qualities.
The 960 marking is rarely used for another reason: products of incredible beauty can be made from such a precious metal, but they will not be durable.
925 silver is valued by jewelers because of its ease of processing: very complex filigree jewelry can be made from this metal. This sample is most in demand compared to other precious metal markings. Lower-order samples oxidize faster and lose their attractive appearance.
Silver alloy marked 925 is extremely resistant to external influences, and the beautiful shine of the product can delight its owner for quite a long period of time. This kind of silver is called elite.
Metal with such characteristics is sometimes rhodium-plated - it is coated with itself. This procedure increases the brightness of the jewelry and also provides it with additional protection from scratches.
The price of a gram of metal is determined based on the fixing of the London Stock Exchange. The cost of finished jewelry includes not only the cost of raw materials, but also other components:
- Cost of the jeweler's work;
- Taxes;
- Import costs if raw materials are purchased abroad;
- Seller's profit;
- Brand awareness.
Even taking into account all the components, the cost of high-grade silver is acceptable for many consumers. 925 gold would cost several times more.
925 precious metal is used to make elegant jewelry, which in its aesthetic characteristics is in no way inferior to gold products. 925 silver marking is very popular among buyers, this is confirmed by metal quotes, demand in stores and the number of requests on the Internet. Consumer interest is due to the quality of finished products and the high content of the substance in the master alloy.
Not only jewelry, but also cutlery are in demand. They are durable and characterized by a beautiful shine that does not lose from regular contact with food.
How to distinguish silver and white gold?
High sterling silver jewelry is characterized by an attractive appearance and beautiful shine. Often this silver looks like white gold. Unscrupulous sellers take advantage of this feature, offering customers cheaper metal under the guise of luxury jewelry. How to distinguish them from each other?
The first thing you should pay attention to is the brand. Gold cannot be 925 standard. The mark on silver has the shape of a barrel, and on gold it is a slightly elongated rectangle. Even if you cannot distinguish the shape of the mark, you must look at the number on it. If it costs 925, you have a silver product.
Don't forget that the two elements have different densities. This characteristic can also be used to determine the metal. To carry out calculations, you need to weigh the products on high-precision scales and calculate the density value using the formula. The obtained result is compared with the table of density of precious metals. This method is only suitable for jewelry without stone inserts.
It is necessary to compare the products externally. In terms of visual perception, white gold has a brighter shine compared to silver. The problem is that it is impossible to draw final conclusions about the material of the product based on this method of verification. The procedures of plating other metals and rhodium plating on silver items make visual comparisons much more difficult.
Determining whether you have 925 silver or white gold is sometimes quite difficult. The first sign that you need to pay attention to is the presence of a mark, its shape, and the meaning of the marking. The number 925 in the stamp in the form of a barrel indicates that the store is offering you a silver product. Then you need to evaluate the appearance of the product, pay attention to its color and shine.
White gold and silver are very similar in appearance, but the brightness of the shine and color tone can clue you in to the jewelry's original metal.
Not the last characteristic is the price of the jewelry. White gold is an alloy of a special alloy, the final color of which is determined by additional components. Yellow precious metal, regardless of its shade, is more expensive than silver jewelry.
Source: http://golden-inform.ru/proby/925-zolota/
925 standard - is it gold or silver, what is it really, price per gram
Hello, dear readers! Today we will answer the question: “Is 925 gold or silver?” Let's consider two metals that are similar in appearance, but different in properties and composition.
What types of gold are there?
In Russia, precious metals presented on store shelves must be labeled. There are only 7 gold hallmarks. At present, some of them are outdated:
- 375. precious metal 37.5%. The rest is a ligature (admixture).
- 500. Contains 50% pure gold. It is rare nowadays.
- 583. precious metal 58.3%.
- 585. 58.5% precious metal. This includes 80% of jewelry sold.
- 750. Contains at least 75% pure gold. Widely distributed among exclusive jewelry and diamond jewelry.
- 958. 95.8% precious metal. A small number of such jewelry were produced in past centuries.
- 999. Pure gold. The metal is too soft, so it is not used in jewelry.
As you can see, 925 is not among them.
Is there a 925 gold grade?
In accordance with the state standard, 925 hallmark applies only to the marking of silver items, including gold-plated ones. There are no gold items with such a mark. It is a myth.
What does the number 925 mean?
Sterling silver, which contains 92.5% pure metal. Items have assay markings in the form established by GOST. According to the established rules, if the product weighs less than 3 g, the manufacturer has the right not to test it in the state chamber. It is enough to put a stamp and an internal mark in the form of the numbers “925” (not in the form of a state hallmark).
Characteristics of 925 standard
The alloy contains several elements responsible for color and strength. This material is much harder than its counterparts.
Composition and properties
The 925 item is only 92.5% pure silver, the remaining 7.5% is copper. It is added to give the alloy greater strength. Thanks to impurities, even gold alloys become white and very similar to pure silver.
Allergy to nickel contained in the composition is common to many. Manifests itself in the form of dermatitis. Since 2000, the use of nickel in alloys has been prohibited in the European Union.
Strength
925 silver is durable and easy to process. Items made from this metal are less scratched. The alloy is practical and less likely to deform.
Castas (seats for the stone) in white alloys are made so that its krapana (legs that hold the stone) do not unbend and the inserts do not fall out, which is a common problem in products made from red and yellow materials.
Brand
The mark is responsible for who made the jewelry and in what year. The manufacturer applies a name at the final stage of production, after which it is handed over to the Assay Office, where the quality of the metal and the content of the required amount of pure silver are checked. If the percentage of content meets the standard, a sample is applied to the jewelry, for example 925.
Application
The strength of the alloy allows it to be used for the manufacture of watch parts and jewelry (bracelets, key rings).
Tips for choosing jewelry of this sample
When choosing jewelry, you should pay attention to the presence of markings. All precious goods on store shelves must have manufacturer's tags with contact information and a retail chain price tag.
Please note the absence of piercing elements in the design of the model. The decoration should be comfortable and light. It is advisable that the stone (or path of stones) is not raised too high.
If the product contains diamonds over 4 mm in diameter, see if there is a certificate for the stone.
How much does 1 gram of this sample cost?
The cost of the item depends on the precious stones, complexity of execution, original design, and brand. Here are the online 925 silver quotes for today (they change almost every day):
Price for 999 standard according to the Central BankMarket value of the standard todayPrice for scrapPrice in jewelryRecommendations for care and cleaning
Basic Rules:
- Wash at least once a month. You can go to a workshop where, using ultrasonic equipment, they will remove dirt from the inside and outside, and wash the stones.
- Store in a dry place.
- Take it off at night, before taking a shower or washing dishes.
- Avoid contact with perfume, especially on stones.
Reviews
Victoria, 32 years old: “For me personally, the main difference between silver and white gold is color. The silver is much lighter, the models are ordinary, almost unremarkable. White gold jewelry is dark, bright, and almost always encrusted with diamonds or semi-precious stones.”
Tatyana, 20 years old: “My beloved gave me a ring with a stone, I thought for a long time what kind of metal it was, until I took a magnifying glass and examined “925.” It turned out to be silver"
Anna, 36 years old: “I don’t understand how to distinguish white gold from silver. As for me, they are exactly the same metals. And is it worth overpaying?
Svetlana, 28 years old: “I adore white gold, but only in its original color without any coatings. A little yellow looks natural and does not require additions. Silver is not for everybody.”
Conclusion
So, you are convinced that there is no such thing as 925 gold and this mark can only appear on silver jewelry.
Silver, although inexpensive, is convenient and practical. If the difference between the metals is not visible while the jewelry is new, it will certainly appear during use, because only gold has such quality and sophistication.
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Source: https://zhazhdazolota.ru/serebro/sort/925-proba-eto-gold-ili-silver
፠ What does 925 sample mean?
When buying a precious piece of jewelry, we pay attention to many factors. If we don’t touch on price and design now, then the sample comes to the fore. What is it and what do the little numbers on the inside of the product mean?
Gold, silver, platinum and other metals, from which precious jewelry is made, are never used in their pure form. And it is the hallmark mark that means exactly how much precious metal was used to produce the blank for the jewelry.
The markings adopted in our country clearly indicate what kind of metal is in front of us. And the law on “stamping” stipulates what standard should be on what metal. If we are talking about silver, then the highest standard will be 925.
Attention! All the talk that 925 standard can stand on gold is completely wrong. However, you can find such information on the Internet. It may come from unscrupulous or incompetent sellers.
How much precious metal is in the product
Gold is an incredibly soft metal. In order for it to be possible to work with it, the stones are held firmly, and the gold ring on your hand does not turn into a shapeless mass after a year, a ligature is added to the alloy.
Most often it is copper, silver, nickel. Palladium, platinum and rhodium can be added to give gold a white color. And, although fewer products are produced from white gold, it occupies its share in the popular jewelry niche.
Today, 585 standard gold is used in products. This means that only 58.5% of the product contains actual gold. But there are also 370, 500, 750 and 958 samples.
The lower the sample number, the more the shade of the metal changes. For example, in the 370 sample there is as much as 67% copper alloy, and only 37% gold. This metal will have a red color. It is not popular in our country, so it is rarely used in work. It can be easily imported from countries in Middle Asia, including India.
925 gold standard – where the legs come from
To create an alloy in which 92.5% gold is technically possible. And yes, it will theoretically have a hallmark of 925. But this alloy will be quite soft, and in order for it to be used in jewelry, platinum or palladium is added as an alloy. The result is white gold.
Again, if this is not done, then such a 925 alloy will have its drawbacks and, first of all, the very high price of the metal itself. Externally, a product with 925 purity will not look any better than a standard 585 carat, but the service life will be reduced. As we know, gold is a soft metal that is easy to bend, scratch, and so on. An alloy marked 925 will have a yellowish tint, be expensive, and deteriorate very quickly.
925 sterling silver - what's the highlight?
What about silver? Silver is much denser than gold and is added to give strength to the metal. Today, the highest standard for silver is 925. It is also called sterling silver. It consists of an alloy of 95.2% silver and 7.5% alloy.
There are also higher standards for silver. For example, 999 standard, which is used to build spacecraft, but it is not applicable for making jewelry.
916 standard is ideal for making cutlery. This is a durable alloy of silver and copper that does not darken over time.
Products made from 925 sterling silver are often rhodium plated. It gives the jewelry resistance to damage and, most importantly, a unique shine.
So what's the catch in testing?
The fact is that white gold is very easy to confuse with 925 silver if both products are plated with rhodium. In this case, there are several possibilities to determine what is in front of you - gold or silver. This is easy to do if you know a few nuances.
- Silver and gold have different grades. We talked about them above. And, if you buy a product in hand, then first of all look inside. In gold jewelry, the hallmark is placed in an oval recess, while the silver hallmark is placed in a barrel-shaped figure.
- As we have established, there is no such thing as 925 gold . Therefore, we take a magnifying glass and examine the mark.
- Let's look at the weight . Silver products are always more massive than gold ones. After all, in order to make, for example, a gold ring more affordable, the manufacturer makes it inflated. It turns out that if you take a product made of gold and silver of the same size and style, then the silver one will weigh more.
- The price of white gold is several times higher than that of silver . If you are offered to buy a weighty white gold item at a low price, then most likely this is a scam.
If you buy jewelry secondhand, it is quite difficult at first, and even at second glance, to determine what is in front of you. There is another danger that instead of 925 silver, they will give you ordinary shiny metal or low-grade silver. And, if it is not possible to check the silver sample, then you can always check whether it is silver.
There are many ways to distinguish silver from counterfeit. Below are three of them.
- Magnet check. Silver has no magnetic properties. It just won't attract. Most metals react to a magnet.
- Properly processed silver will not leave any marks on a piece of paper if you move the jewelry over it. If a dark mark remains on your fingers after you have rubbed it in your hands, feel free to return it to the seller.
- Silver is a powerful heat conductor. If you put earrings or a ring in boiling water, it will instantly become the same temperature as the water in the pan.
And the most important and important way, which is available to everyone, is to buy jewelry only in specialized stores. In this case, you don’t have to look at the tag or take out a magnifying glass, trying to figure out whether it’s 925 or 585?
Jewelry stores value their reputation. Therefore, they will not sell you a fake.
Online stores – can you trust them?
Technologies are developing faster than we can keep up with them. Today, the number of online stores that offer jewelry, including those with 925 purity, is huge.
We are accustomed to trusting most sellers, because today both the site itself and its promotion are expensive. Well, who will sell us a fake if the site is ahead of most others. And everything seems to be clear and understandable.
And then there is Chinese gold, which has a high purity and a low price, and the delivery conditions are attractive. Chinese silver has a lower standard. In fact, it's not worth the money spent on it. Today you can inexpensively buy silver with 925 purity, and at the same time know for sure that you have bought precious jewelry.
So how not to buy a pig in a poke? Firstly, all major retailers have their own brick-and-mortar stores. Why is it important? Because no jeweler or jewelry factory will work with someone who does not have a store to sell.
Secondly, the age of the site. It is always easy to check by running a link to the site in certain programs in Google. There are many of them, easy to find. If the site was created recently, its prices are very attractive, delivery conditions are excellent, but you are asked for an advance payment - feel free to say goodbye to it. Most likely, there is nothing in this online store.
The Golden Sphinx offers a huge selection of jewelry for all occasions. Available in white gold, 925 sterling silver, and diamond items. You can always choose what you need without leaving the couch. At the same time, you are guaranteed to receive exactly the precious metal product that you ordered.
Source: https://xn----mtbechcrdba9adf6a.com/news/chto-znachit-925-proba.htm
Characteristics and cost of 925 silver in Russia
Fans of precious metals are still arguing about which material is branded with 925 hallmark - gold or silver. After all, you need to be sure that you are purchasing genuine jewelry. The quality of a product depends not only on its cost, but also on the composition of the alloy, the prestige of the manufacturer and the work of the craftsman. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with jewelry terminology and understand the differences between different metals.
Features of the sample
Absolutely all jewelry has a hallmark. It determines the weight content of precious metal in the alloy. There are several types of brands:
- spool;
- metric;
- carat
Until 1927, the spool test was used in the Russian Federation. It determined how many spools weighing 4.2 g were contained in a pound (96 elements) of the alloy. From that time until today, the metric mark has been used.
It shows the number of parts of the precious metal in one thousand mass units. The carat type is used all over the world. This test indicates the elemental content of the 24-karat alloy.
That is, if the product is marked “19 carats,” then 24 parts of the composition contain 19 shares of gold.
In Russia there is a GOST that regulates branding. It looks like a sample symbol. For example, if the sign “585” is on a ring or chain, then 1000 g of metal contains exactly that much pure gold. The rest is a ligature. The first brand in the Russian Federation appeared much later than in other countries - in the 17th century. It looked like a double-headed eagle with the date of release of the jewelry. And the sample testified not to the composition of the alloy, but to its authenticity.
In 1899, a new image appeared - the profile of a woman’s head in a kokoshnik. After 28 years it was replaced by the face of a worker and a hammer, and after another 31 years - by a sickle against the backdrop of a five-pointed star. Modern jewelers have returned to the 1899 standard.
Gold has several types of hallmarks that distinguish products by composition. 958, 916, 900, 750, 585, 500 and 375 samples are separated. 999 is very rare, but only gold bars are made from this metal, since the pure material is not suitable for creating jewelry due to its dull, unattractive color and softness.
An unusual mark - 925 - is placed on ligature products. Such jewelry can be coated with gold or platinum. Some buyers confuse these items with real platinum items and pay high prices for them. But if you are wondering what kind of metal it is with 925 purity, then you need to know that there is no gold with such a mark. These are silver items that jewelers were able to gild with high quality.
Brand of gold
Gold jewelry is made from metal with different compositions. Popular metal samples:
- reddish 375;
- durable 583;
- colorful 585;
- white 750;
- bright yellow 958.
Low-grade gold graded 375 has a reddish tint and turns gray when the polish wears off. Most often in jewelry stores and pawn shops you can find products with the mark 583 or 585.
The first metal is an alloy of gold and copper, cast in a red tint, durable, but easily takes any shape. Today, the 583 sample material is used only in Belarus.
In other countries it was replaced by the 585 brand; the substance consists of three components and in the light takes on red, pink, white or yellow colors.
The 750 alloy contains silver and copper, so the products appear white or yellow-green. The soft metal of the 958 stamp does not hold polish for long. In the banking industry, gold with a mark of 999 is used to make bars. In practice, it is impossible to achieve a mark of 1000, since in any case the precious material will contain impurities.
Differences of silver
Pure silver is a very soft metal, making it easy to work. To make it more durable, copper is added to it. This procedure is called doping, the additional substance is called a ligature. Copper and silver have similar physical properties, so they are combined.
The testing system used to be very confusing, since each state had its own standards and marks. Therefore, they came up with a percentage scheme that displays the ratio of components in one alloy. A large amount of copper is contained in 800 and 750 standard silver. This metal is usually used in the industrial sector. To create jewelry, material with a grade of 925 or 875 is used.
Metal marked 960 or 999 is not suitable for making items because it contains too much silver. The material is not strong enough, so it will not be able to withstand daily loads. Jewelry made from 999 fine substance is highly valued by collectors. This type of silver is white in color, making it often paired with diamonds and clear gemstones.
Sterling material
It is worth learning about the features of 925 metal. This type of silver is called sterling silver from the name of an old English coin. This was the name of the alloy from which they were minted. According to another version, the name comes from the famous German Easterling family.
In the 12th century, five cities of Germany were united in the Hanseatic League, which had active trade relations with England. They were calculated using coins made of an alloy of 92.5% silver and were called Easterlings.
The British liked the quality and reliability of the metal, so they made it the standard of the new English currency.
Sterling material is distinguished not only by its fineness, but also by its durability, beautiful shade, and durability. Knives made of this metal do not deform and do not turn black over time. The classic composition is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. It is this that makes the substance plastic, malleable, durable, gives it a cool tint and emphasizes its natural shine.
Jewelry that was made from sterling 6-7 centuries ago is still kept in museums and passed down by wealthy families from generation to generation. In the manufacturing and jewelry industry, silver has maintained its leading position due to its ability to maintain a light shade and precise shape.
Platinum and white metal
If in a jewelry store they ask the price per gram of 925 white gold, then they mean silver jewelry with gilding. In another precious metal, nickel, palladium and platinum are added to whiten it. Silver and zinc are rarely found in white gold. Additionally, the products are coated with a layer of rhodium, a substance that belongs to the platinum family.
Nickel can cause allergies, so it is replaced with palladium, which gives the metal strength. Compositions to which platinum is added have better characteristics and greater cost. The hardness of white gold allows jewelers to securely set precious stones, which is appreciated by buyers. Such jewelry is usually 750 or 585, but not 925.
Gold-plated products are overpriced , and platinum is sometimes sold for less than its real price. This material and silver have several common characteristics: strength, cold shine, noble light shade. But platinum is more resistant to mechanical damage.
Alloys can be distinguished externally. If an antique product has corrosion spots, defects, damaged areas, then it is silver. The second metal is less susceptible to scratches and changes in shape. Visually, novices will not be able to tell the difference between the two substances, but platinum has higher light reflectivity and brilliance. Thin chains, earrings and brooches are made from it. Massive products are made from silver, as a cheaper material.
925 marking
Silver has its own characteristics. The alloy consists of 92.5% pure precious metal and 7.5% alloy:
- copper;
- zinc;
- gold;
- platinum;
- aluminum;
- titanium;
- palladium;
- cadmium.
The material has high plastic properties; from one gram you can pull out a fairly long thin wire. It is used to make filigree and fine jewelry. Before use, the metal is treated with sulfur, which results in oxidized silver. Color spots appear on the surface of the material, creating an antique effect. It is then coated with an oxide film and polished to a shine.
Not only jewelry is made from metal, but also dishes, cutlery, and figurines. The items last a long time, do not oxidize when in contact with food, and keep their shape well. Several decades ago, silverware was a sign of family wealth. Today it is more of a collector's item. Thus, when asked by clients about the fineness of white gold - 925 or 750, jewelers need to explain that only silver products have such a mark.
Application in production
Thanks to the technical characteristics of 925 silver markings, for 300 years it has occupied the first position among other alloys. The copper contained in the alloy gives the metal strength, high malleability and durability.
In the USSR, sterling material was used in the production of contacts, conductors and jewelry. Silver was a quality alternative to gold and platinum, which were unaffordable for ordinary workers. In the Russian Federation, the material was used for the manufacture of:
- serving items and cutlery;
- details of religion - icons, crosses;
- accessories for everyday life and beauty - cufflinks, buttons, pins;
- individual orders - cigarette cases, medals, orders.
Sterling is used in many areas. And the alloy of this metal and cadmium is so rare that its value exceeds the price of gold. It is used during chemical experiments.
Cost per gram
In order to find out how much one gram of 925 hallmark silver costs, you need to multiply its discount price by 0.925. Every day the average parameter is set by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. The next day after entering a new indicator, the accounting departments of jewelry stores, pawnshops and credit institutions recalculate the cost of each product.
If sales and purchase transactions occur, market value is also taken into account. Usually it is higher, as it depends on certain risks and conditions. The price is also influenced by the manufacturing technology of the silver item, the weight and prestige of the manufacturer.
The price per gram depends on several parameters. Every year, the London Bullion Exchange publishes a rate of materials in specialized magazines, indicating the cost per ounce. As of March 2018, a jewelry store client had to pay 34.5 rubles for 1 g of 925 silver. The country of manufacture is also important. The most expensive jewelry is offered by Italians; among Chinese companies there are often low-quality alloys or fakes.
There is no gold graded 925, that alloy is silver. Owners of jewelry are often misled, as some items may be covered with gold plating. But the sample is placed directly on the object, and not on the shell. Sterling metal is strong, durable and has the ability to retain its original color and shine.
Source: https://VseoMetallah.ru/serebro/925-proby-v-rossii
925 gold: does it exist?
Before talking about the properties that the legendary 925 gold has, it is worth remembering what this numerical designation actually means. In jewelry, this indicator indicates the number of parts of pure metal per 1000 parts of alloy. Thus, the number 925 should indicate almost pure metal with a minimum amount of impurities.
Gold samples and their features
Now let's think about the common types of gold.
- The cheapest alloy is not widely used - such products become unpleasantly grayish as soon as their polishing ceases to be ideal. This is 375 standard, that is, for every 1000 grams of pure gold alloy there are only 375 grams.
- A three-component composition with the numerical designation 585 is very common. It is often called red, although the alloy can have a variety of shades, up to almost white. The color depends on the type of additives and their proportions. For this purpose, silver, copper, and sometimes nickel, zinc, and even palladium, which is quite expensive but contributes to the wear resistance of products, are used.
- The most expensive alloys are used to make luxury jewelry with precious stones. The composition with purity 750 contains palladium.
Gold samples
Debunking the myth
Why don’t reference books and popular literature say anything about alloys with a higher gold content? The reason is the rather low level of performance characteristics that metal has without additives. It is soft, which means it is not resistant to mechanical damage, and is also not able to “hold” polish for a long time.
That is why it is not customary to use gold with a purity higher than 750 in jewelry or other fields. But what about 925 purity gold, you ask? In fact, the legendary alloy does not officially exist.
That is, it is technically possible to create a composition with a minimum number of inclusions, but there will be nowhere to use it; it will turn out to be unsuitable for almost all traditional applications of precious metals.
Another legend
Sometimes it is mistakenly believed that 925 gold is the so-called white gold. This term also requires more careful study. The white color of jewelry comes from palladium coating, as well as the inclusion of the same palladium in the alloy.
When developing such a composition at the beginning of the last century, nickel and manganese were also used, but subsequent studies proved that nickel is unsafe for humans, and manganese does not give the desired effect. It is interesting that, unlike most jewelry alloys, in this case the price of the additive (palladium) is significantly higher than that of the base metal.
The legend that such a metal has 925 fineness most likely arose from a combination of the appearance of white gold and the markings of silver, which is visually similar to it.
Thus, 925 gold does not exist, either in production or in everyday life, and in the conversations of people who are not very familiar with jewelry, this term usually refers to high-quality silver or a gold alloy that has a white color due to the inclusion of palladium in it.
Coin catalog
All existing coins can be found in our database using a convenient search.
Source: https://xn----8sbebdgd0blkrk1oe.xn--p1ai/dragmet/925-proba-zolota.html
925 standard is gold or silver, methods of determination
The 925 sample causes a lot of controversy among collectors and experts in this field. The question is very simple, 925 sample - what is it, gold or silver?
Of course, experts in precious metals quickly determine what kind of metal we are talking about in a particular case, but what about ordinary people? For users it is a white-silver metal. Let's take a closer look at this issue and find out how to determine the type of metal when the product has a 925 standard.
Read: Real ways to tell the difference between silver and white gold
925 metal – gold or silver?
According to the current standards in the Russian Federation, the 925 standard is used only for silver products. In fact, it is the highest standard of silver and is often confused with white gold. In many countries around the world, gold cannot be 925 fine.
If 925 silver is coated with rhodium so that it shines and does not oxidize, then even a specialist will have difficulty identifying the base metal.
Interesting: Rhodium plating of silver - advantages and disadvantages
The alloy contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% impurities to strengthen the material. Comparing 925 gold with this alloy, we can say that if such a material existed, it would not be too different from 999 gold, since the percentage of the purest metal in the total mass is very large. Producing products from such material will be extremely inconvenient and not profitable. Hence the conclusion that 925 gold does not exist, and if it does exist, it is in very limited quantities.
How to distinguish 925 silver from “white gold”?
Having found out that a metal with a hallmark of 925 is definitely silver, it is also worth knowing about the method for determining it. Sometimes scammers take advantage of the fact that people cannot determine the quality of the metal themselves. They sell silver of the lowest standard with the hallmark 925. In order not to make a mistake with your purchase, you should focus on the following points:
It is worth focusing on the price. For quality products, sellers ask a fairly high price. If we are talking about “white gold”, then the price will be even higher.
It is almost impossible to visually determine the quality and composition of the product, since scammers use all kinds of coatings. The only option is testing with reagents.
Sometimes, traders coat silver with a thin layer of gold and pass the product off as gold. Substitution can only be detected in laboratory conditions.
Source: https://999proba.com/925-proba-ehto-zoloto-ili-serebro/
925 standard refers to gold or silver and how to distinguish them? — Glitter Gem
11.02.2019
There is often a lot of controversy surrounding the 925 hallmark. Questions are asked by people who want to know what they were offered in a jewelry store: white gold or silver. It is quite easy to deceive a person who does not understand the jewelry business and sell him a cheaper precious metal under the guise of gold. Is there a 925 gold grade?
What does 925 standard mean: what metals are included in it, do they use silver or gold for it?
Jewelry has not lost its popularity for many centuries. These are not only beautiful accessories, but also profitable objects for investment. Gold, silver, platinum are noble metals, and they are only increasing in price. Fineness is an indicator of the gold content in 1000 g of alloy. In the store you can find 925 sterling jewelry. They are distinguished by a special alloy.
History of appearance
Back in Ancient Egypt, they began to calculate the percentage of gold content in products. In Ancient Greece, coins were marked with a mark that contained written letters. In Russia, samples began to be taken only in the 17th century. For this, a spool system was used. It was based on calculations of the amount of gold per 96 parts of the entire alloy. Popular designations were 96, 72, 56, 32. After the revolution, samples began to be designated by three numbers.
The modern measurement system is based on calculating the weight ratio of the base metal in grams to a kilogram of alloy. So, in sample 375 there is only 37.5% gold, the rest is additional metals. This combination is considered technical, since it contains less than half gold. The lowest standard is 500, and the highest is 999. The last number means pure gold without impurities.
European countries use the karate system. It was invented in the UK and is still used there. It is based on the following calculations: one twenty-fourth of the mass of the entire alloy is taken as 1 carat, so in Russia they changed the 583 standard to 585.
Alloy features
Today in the country the official hallmarks are 375, 500, 585, 750, 958, 999. They are used only for gold. These are the types of marks that can be on silver - 800, 830, 875, 960, 999. But in jewelry stores you can find such marks as 926, 923, 929, 952 and others. All of them are not official.
Some people think that white gold is .925. In fact, it is just high quality silver that has been plated with rhodium. This combination adds shine to the product and prevents it from oxidation. It is sometimes difficult for an experienced jeweler to determine what kind of alloy is in front of him.
925 silver hallmark is composed of 92.5% precious metal and 7.5% copper . Adding red alloy makes the decoration durable. The finished product is elegant and beautiful. Jewelers successfully combine several metals, which allows them to create unusual jewelry designs. High quality silver - metal in 925 standard.
Previously, sterling coins were made from silver marked 925. Today, such an alloy is considered the best for minting coins.
Methods of application
High-quality precious metal is used not only for making rings and other jewelry. Tableware, decor, cufflinks, and dishes are made from it. Often among jewelry you can find gold-plated silver 5925. This number is simply deciphered - 925 silver, and 5 microns is the thickness of the applied layer.
s925 silver has certain advantages:
- easy processing;
- plasticity, which allows the production of complex elements;
- can be plated with gold.
To obtain a uniform color, platinum, silicon or germanium are added to the metal. They improve the characteristics of the product.
In modern industry, red silver is found - Proustite. This mineral is very beautiful after cutting. But due to its strong softness, it is rarely used in jewelry.
Difference from white gold
Unscrupulous sellers often use made-up brands. For example, they sell products with 975 purity. It does not exist, and any alloy can be hidden under such numbers. Sometimes enterprising businessmen sell such silver under the guise of white gold.
Deception is quite easy to spot. The first guideline is price. A product with a high content of noble metal will be very expensive. It will be significantly higher than similar jewelry with the 585 mark, so if the seller gives the product away cheaply, then most likely it is a low-quality alloy.
Do not rely on visual assessment. Modern technologies make it possible to create high-quality coatings. The shine of products made from different metals cannot be distinguished from each other. The only reliable way to check is to apply special reagents . Jewelers or pawn shops have them.
Not everyone can unambiguously determine what the 925 sample contains: silver or gold. Especially when a product with such a mark is covered with a thin layer of yellow metal. In this case, only gemological examination can identify a fake. It is carried out in special laboratories. It is worth paying attention to the brand. It should be barrel-shaped and contain three numbers.
The cost of finished jewelry is calculated based on many factors. First of all, this is the work of a jeweler. If raw materials are purchased abroad, then the final price of the product includes import costs. Afterwards, taxes and the seller’s profit are taken into account. As a result, the finished decoration will be expensive. If it is released under a certain brand, then it also contributes to an increase in price.
Several tests
Today you can often come across various fakes. There are a large number of advertisements on the Internet with tempting offers to purchase jewelry at a low price. But after purchasing, a person runs the risk of discovering that he has purchased a fake or low-quality product.
Cheap acquisition has the following properties:
- rapid fading;
- the appearance of a dark shade;
- fragility.
There are a few simple tests you can do at home. Silver is sensitive to acids and iodine , so their use allows you to determine the quality of the alloy. A thin strip of iodine is applied to the jewelry. It will not be absorbed into white gold and will not harm the metal. But upon contact with silver, a chemical reaction will occur and the surface will turn brown.
Compared to gold, silver is a soft metal, so just run a sheet of paper over it and it will leave characteristic stripes on the surface. There will be no scratches on the noble yellow metal.
Another simple test involves using acetic acid . Two tablespoons of vinegar dissolve in a glass of water. Decorations are dropped into the resulting solution. If they are made of gold, the color will not change, since the noble metal does not react chemically. If the water becomes cloudy and gray, then this is a reason to be wary. Most likely, the product is a fake.
It is easy to distinguish real metal from ersatz. It is enough to buy sulfur ointment at the pharmacy and apply it in a thin layer to the product. It is left in this form for a couple of hours. If the jewelry darkens, then it is fake. A simple way to test silver is to use a magnet . The real product will not be attracted to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ppCrJY2tc
In order to reduce the likelihood of buying a fake, it is important to purchase jewelry only from trusted stores. Specialists monitor the quality of their goods and provide all the necessary certificates.
Source: https://zolotogid.ru/metally/serebro-925-proby/