At all times of the existence of mankind, these precious metals were valued: gold and silver. Today, these metals are still valued, but the world does not stand still, new metal processing technologies are being improved, radiation and spraying are widely used. A simple person can make a mistake when buying a precious product, taking silver for gold. Let's see how not to make a mistake and not become a victim of fraud. By issuing silver jewelry with samples of 875 and 925 for expensive white gold, adventurers easily deceive unsuspecting customers.
Nomenclature of gold and silver samples
Assay supervision of the Russian Federation has developed a system of prints for different types of precious metals. For example, for gold, a brand of a special shape is used - an elongated rectangle with a certain set of numbers, characteristic only for gold: 333, 375, 500, 585, 750, 958, 999.
The following numerical indicators are used for silver: 800, 830, 875, 925, 960. The exception is 999, which also indicates the almost complete absence of other impurities. So we got the answer to such a fairly common question: “875 sample: what kind of metal is this?”.
What does test mean
This is the most important characteristic of any precious metal. Such metals in their pure form are soft, malleable. They are not suitable for jewelry: in all precious products in certain proportions there are different chemical elements, and the above numerical indicators indicate the content of the base metal (gold or silver) in the alloy. Next, we will certainly deal with that material that may have a mark 875 standart. What kind of metal is this?
Example
Let us draw an analogy: a 585 gold sample indicates that 585 parts of gold, or 58.5%, are accounted for per thousand parts of the alloy. A similar example with a breakdown of 925 silver: 1000 parts account for 925 parts of silver or 92.5%, the rest are impurities or, as it is also called, ligature. The higher the numerical value, the more valuable the product. 875th test - what is it: gold or silver? Summarizing the above: products marked 875 are classified as silver.
Why such a question arises?
875th test - what is it: gold or silver? Products from it can often be mistaken for gold. This visual similarity is given by some of the metals that make up the composition, in particular copper. It increases the elasticity and strength of the finished material, but a product of this composition requires some care, otherwise a dark coating appears, which negatively affects the appearance. Silver with a breakdown of 875 can imitate white gold. Moreover, the white color of gold can be given regardless of the height of the sample, the color will depend only on the composition of impurities, that is, on the ligature. Also do not forget about the list of numerical indicators for silver and gold, in which the number 875 refers to the first.
So we got the answer to our question: 875 silver sample is a very common marking of a precious metal alloy, the products of which are of high quality. From all the foregoing, it follows that if it is gold - 875 samples (the USSR and Russia use this standard), it cannot be. Only precious products from a less noble metal have such a designation.
Sample 875 with a star - what is it? Alternative labeling
The sample under consideration during the USSR had a special marking. The Soviet test 875 had a special sign - this is a star. Today, products with this sign are especially appreciated for two reasons: firstly, many decor items or tableware are not currently produced at all. Such things have received rare status, that is, those that are rarely found, and many exist in several copies. This fact significantly raises their cost. This, for example, vases, ashtrays, cup holders. During the period of the existence of the Soviet Union, and more specifically, from 1958 to 1994, inclusive, on silver products, samples 875 put a stamp in the shape of a star.Secondly, if the product is with a star, this in itself is a guarantee of quality. And in general terms, this fact is not related to GOST. To date, all alloyed compounds are produced with good characteristics, all work is carried out in compliance with GOST. However, there is one thing ... Most of the precious metals are imported, and imported alloys, among which are Egyptian and Turkish, unfortunately, very often contain a smaller percentage of the precious base than the standard requires. So we ask ourselves: “Sample 875 with a star: what is it?”. In the classical sense, these are silver products that were made back in the USSR. But there is an alternative to such marking when there is a test of 875 with a star. What is it? These are not quite high-quality modern fakes.
The cost of silver sample 875
Now let's figure out how much the 875 silver sample costs. The price of precious metals is largely dependent on the London Stock Exchange. Everything is running, everything is changing, the picture is about the same, but the approximately fixed prices today are 30-50 rubles per gram of silver.
Why, unlike gold, is it so cheap? It always has been, silver has always been less appreciated. The price of products can be much higher if inserts made of semiprecious stones are used in the work, a separate fee is paid for the work of a jeweler. If we compare with the cost of gold, we see a huge difference, although the quality of silver items are not particularly different from gold. But precious metals such as gold and silver will never depreciate, and their value is independent of inflation.
The metric system is used by many countries, including Russia. The girl’s head in the kokoshnik indicates that you have a product for which 875 silver samples have been taken. Also in the USSR they used certain symbols. Thanks to her, the composition of the alloy of jewelry was determined. At that time, this was the very sample 875 with a star. Inside the stigma itself, one could see the symbol of the Soviet era - a sickle and a hammer, and the number itself was indicated next to it.
Fields of application
To this day, silver goods continue to be in great demand. Jewelry test 875 is successfully used for the manufacture of jewelry, dishes, and decor items. The most common silver products made of sample 875 are rings, earrings, pendants, and chains and bracelets are made much less frequently.
You can see how inexpensive semi-precious stones of natural origin and artificially grown, such as amethyst, smoky and rose quartz, jasper, turquoise, cubic zirconias and many others are used as additional decoration. Thanks to modern technologies with the use of radiation and spraying, silver products made of 875 sample acquire a unique shade that cannot be distinguished from ordinary white man from white gold. On the one hand, this fact leads to misconceptions and even fraud, and on the other hand, for a much lower cost, you can buy beautiful highly artistic things.
How to recognize silver?
After we figured out the question, the 875th test - what is it, gold or silver, we will find out how to distinguish the first precious metal from the second. First of all, you need to pay attention to the cost of goods: the price of silver is an order of magnitude lower than the cost of gold. Silver is very popular, and that is why it is very often faked. For these purposes, aluminum, zinc and even lead are used. There are such cases that the products are slightly covered with a silver layer. Pay attention to the presence of the stigma: if it is erased or is not clearly visible, there is a fake in front of you.
Not always purchased silver items can be considered counterfeit if they are blackened. In this case, toothpaste will help them regain their former shine. Product quality can be checked in several ways. First of all, this is not only the presence of the mark, but also its numerical value, do not forget about the features of the very type of print, which has the form of a barrel.Professionals can very clearly distinguish silver from gold. This is due to the fact that white gold products include palladium and platinum, which give a unique cool shade, and silver products, as you know, include less expensive metals, such as copper. It combined with silver gives a completely different shade.
Using new technologies, spraying can be performed so professionally that you cannot do without special reagent substances. In this case, you may also need the help of a jeweler. There is another ancient, even barbaric way of recognizing silver and gold: drip iodine on the product. If you have gold in front of you, then on its surface you will see a dark spot. If it turns out to be silver, then the surface will significantly brighten.
Summary
Now the question is whether the 875th test: what is it, gold or silver, is closed. As noted earlier, this is silver. And there simply cannot be gold products with such a stigma.