They knew what red gold was back in Ancient Rus'. People have always strived to decorate themselves. The presence of jewelry gave the owner not only uniqueness, grace, but also superiority, coupled with self-confidence.
Scientists believe that this was the precious metal that was popular at that time. But in Europe, on the contrary, they preferred the yellow shades of this metal. In Rus', the red hue indicated the authenticity of gold. The coins were tested by heating them to reveal a reddish tint.
Main differences
Besides color, there are several other differences between red gold and yellow gold. Firstly, red alloys have a high degree of elasticity. They are lighter in weight but more durable. In addition, it is from red gold that openwork and weaving can be made. Jewelry of fancy and exquisite shapes is very rare in white and yellow metal.
Secondly, red gold behaves more brightly in sunlight and shines more. It practically does not tarnish due to the fact that it contains silver. Thanks to the presence of copper, jewelry made from this material becomes hypoallergenic. For example, red gold earrings can be worn by people who experience significant problems when in contact with other precious metals. The more copper in the alloy, the safer the product will be for allergy sufferers. The saturation of the red color also directly depends on the amount of copper.
Difference between alloys
Today, the most popular are two types of gold alloys: yellow and red. Not everyone knows the difference between red gold and 585 yellow gold. The main difference is the number of alloys that give the products strength and hardness. The 585 yellow alloy contains more silver and less copper. Its composition:
- 58.5% gold;
- 18.75% silver;
- 22.75% copper.
Yellow gold is more valued among Europeans, as its yellowness resembles the color of a royal crown. But European designers are now also paying attention to the red alloy. They create collections of jewelry from this material, which include earrings, rings, bracelets and other items. Despite the fact that red gold is valued less than yellow gold, in comparison with it it has the following advantages:
- an alloy with a high copper content is stronger and more durable;
- it holds its shape better;
- does not fade;
- has medicinal properties.
The most elegant openwork jewelry is made from red gold, thanks to its elasticity and strength. Many people prefer it because of its pleasant warm shade.
Both red and yellow gold look great with diamonds. The difference is that jewelry made from the first alloy is more suitable for everyday wear, while jewelry from the second alloy is more suitable for special occasions. Products made from red alloy usually use a lot of gemstones, while those made from yellow alloy use much less.
Red gold wedding rings are very popular. They are beautiful, comfortable and retain their attractive appearance for a long time. Their price is affordable, and the variety of shapes allows you to choose products of any type and size.
Sample and price
The cost of any gold product will directly depend on its purity. However, the 585th hallmark can be used in both red and yellow gold. The color does not depend on the amount of gold, but on the amount of impurities in the alloy. It is important that the color is not too red. Give preference to calm reddish shades of jewelry.
The most popular is, of course, the 585th sample. The products are in demand. In Tsarist Rus', the percentage of gold in the alloy was about 90 percent, which would now be the 900th standard. The price of gold per gram varies from two and a half to six and a half thousand rubles. Of course, everything will depend on the seller, manufacturer, place of sale, type and shape of decoration, etc.
Use of red gold
Gold is a very soft material that is easily damaged and deformed when worn. To make it harder, various metals - alloys - are added to gold alloys. Usually copper, silver, zinc, palladium, nickel and others are used for this.
In Russia, an alloy with the addition of copper (red gold) is more popular. Once upon a time, gold chervonets were minted from such material. They contained 90% precious metal, which corresponds to modern 900 standard.
Nowadays, craftsmen widely use 585 red gold for jewelry making. It consists of:
- 58.5% gold;
- 33.5% copper;
- 8% silver.
This alloy produces beautiful, inexpensive products that are in great demand among customers.
They have a pleasant rich reddish hue. Such jewelry is suitable for middle-aged ladies, as it is believed that they look younger.
Some buyers are interested in whether it is good or bad to have so much copper in the alloy. But this material gives the precious metal the following qualities:
- strength and durability;
- brilliance that defies time;
- elasticity;
- resistance to deformation and mechanical damage;
- hypoallergenic;
- acceptable price.
A low-quality alloy containing too much copper and little silver quickly darkens and becomes covered with a brown film. It can be recognized by its dull pinkish tint.
How to define quality?
Knowing what red gold is and having a desire to purchase products made specifically from this precious metal, not every woman will be able to correctly determine the quality of the product. To do this, we give a number of examples showing the low quality of gold:
- the metal has transitions, the color is uneven;
- there are roughness, stains and abrasions on the surface;
- does not shimmer under the rays of the sun;
- in the shade, the decoration generally looks dull, gloomy, old and shabby;
- there is no factory sample;
- too rich, unnatural red shade.
All these signs show what poor quality red gold is.
Price
On average, the cost relative to the sample varies within the following limits:
- Samples 333-375 can cost from 850 rubles to 950 rubles per gram;
- Samples 583-585 can cost between 1300 and 1500 rubles per gram;
- Sample No. 750, its cost can average about 1900 rubles per gram.
One of the main indicators in determining the price of a given metal is the proportion of copper used as an impurity; the higher its percentage, the lower the quality of the product and, accordingly, its cost. Further, the cost of the product will depend on the complexity of the design, the sample itself, and the presence of additional processing, in the form of inserts of precious stones. Thus, scarlet “aurum” is a relatively inexpensive and at the same time beautiful and refined metal, which is in good demand among different segments of the population.
Which one to choose?
When buying jewelry, the question always arises regarding choice. Whether to choose red or white gold is a very personal question. For some, the deciding point will be the price of gold per gram. Some people may think that one metal color is too faded and want something bright. The third group of women will choose gold depending on their skin tone. For example, yellow gold jewelry will suit dark-skinned girls more. For fair-haired women with light white skin, red gold will be preferable.
Quite often, jewelry is chosen based on love for stones. Bright garnets or rubies will look much more impressive and advantageous in red or rose gold. When it comes to engagement rings, most brides know what red gold is. A ring made of this metal will last longer than all other alloys. It will also be left for the great-grandchildren, as they say.
Red color gold
The main factor as to why gold is red is the presence of other elements in the material, used as impurities to the main element.
Copper gives the precious metal its scarlet hue; the higher the proportion of “Cuprum” in the composition of the material, the more saturated the hue red gold will have. It can range from light pink to bright scarlet, depending on the content of copper and other elements in its composition. These factors directly determine why gold is red.
The proportion of silver is one of the fundamental factors in relation to the quality of the final material; if the proportion of copper is too large, over time, the metal will be highly susceptible to the oxidation process and will begin to lose its original color.
The presence of a light pink tone will indicate the fact that in the manufacture of the metal, six times more copper was used in relation to silver. An excessively high proportion of “Kuprum” in the composition will indicate the low quality of the metal. To give the metal a brown tint, in addition to “Cuprum” and silver, a share of palladium is added as an impurity.
How to care?
An unusual bright appearance and even a high price will not be a reason to refuse to buy red gold jewelry. Women know that this metal is extremely easy to care for. To maintain an aesthetic appearance, a careful attitude is enough. It is recommended to wear jewelry for a limited amount of time. Constant wear, as well as contact with sebum or sweat can play a cruel joke on red gold. The sample, of course, will not be erased, but the product will fade considerably.
It is also recommended to avoid water treatments. Remove rings and other red gold jewelry before swimming in an open pond, bath, or sauna. The metal does not tolerate contact with hygiene products or chlorine, and exposure to salt water is undesirable.
It is very important to store products correctly. It is not recommended to put silver and gold jewelry, red gold and white gold rings, etc. in one box. You need to be even more careful with those items that have stones. Unfortunately, not every ring with a stone can be polished and restored to its original appearance.
Red gold in the modern world
Today, jewelry designers have come up with a lot of luxurious red gold jewelry. The most common of them are 585 samples. The jewelry is inexpensive and beautiful. Excellent combination of price and quality. Among precious jewelry, this sample is more in demand than others. Red gold is all jewelry that has colors from pink to more saturated shades. They look delicate and graceful.
Today in the markets you can find alloys of different colors and shades: black, brown, blue, light blue, etc. All of them have a sophisticated look. However, consumers prefer red gold. Designers believe that it is fashionable to wear it for ladies of respectable age, as it makes you look younger.
The most popular type of alloy is one that contains about 40% copper, and the rest is precious metal. Why does the buyer choose red gold? The answer is simple:
- Strong and durable;
- Does not fade for a long time;
- Rarely deformed;
- Very elastic;
- Does not cause allergies;
- Inexpensive and high quality.
Products and solutions
If the owner of a red gold item has worn or stored it incorrectly, then you can return your favorite earrings or ring to its former beauty using various solutions and means. The easiest option is soap. If there are no stones on the product, then simply place it in a soap solution and gently scrub it with a toothbrush. It is important that the brush has soft bristles. The cloth that is used to dry the red gold item after “bathing” should also be soft.
Sugar solution also cleans well. It is prepared from a glass of water and three teaspoons of sugar. Leave the decoration in the sugar water overnight. In the morning, rinse under the tap and dry carefully. Sugar will not only wash away dust particles, but also remove stubborn dirt.
If there are stones in the products, and dirt or dust gets into the gap between them, then cleaning it yourself is not recommended. At home, you can scratch or even break the product. Take your jewelry to a jeweler. Professionals clean products using special formulations. This is done simply, quickly, and is not as expensive as it seemed.
How is red gold different from yellow gold?
All types of jewelry that contain gold are alloys. Metals have been added to each of them, which dilute the true color of the gold and reduce the overall cost of the product compared to pure gold products.
At the same time, shades can have a variety of appearances and suit the tastes of different people.
Real yellow gold has a practical color that characterizes wealth and royalty, which is why it has been worn since Tsarist times. But, it is important to remember that yellow gold, which does not contain any impurity in its composition, is not at all practical.
You may be interested in: What is red gold? Overview and characteristics
It is not comfortable to wear because it is soft and not comfortable to wear, so it is simply impossible to use it as an everyday decoration.
When metal jewelry is added to the alloy, it receives additional strength, but most importantly, an exquisite color that can be varied and worn every day, matching the color of the same dresses, if it is a festive event, or create other openwork jewelry from it that will add color and taste every day.
Gold and copper
Red gold has several shades and is created by adding copper to the ligature. This metal has a distinctive color and helps create jewelry that ranges from pink to red.
Pink jewelry is created by combining several elements. In addition to Au, the following is added to the alloy:
- copper;
- silver;
- nickel and zinc.
Red gold can be worn by both mature women and girls under 18 years of age. But girls should give preference to pink-colored products. The more copper in the alloy, the richer the color. If red gold contains silver and copper, then it is possible to obtain a color that suits young people.
Zinc, nickel and other non-precious metals are used as impurities. They help make jewelry more durable.
Copper not only makes jewelry red, but also gives it some properties:
- Products are afraid of humidity.
- They quickly become covered with plaque.
- Oxidizes upon contact with reagents.
Water is one of the enemies of red gold jewelry. For this reason, products should be protected from humidity and temperature changes, stored in a case and removed before going to the shower.
If jewelry is worn daily, it can become dull and tarnished. You can clean your jewelry in a workshop or do it yourself using available products.
Reagents harm jewelry; they can cause stains, so-called oxides, to appear on the surface of the product.
Today, red gold is all the rage. Jewelry of this shade is in demand among women and men of varying incomes, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, jewelry is inexpensive. Secondly, they are unpretentious during operation. Rings and earrings are combined with stones, and their designs can surprise even a sophisticated beauty connoisseur.
But people associate a pink tint with low cost products - this is not entirely true. Red gold comes in various grades; the amount of Au in products can vary from 38% to 75%. But a rich shade can be obtained only if the copper content in the alloy is at least 40%.
In Europe, red jewelry is made mainly from ligature, which is not of high quality, but pink color is a sign of more expensive jewelry.
How does yellow gold differ from an alloy of Au and copper:
- ligature;
- characteristics;
- color.
An alloy with a traditional shade may also contain copper, but its content is lower than in a red or pink alloy.
