Red gold: sample, composition and method of production
Gold is a soft metal, so when working with it, various impurities of other metals are certainly added to the alloy. They are the ones who give the final color.
Earrings with stones made of red gold
The precious metal can be white if palladium and platinum are present in the alloy, or it can be black if the method of melting with chromium and cobalt was used. It turns red when copper and zinc are added to the alloy composition.
This metal is represented on the Russian markets in 375, 583, 585, 750 samples.
It is obtained by smelting alloying elements using ore. The higher the copper content, the stronger the red color. Typically this alloy contains 75% gold and 25% copper, but zinc is often added to it to achieve greater variation in shades.
Yellow gold
The composition and ratio of additional materials in the alloy determines the color. Yellow gold alloy contains silver and copper as additives. If the jewelry is pale yellow, then the material is dominated by silver.
A bright sunny color is characteristic of material with a higher copper content. If its presence is less than 5%, then the alloy acquires a slight greenish tint.
Unlike red, the noble sunny color is more familiar. This composition is often used to make wedding rings. Jewelry is predominantly marked 750 and 585.
Which gold is better: red or yellow, depends on the practical and aesthetic side of the choice. Analyzing the parameters of jewelry will help determine what is best to choose as a design element.
Why is red gold called red gold?
Probably not many people have seen gold chervonets, but almost everyone has certainly heard about such coins. Chervonets were used in Tsarist Russia until the country was transformed into the USSR. The coin owes its name to the red tint of the alloy that copper produced. Its content in the composition was consistently more than 15%.
It is precisely because of the identical shades that the red precious metal is sometimes mistakenly called red. In fact, modern red gold is a metal of over 900 fineness.
Properties of red gold
The red precious metal is loved by jewelry brands such as Tiffany and Cartier for its respectable appearance and excellent melting characteristics. For the average person, such properties of metal as the ability to have a beneficial effect on the body play an important role.
It has been proven that wearing products containing copper helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and helps cope with various diseases.
The precious metal is notable for other properties, including:
Red gold chain
Increased wear resistance
Jewelry made from red gold is extremely durable, resistant to mechanical damage and able to retain any shape.
How to care for rose gold
Because rose gold is softer than regular metal, jewelry made from it should be worn and stored with more care and care. This softness of the material is due to copper, which is present in larger quantities. Everyone knows that copper is a very soft metal by nature.
Experts have identified several rules, following which you will keep rose gold jewelry in its original form for quite a long time:
- Avoid contact of jewelry with aggressive acids and mercury. Otherwise, the alloy will undergo corrosion, and this will happen instantly.
- Use a solution based on soap and water as a cleaning agent. You should clean your jewelry with a soft-bristled brush. This way the product will be protected from possible scratches.
- Avoid physical activity with rose gold jewelry or falls. Absolutely any pressure can put noticeable dents on gold jewelry, which will instantly ruin its appearance.
- Never boil rose gold jewelry.
Not so long ago, this metal was classified as low-grade and defective materials, and making jewelry from it was considered impermissible. However, over time, the world's jewelry manufacturers gave rose gold a chance, and it yielded results. Today this material is in demand in jewelry production, both separately and in combination with other types of gold. By the way, experts named yellow and white as the most suitable colors.
Widespread use of red gold
Red alloys are in great demand in the world. They have found application in the following areas:
Contact coating in electronics
Gold does not oxidize in air, so it is sometimes used for light coating of electrical contacts. It can also be used on various components, such as CPU pins or cell phone button membrane wires.
The red precious metal is used to protect conductors from corrosion, but mainly in the military industry.
Nickel is often used as a cheap substitute for gold.
Gold plating of board contacts
Jewelry industry
The largest area of application of the red alloy is, of course, jewelry. Jewelry designers call all products that contain shades of this color red gold.
This metal is used for gilding various elements and making individual jewelry. In store windows you can see various earrings, chains, bracelets, rings, brooches, and other products made from this alloy.
Red gold is suitable for both everyday life and special occasions. It looks great with white and tanned skin.
Red gold wedding rings
Which gold is better and more expensive: red or yellow? Reasons for the popularity of red gold in Russia
The popularity of the red metal in Russia can be explained from a historical point of view. During the Soviet Union, it was possible to purchase only 583 samples, which were distinguished by a characteristic red tint.
Now the demand for the precious metal is explained by its attractive appearance and reasonable cost.
The cost of the product will be influenced by the sample, the presence of impurities, the originality of the jewelry and the presence of precious stones, but not the color itself. Yellow metal is more universally suitable for clothing items, but this is a matter of personal taste.
Features of rose gold
Rose gold jewelry has some advantages:
- Versatility. Jewelry in this color will perfectly complement the look of girls with any skin color. In addition, the pink color is an unusual combination with a variety of stones, suitable for any celebration and clothing style. You should not assume that wearing rose gold jewelry to the office is bad manners, but here it is important to observe the limits of what is acceptable.
- There are no age restrictions for girls and women who choose pink gold for jewelry. Metal in this color makes absolutely any look more romantic and feminine. In addition, age does not matter here - the delicate shades of jewelry will decorate both a young girl and an older lady.
- Reasonable price. It cannot be said that jewelry made from rose gold is more affordable than jewelry made from yellow metal.
- High rates of plasticity. Thanks to the high plasticity of the material, it is possible to create jewelry of incredible beauty and any shape - it depends only on the imagination of the artist. Nowadays, rose gold is used to create various rings and pendants.
Compatibility with stones
Red metal goes well with almost all precious stones. If the product is richly decorated with them, the alloy “smoothes out” the quantity, the stones do not look pretentious.
Gold earrings with stones
Red alloy combines especially amazingly with garnet, ruby, pearl and emerald.
Pink shades look great with diamonds.
Important! It is better to combine stones of cool colors with light alloys; warm shades of stones will look more advantageous in red gold.
Pros and cons of red gold
Any precious metal has both positive and negative sides.
The clear advantages include:
Durability. Copper in the composition protects the product from external factors. “Red” jewelry often proves to be more durable than white or yellow ones.
Availability. Copper is a fairly cheap impurity, which helps reduce the price of such a metal. This means that such jewelry is available to a wider segment of the population.
Tone. The red tone is perfect for any skin tone.
Fashion. Famous jewelry houses regularly use this alloy to create new collections.
The disadvantages include:
Lack of versatility. The alloy is not compatible with all clothing items
Possible allergic reactions to copper.
How does gold turn pink?
To get pink gold, you need to add copper and silver in appropriate proportions to ordinary gold. Depending on this, three samples of precious metal are distinguished:
- for the 750th sample, the percentage proportion is used: gold (75) × copper (15) × silver (10);
- for the 585th sample, the percentage proportion is used: gold (58.5) × copper (32.5) × silver (9);
- for the 375 standard, the proportion in percentage is used: gold (37.5) × copper (37.5) × silver (25).
Proportions greatly influenced the color of the metal, so by mixing substances in different combinations, shades that differ from each other are obtained.
It is worth noting that in the old days such gold belonged to the category of low-quality precious metals. However, over time, fashion has changed, and now rose gold has gained considerable popularity among consumers who are tired of the classic yellow gold.
Where is the best place to buy red gold? Recommendations for selection
It is better to purchase any jewelry in specialized official boutiques. It makes sense to go to a pawnshop if you want to save money. But you definitely shouldn’t buy jewelry second-hand.
As for recommendations for choice, it is worth noting that gold suits everyone, and the red precious metal is an ageless classic. The final choice will largely depend on the style and taste of a particular person.
Women over 40 years old are recommended to purchase massive jewelry. With their help, you can emphasize the line of the shoulders and neck, create the desired accent, and attract attention. Products of small sizes do not look so impressive on older women. They can create the impression of an unfinished image.
Tips for caring and wearing red gold jewelry
Products made from red alloy do not require careful handling from the owner, but require regular care, like any jewelry product.
Due to the high copper content, jewelry may begin to darken. This can easily be avoided by periodically cleaning the products. It is better to store jewelry away from sunlight.
Red metal must be protected from contact with household chemicals, chlorine, and alkali. Before cleaning and washing dishes, jewelry must be removed or rubber gloves used.
It is also necessary to avoid playing sports in such products to avoid their deformation. The red alloy is quite strong, but it should not be subjected to such tests.
Red gold jewelry
Which gold is better?
Jewelry made from this metal is always valued for the amount of gold it contains. Therefore, the higher the cost of the product, the higher the natural alloy content in it and, accordingly, the higher the standard. Red gold is distinguished by its attractiveness and popularity, but not the best quality. As for the pricing policy for these jewelry, it is low and affordable to everyone.
Yellow gold is more expensive , that is, the price corresponds to the quality. It contains a smaller amount of alloys and at the moment you can hardly find products made from it of low quality. But it does not have a variety of decorations, which does not suit every buyer. In one word, it is difficult to say which gold is better. When choosing, you must take into account not only your preferences, but also the purpose of the jewelry, because this will determine how long it will serve you.
TOP 5 ways to clean gold at home
The best solution would be to regularly visit a jewelry workshop, where specialists will clean and polish the jewelry to a radiant shine.
At home, you can care for your products in the following ways:
- Clean your jewelry periodically with soapy water. Use brushes with soft bristles, then wipe dry with a towel.
- Mix a teaspoon of liquid soap with two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. The resulting solution must be boiled, then the product must be placed there for 20 minutes. Wipe dry.
- Grind the chalk and mix with ammonia. You should get a thick mass. Use the resulting mass together with a soft brush. After cleaning, the product should be rinsed with water.
- If the jewelry is inlaid with stones, it can be carefully cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
- Dissolve 3 tablespoons of sugar in 200 ml of water, place the product in a container for half a day. Afterwards, rinse with running water.
Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage
To store gold, you must choose a dry, dark place. You should not put all items together; it is better to use individual cases or covers for this.
The noble metal itself is slightly susceptible to oxidation. To restore its presentable appearance, it is necessary to clean the product from contamination. It is not recommended to use mechanical cleaning methods.
It will be enough to treat it with special products, which are offered in an assortment by jewelry and hardware stores. For care, you can use available products: soak the jewelry for several hours in aqueous solutions of ammonia or detergent, rinse under running water and polish with a lint-free cloth.
Here's another way:
From time to time it is advisable to seek the help of professionals. The jeweler will not only return things to their original shine, but will also check for defects.
Red-red gold: reviews
I really love red gold jewelry, especially rings. The love for them began with our engagement - my husband and I had pale red wedding rings. The alloy has excellent quality, does not bend, does not break! I also didn’t notice any darkening of the metal, although I can’t say that I regularly take care of all my products.
Anastasia R. g, Samara
Milena R., Stavropol
I ordered earrings online, initially I wanted them in silver. There is such a choice on the sites that it’s dizzying. I invited my mother to choose with me; I couldn’t cope with this variety alone. We came across stunning red gold earrings at a great price and couldn’t think about silver anymore. We ordered them. The perfect match for the prom dress.
My wife asked me to buy her a red gold ring for her birthday. I am very far from the whole jewelry topic; I have never even heard of this. For me it was something like from a fairy tale - red gold like a red sun. But there’s nothing to do, I went to the store, where they clearly explained to me the difference and difference between this metal and the yellow one. My wife wears the new ring without taking it off. Now I know exactly what red gold is.
Vasily Petrov, Moscow
Making the right choice
These types of precious metal are in demand everywhere, but most of all in jewelry. To choose the right gold, you need to clearly define your goal.
- Everyday wearing of the product. For these purposes, it is recommended to buy red gold.
- Luxury and wealth. If you want to look more luxurious, then it is better to give preference to yellow gold jewelry that will serve the purpose.
- We think about the future. If you choose products made of yellow gold, then if damaged, repairs will result in considerable costs.
- We combine correctly. When buying watches or other jewelry that contains a combination of metals, it is better to give preference to products with red gold, as it looks more impressive and goes well with precious stones.
- Form. Buyers who prefer massive jewelry or items with intricate textures are recommended to purchase red gold, which lends itself well to figurative processing.
- Minimalism. This style is more suitable for high-quality and less strong yellow gold.
From all of the above, we can make an unambiguous conclusion that red and yellow gold differ from each other, but not in many ways. Each type of this precious metal fully corresponds to its price and quality. When choosing, you should always take into account not only the distinctive characteristics, but also goals and preferences.
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