All about silver samples

The popularity of silverware in society is due to its visual and technical characteristics. Silver, like other precious metals, contains samples. They may differ on products manufactured in the Russian Federation and in other countries. Samples vary depending on the alloy composition and the intended use of the product.

To regulate the amount of impurities and consumer confidence in the quality of the goods, so-called samples appeared. They determine the ratio of silver to impurities in the alloy. On silver items, the test is stamped in the form of a stamp. Its location may vary. Small mark is easy to find on things. If you cannot find it, there is a possibility that the sample was lost or was not there initially.

The easiest way to determine the authenticity of a silver piece is to contact a specialist in a jewelry store or pawnshop. You can also contact state inspection of assay supervision, where they will conduct a qualified assay analysis. Based on the results of the request, an assessment of the quality of the silver product will be made.

If you want to clarify the authenticity of the silver product, you can on one's own. This does not require any special devices. Although it is unrealistic to define an exact sample like that.

Silver is a metal with high thermal conductivity. This means that if you immerse a thing in boiling water and immediately remove it, the silver will heat up to the temperature of water.

Another test method is iodine. It is enough to drop on the product and see the reaction of the metal. A dark spot should remain on real silver.In addition, contact with chalk leaves darkening on high-quality metal. A fake can also show itself over time. A high-quality product will not oxidize, plaque and corrosion will not appear on it. With all these manifestations, it becomes clear that many third-party additives are mixed into the product.

Conventionally, all silver items are divided into groups according to the quality level. Silver without impurities is too flexible and it is not technically possible to make dishes out of it or use it for jewelry. To keep the product in shape, ligatures are added to the precious metal... Various elements are used as impurities. For this reason, in order to define "purity" and the immediate content of the metal (in this case, silver), the term "sample" has been adopted.

Simply put, by the sample, they will find out in what volume the pure metal is contained in a certain alloy. For example, in a sample of 800, there are 800 g of silver and 200 g of other inclusions per 1 kg of material. Traditionally, copper is used as an impurity, but the more such metal in the alloy, the sooner the silver product will darken or turn yellow.

There are nickel impurities - nickel content up to 1% improves the alloy's mechanical properties. Lead, iron, antimony and bismuth are contained in precious jewelry in microscopic proportions. The presence of zinc and cadmium is also allowed - these compounds are used in the manufacture of silver solders.

Silver samples are ranked based on the percentage of pure substance in the alloy - from 600 to 999. Pure silver has a soft silvery shade, does not darken for a long time, is easy to clean, but there are conditions that affect the type of metal. It depends on the sample or on the volume of impurities included in the alloy.

Buyers are often worried about the question - what is the fineness of silver? The assaying of Russian silver items is carried out in accordance with accepted international standards. Often, copper is added to the alloy, which interacts well with silver. Subject to the addition of cadmium, the manufactured item rises significantly in price. Nickel, zinc and aluminum can also be mixed with silver, but copper in an alloy is a classic.

How do you determine the quality of silver? For example, jewelry under marking 600 there is a noticeable red tint - from the high copper content. Such things are threatened with early oxidation (silver does not oxidize by itself, and copper is typical).

Alloys 800, 830 used to create souvenirs and cutlery. The most suitable for jewelry are 875 and 925 (less often 960). The 925th test indicates that there are 75 g of impurity per 1 kilogram of pure silver.

Quality samples contain at least 916 g of silver per 1 kg of alloy... As a standard, sets are made from it, decorated with gilding or covered with enamel. 960th test often found on silver rings, earrings, pendants or chains. The properties of this alloy are practically not inferior to pure precious metal. The significant silver content makes things soft and plastic. Jewelry turns out to be sophisticated and effective, but it needs careful handling and good care.

Sample 750 indicates poor quality silver, which is not considered a precious metal and is not even always marked. Things made of this alloy quickly oxidize and turn black, acquire a characteristic shade of yellowness. The alloy is used in the field of electronics in the manufacture of boards and other parts.

There are samples 985 and even 625. The first of these belongs to the precious group, but is not often used. The second is considered to be of low grade and is extremely rare.

A lot of alloys are being created today, some manufacturers use their own samples, for example, TM Sunlight products often come with a marking Sl 926. Also, silver is divided into types, the most famous of which are presented below.

Rhodium plated silver is not an alloy... Rhodium plating is usually called the technique of electroplating (electrolytic) coating. The surface of the product is covered with a thin (about 0.25 microns) layer of a rare strong metal rhodium. Rhodium plating is most often used for high-quality items. Such decorations acquire obvious advantages:

• shining brilliance - brighter than that of pure silver;
• resistance to damage and deformation;
• resistance to corrosion and discoloration.

Sterling silver is the name given to the alloy of 925 sterling silver., which is sold in all stores and from which the vast majority of jewelry is made. The name of this type of silver has its roots in British history. Such silver in the XII century was used by the decree of King Henry II for stamping standard sterling.

Rhodium-plated, blackened silver is a type of coated metal. Blackening refers to the coating of silver with an oxide film to simulate oxidation. The technique originated in Russia in the 17th century, thanks to which there were household items decorated with miniature patterns.

In modern times, with the help of such silver, antique jewelry is stylized. There are three types of blackening, differing in technology: chemical, galvanic and mechanical.

Filigree or filigree is the name of a thin wire pattern and grains over the product. It can be background, when a sheet of metal is part of the product, or openwork, if the original sheet is removed, leaving an elegant silver lace. Filigree can be found in any museums where expositions of the noble life are presented: silver spoons, cup holders, tableware stands. This graceful technique is characteristic of the times of tsarist Russia, and is valued abroad for its original Russian flavor.

Matting is achieved by creating microscopic roughness on the silver surface... The process is carried out using a sandblasting machine. A rough surface cannot be polished; it rarely serves to frame stones. For gems, a glossy shine of silver is more suitable.

Matte silver looks spectacular next to a shiny "classic" - in products like a double ring or a chain with alternating links. The matting technique is used to create geometric and floral ornaments.

Like gold leaf used to cover objects with a continuous layer... Thin sheets of silver leaf are used for decoration in the interiors of temples and palaces. This metal has the highest standard. It is not suitable for covering domes, as it does not differ in resistance to external influences, unlike gold, for example. Such metal needs additional coating.

A metal dispersion in the form of a suspension of nano- and microparticles is used in the field of cosmetology and in alternative medicine procedures... So far, there is no confirmed evidence of the effectiveness of dispersed silver, the results of experiments conducted with it are controversial. Colloidal silver is sold in solution as a dietary supplement (dietary supplement).

Until 1927, the metric system was used in Russia. In the USSR, according to the standard, silverware had Marking of the 875th sample (84 - according to the spool system). It is still used today, along with 925, which was popular in Europe until the 20th century. Any coverage listed is now available. You can contact a jeweler if you wish to treat your favorite silver spoon with rhodium to strengthen it or if it has tarnished.

The phrase "technical silver" is ambiguous. Radio engineering scrap and metal used in electronics (for contacts), electrics (in wires), photographic equipment (for X-rays) are called technical ones. it inert high-grade silver, not refractory and flexible, with good electrical and thermal conductivity.

All ligature inclusions in silver alloys have a different percentage. Someone considers 5-12% of additions to be sufficient, while other jewelers add up to 50% of ligatures to the precious metal. Jewelers in Russia work with silver starting from the 720th test. The 800 alloy is used to make containers for spices, drinks, oils, cutlery and other items for the kitchen. Such products require good regular maintenance. Silver 875 is classified as low-grade.

It should be said separately about royal silver with a mark of 84-th test. Nowadays it is practically not found, except in family sets, museum exhibitions, antique shops and flea markets. 84 silver was used in pre-revolutionary Russia. Then they used the measuring system in spools.

There are various samples of silver. In developing countries it is allowed to use 600th. The minimum acceptable is considered 800th sample. The rest of the world has a much richer assortment: in Europe in use 800th, 916th and 925th. But there are also special samples, for example, in Egypt it is the 600th, and in China silver is revered with practically no additives.

In the Far Eastern countries and Japan, there are silver items with a hallmark of the highest standard - 1000. Locals attribute mystical power to metal, believing that it has a connection with the moon. In addition to the samples described above, there are others in the world, but it is the listed options that are most popular among jewelers.

Alloys are also distinguished by systems that differ in different countries: in the USA and Canada - carat, in the old days - spool (for example, 960 silver is defined as 92sf). There are also other types of alloys:

• 750 - silver with a high copper content, which tends to darken very quickly;
• 720 and below - refers to non-precious silver, with a yellowish tint, used in industry due to the high conductivity of electric current.

There are also such rare types of silver samples:

• 325 - Tibetan silver, previously related to high-quality alloys, was used to make jewelry, nowadays there may be no precious metals in the composition at all, fakes are often made from the alloy;
• 500 - an alloy containing a low proportion of silver, previously minted from it;
• 525, 585, 625 - silver with added gold, gilded silver;
• 825 - non-existent test, which is often put on products by fraudsters;
• 835, 800 and 900 - silver alloys, which are in use in Germany;
• 916 - a popular sample of Soviet times with a barrel stamp; the alloy was used for dishes and ritual products.

The highest purity that is found on the market is 960, with a small amount of copper. The most expensive alloy - 999... There are no foreign inclusions in it. Soft material is subject to deformation, for this reason it is used only for soldering in devices. It is sold in ingots.

The rest of the samples are evaluated as the ligature volume grows. The lower the number of markings, the less value the item has. Certain circumstances need to be considered when it comes to antiques. It is not the sample itself that matters, but the originality of the product itself and the age to which it belongs. The earlier a thing was made, the more it is valued.

The best sample of silver for jewelry is 925. Jewelry made from this alloy is whiter than others and more shiny. The color of lower quality metal is somewhat dull. High purity is not useful in all cases. Jewelers make locks for chains and bracelets made of metal with a breakdown lower than the bracelet itself (720 or 750). This technique extends the life of the jewelry.

It is important to have an idea of ​​what the 925th test looks like on silver, as well as other hallmarks, where to look for a test on a product and how to determine its authenticity. The presence of a mark about impurities will make it possible to understand where the item was made geographically, the name of the jeweler or the name of the enterprise, as well as what kind of fineness the silver item is marked with.

The price of a gram of silver of 925-th test in Russia today is 45-120 rubles. The cost depends on the weight of the product, the manufacturer, the labeling, the course for evaluating silver on international exchanges, and the retail margin. It is best to focus on the average cost in pawnshops.

In some countries, silver is stamped with an indication of the alloy sample, but with some additions... In England, until 1300, the head of a British lion was depicted on the hallmarks, and later each city had its own mark. In Russia, mark 84 was mandatory on the hallmark, corresponding to the 875th sample. In Germany, before the introduction of the metric system, the product of such a sample had an imprint "14".

In some cases, speech can go about the mark of the master with an individual image or initials of the jeweler who made the item... The presence of the mark indicates the authenticity of the product. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for false samples to be found on dishes and decorations. Only a professional can distinguish a fake thing from a precious one.

Once upon a time in antiquity, English coins - sterling - were made from silver of 925-th test. There is a legend that sterling silver appeared in Saxony, in the region of Österling. Hence it took its name. Coins were produced from sterling alloy to pay for goods with English merchants. And only after that the pound sterling appeared in everyday life in Britain. The ancient alloy was considered to be of very high quality; it is still highly appreciated and used for the manufacture of jewelry and decor items.

Various silver-based alloys have been popular at different times. Each of them had a special look and its own area of ​​application:

• blackened silver - was used in Russia to create elegant black patterns on products;
• oxidized silver - an alloy of silver and sulfur, prone to darkening, this is an analogue of blackening, maybe with a purple undertone;
• matt silver - silver coating, resistant to the oxidation process, was used during the heyday of the Russian Empire;
• gold plated silver - the deposition of a thin layer of gold, popular in France in the 19th century.

The following video will tell you even more interesting things about silver samples.