What does 56 standard gold mean?

Modern gold jewelry is always indicated by samples that we understand, consisting of three numbers, but sometimes there are antique jewelry on which there is a test of 56. How to evaluate the quality of gold and understand the authenticity of jewelry in this case - this is described in the article.

To understand the meaning of 56 samples of gold, you need to look into the history of tsarist Russia. According to historical facts, changes appeared in the jewelry system of Russia thanks to the monetary reform carried out by Peter I in 1700. Prior to that, no stigma was placed on gold jewelry. Only after the publication of the Decree on Branding and the formation of a special organization for monitoring the quality of items made of precious metals (Silver Series) began to put markings on gold items. Sample marking consisted of two numbers, which was a measure of the content of parts of pure gold in a particular alloy.

In addition to the digital designation of the sample, the product was necessarily put on: stamp with the image of a two-headed eagle and the year of manufacture. A little later, the so-called names appeared - personal brands.

Marking gold jewelry with the numbers "56" corresponds to the current 585 gold standard. In tsarist Russia, a spool measure was adopted, where one pound of pure gold contained 96 spool valves. It means that 56 samples contained 56 parts of gold and 40 parts of impurities (mainly nickel, brass, copper, silver and palladium). The transition to the metric system in 1927 led to the appearance of the familiar three-digit number in the marking of precious metals.

The 56 assay value jewelry currently represents both historical and material value. In most cases, rings, rings, earrings, chains, crosses, pendants and brooches were made from gold of this test.

Precious metals, both in the past and in the present, are a good investment. Of course, if the jewelry does not look the best or belongs to the products common for that time (earrings without precious stones, a chain, a cross), then they will buy it out not too expensive, perhaps only at the price of jewelry scrap.

Decoration of such a sample very high considering its historical value, because very often jewelry of those centuries was supplemented with precious stones or they were created by famous master jewelers, for example, the firm "Gottlieb and Jan", Pavel Ovchinnikov or the Grachev brothers. 56-karat gold jewelry was distinguished by increased durability, therefore, many beautiful and unique items of high artistic value, made of this alloy, have survived.

The main advantages of 56-carat gold are the following characteristics.

• Wear resistance. Differences in the percentage of impurities affect the amount of wear of products, and since gold itself is a soft metal, such an alloy marking is more resistant to mechanical stress.
• Alloy hardness. This characteristic also depends on the quality of the alloy.
• Extended service life.
• Due to the difference in the ratios of additional elements in the ligature differences in the color of the alloy appear... The most beautiful shades of green, yellow, pink and red can be found in the products of that time.
• Plastic. This parameter allowed jewelers to create truly priceless masterpieces of jewelry art, which today are museum pieces.

The disadvantages include possible allergic reactions due to the high nickel content in the alloy, and complexity of repair in case of damage to the jewelry.

For a successful purchase of jewelry, you need to show care and discretion.

1. Features of the mark... The fact is that the brand was convex until 1897, and after 1897 they began to make it depressed - the way we see it on modern jewelry. Exclusive unique jewelry of this sample can currently only be purchased from antique dealers, private collectors or pawnshops.
2. On the brand, in addition to numbers, there may be letter abbreviation. Additional impressions are possible, for example, the initials of the master, the year of manufacture, the coat of arms of the city in which the jewelry was made. The stamp was placed depending on the size of the decoration - on the overall product the print was placed larger than on the small one.
3. Pay attention to grinding quality, lack of mechanical damage.
4. If there are doubts about the sample of gold, then it is recommended to contact any jewelry workshop to an expert jeweler.

Over time, jewelry loses its luster, becomes coated and darkens. To prevent these problems, jewelry is periodically cleaned using various products. The best option would be a special jewelry paste, but the owners often use home remedies (soap solution, ammonia, peroxide, and others).

Here are some tips for removing contamination.

With a slight contamination of the metal, it is enough to polish the jewelry microfiber cloth, flannel cloth or suede... Polishing is carried out with gentle strokes in one direction.

Additionally, you can use polish, which will help the following products.

• Hygienic lipstick... It must be applied to the product and then polished.
• Table vinegar... For this method, use 9% table vinegar, which must be applied to the fabric. The decoration is carefully rubbed with an impregnated cloth, left for 10-15 minutes, and then thoroughly washed and dried.
• Onion juice... The onion is cut, the decoration is rubbed with the cut side. After 30 minutes, you can rinse the product and dry it.

To clean old dirt and plaque, use soaking in various solutionsthat contain soap, ammonia, salt, sugar, or baking soda.

With a strong degree of contamination of a gold product, as well as if there are precious stones in the decoration, experts advise contact a jeweler for cleaning.

If a 56-carat product has darkened, then it is most likely a fake... Darkening signals the low quality of the alloy and the presence of impurities, which should not be in a high-quality product of such a test.

56-carat gold jewelry can become a family heirloom or a good investment in the future for their owners. The main thing to remember is that Such jewelry in good condition becomes more valuable over the years, so do not forget to take care of the metal further.

The video below shows a 56-carat gold jewelry.