Features of Turkish gold and the rules for its selection

Turkish gold jewelry looks bright and attractive. Moreover, their cost is lower than that of analogues. It is interesting that this is the name given to gold bought in the Turkish bazaar, and not in a jewelry store. The metal has samples with peculiar decryptions. It is important to understand what kind of metals are included in the alloy, and how this gold differs from domestic gold.

Turkish gold with a bright yellow color immediately catches the eye. The easiest way to understand about quality is by trial. It is the brand that indicates the amount of noble metal in the alloy composition. Turkish gold corresponds to the familiar 585th standard. It looks attractive and is optimal in terms of price and quality ratio.

It is customary to see the stamp in the form of three numbers, but in Turkey the sample looks different. The quality of gold is indicated in carats. Matching examples:

• 24 carats - 999th fine;
• 18 carats - 750th fineness;
• 14 carats - 586th fineness;
• 9 carats - 375th fineness.

Interesting that when making a purchase in the bazaar, you can be deceived, and it is easy... For example, a piece with a fineness of 24 carats shows a red tint of the alloy. And this already testifies to the high content of copper. If such gold is taken to an appraiser, then he will quickly establish that the metal does not correspond to the 999th standard.

Turkish gold is yellow, red, white, pink and, in general, almost any color. It all depends on the presence of additional metals in the alloy. So, common options:

1. gold with silver - "electron";
2. aluminum with copper - "goldin";
3. a mixture of iron, chromium and nickel - "belgica";
4. platinum with many impurities - "platinor".

It is these alloys that can be sold as "Turkish gold". And also silver with gilding can flicker on the counters of the bazaars. This is not to say that Turkish gold is counterfeit. It happens that not even every jeweler can distinguish such a product from a high-quality one.

Additionally, it should be noted that Turkey simply does not have its own gold. The country buys it from abroad.

Turkish gold still attracts buyers. All these ingredients in alloys determine both the pros and cons of the metal at the same time.

Perhaps we should start with the benefits. The metal is really affordable. You can buy gifts not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones without a significant blow to the budget. True, a lot depends on the quality, because good gold has a higher price.

What cannot be taken away from Turkish products is their unusual design. Wonderful shapes and patterns look original and interesting. This can only be found in India. Jewelers from other countries make more laconic jewelry.

Low quality Turkish gold has some drawbacks. The main cons:

• jewelry can cause allergic reactions, dermatitis;
• during operation, the products oxidize, lose their original gloss and color;
• in fact, the product may not be a combination of gold, silver and copper.

If the product gives too red, then there is a lot of copper. It will oxidize rather quickly due to contact with water and air. For a long time, you simply won't be able to enjoy the beauty of the product. Over time, the decoration will turn gray and stains will appear on it.

Nickel and iron in the alloy often cause allergic reactions. Rash and itching may appear. For some people, the skin under the jewelry begins to darken. Usually this phenomenon disappears some time after removing the product.

It should be understood that Turkish jewelers often combine materials in one piece. Chains and bracelets can have sections of cheaper silver or copper. Visually, the substitution is hidden by gilding. In this case, the decoration deteriorates in patches.

Many people go to Turkey hoping to buy quality jewelry at a lower price. The desire is quite understandable. One has only to figure out what the low price is actually connected with. And for a start it is worth clarifying the concepts.

In the Russian Federation, the fineness of gold varies between 0-1000. So, metal marked 999 is used in chemistry. It is too flexible for other areas. Alloy with fineness 585 has 58.5% gold, the rest is additives. They are needed to improve the strength of the finished product.

The cost directly depends on the sample - the higher it is, the more expensive the product. Silver, copper, nickel and palladium are used as additives. The color, quality, tendency to oxidation and other properties of the finished product depend on the proportion of a particular material. Everything here is extremely simple and understandable.

In Russia, you can buy gold items that are made in accordance with GOST. This gives you confidence in quality. Gold has a balanced composition, all additives are added in a certain amount. Decorations can be used for long years without loss of quality.

In Turkey, as already mentioned, there is no natural resource of its own, it is simply not mined there. Turkish gold is usually imported. All raw materials are purchased from other countries, such as Germany and the USA. Products made of yellow precious metal are sold in Turkey. The amount of additional ingredients is not fully known. But it is on this indicator that the quality and durability of products depend.

Now comes the fun part. Turkish gold is cheaper than Russian gold precisely because of the additional metals in the alloy. Moreover, it is not always possible to visually distinguish a high-quality product from a low-quality one.

For example, high-quality white gold contains palladium. Turkish jewelers add nickel to the alloy. Outwardly, everything looks beautiful, there is nothing to complain about. However, nickel can cause serious allergic reactions. Most of the world's jewelers do not work with this metal due to the high risks. Alloys of other colors are also being created in Turkey.

Turkish gold is used in jewelry making. Experts create jewelry with interesting designs. Many unusual models are made in a modern style. The works of world-renowned jewelers are used as examples.

Most of the decorations are rich and colorful. Greek and Byzantine motifs combined with precious and semi-precious stones are mesmerizing. In fairness, it should be noted that low-quality Turkish gold is used to make jewelry.

The Turkish market lures visitors with attractive and colorful decorations. Finding really high-quality products among all the variety is difficult, but possible. It is worth buying a thing only after a thorough inspection.

1. It is necessary to check the uniformity of the color. Check for physical damage.
2. Look especially closely at the chain or bracelet. All links must be well attached. If seams are visible, then the product is of poor quality.
3. Better to shop at a store. A large jewelry store is not a complete guarantee of quality, however, the risk is significantly reduced.
4. An easy way to check quality is by sound. You should throw the jewelry on any plane and listen to the sound of the fall. Gold will strike loudly.
5. A massive and large piece of jewelry simply cannot be easy. Otherwise, it is a low quality alloy with cheap components.

So, the decoration should be examined, find a marking with the indication of carats. A magnifying glass will greatly simplify the procedure, so it is worth taking it with you. The stigma can also stand on a fake, but this is only the first check. You can try jewelry "on the tooth". There will be a trace on high quality gold, however, on soft nickel too.

An interesting test is carried out with uncoated ceramics. It is enough to hold the product over it with light pressure. If there is a yellow stripe, the decoration is good. A fake will leave a black mark.

A magnetic check can be done. True, it will not work if a magnetically passive component is used. The test requires a heavy and powerful magnet. Gold never magnetizes.

Such a check in the store will not work, but it is effective. You need to take a metal container without stains, place the decoration inside and drip nitric acid from a pipette. If the color of the item has changed to green, then it is not gold at all in the vessel. This only happens with an admixture.

The vinegar check takes just a couple of minutes. The liquid is poured into a bowl, the product is placed there. Real gold will not change color. A cheap alloy will darken after 120 seconds.

Iodine allows Turkish gold to be tested for authenticity. One drop must be applied to the inner surface. The precious metal will not change, and the fake one will become dark. It is worth noting that the color of a fake can be either gray or black.

Determining gilding is usually very easy. First you need to look at all the ends for scuffs. In any inconspicuous place, the decoration should be slightly scratched. The gilding will peel off, but the gold will remain unchanged. Often the sellers themselves prevent this check because they know about the fake.

If you drink water from a cup of copper, you can feel a metallic taste. There is no such thing from gold.Copper also reacts quite actively with oxygen. The oxidation sites become dark. This way you can easily distinguish precious metal from copper.

The video below will tell you where you can buy high-quality gold in Turkey.