What is 375 gold and how much does it cost: pros and cons, does it darken over time + quality reviews

Almost every one of us wears jewelry. The cost of the product also plays a decisive role in the choice of metal, inserts and design. Today we’ll figure it out: 375 gold – what it is and why customer reviews are often full of unflattering comments, although it is the most inexpensive alloy. Is a cheap precious metal really that bad or can it quite successfully replace more expensive “trinkets”? Let's figure it out together.

What kind of test is this?

The markings indicated on jewelry indicate the gold content of the composition. The mark “375” suggests that this alloy contains 37.5% noble metal. This is one of the lowest indicators. The rest of the alloy consists of silver, palladium or copper.

Composition and properties

The properties and characteristics of the product are affected by the impurities it contains. For 375 sample, 3 main options for the composition of the ligature are popular:

• 52.5% copper and 10% silver create a red tint;
• 46.5% copper and 16% silver give a dark yellow tint;
• an equal ratio of silver and copper (31% each) guarantees a yellow-pink color;
• in alloys in which silver predominates (up to 65% of the total mass), the color is white.

Strength

The strength of alloy 375 is its advantage. The product is weakly susceptible to destruction due to mechanical load. Due to this, gold is often used to make everyday items (engagement rings).

Among the variations of alloys, the most durable is the one with the highest palladium or silver content.

Alloy shades

As mentioned above, 375 sample can have different shades from dark yellow and pink to rich red. The color and its saturation depend entirely on the amount of impurities contained in the ligature.

Brand

Each piece of jewelry of appropriate quality must have a manufacturer’s mark indicating the sample number, the State Inspectorate code and an image of a woman’s head in a kokoshnik. Designations can be located separately along the perimeter of the decoration. Sometimes they are combined under a single frame.

Alloy Application

Several decades ago, 375 alloy was used everywhere in the manufacture of gold jewelry. Due to the high ductility and strength of the material, even men's and women's wristwatches were made from it. Over time, the popularity of 375 sample fell, giving way to a higher quality alloy - 585.

Today, sample 375 is again coming into use in Russia. It is used primarily for making wedding rings, earrings, bracelets, chains and pendants.

Products are often complemented with semi-precious stones. With proper care, they are visually virtually indistinguishable from jewelry with a higher gold content.

Metric system

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the USSR switched to the metric system, which is more common in the world and easier to understand. Because of the transition, it was ordered that each gold item be graded according to the metric system.

The process of creating a precious alloy itself involves some possible errors regarding the amount of material. To level out these errors, a remedium was installed.

It represents the limit of the maximum deviation from the norm of the quantitative composition of precious metals. For example, in gold-silver, gold-copper and gold-silver-copper alloys the remedium is set to 3 units. That is, if in a gold alloy of 583 purity the gold content should be in the range of 580 - 586 units (58.0% - 58.6%), then the deviation from the norm is 3 percent. Gold alloys containing platinum group metals, namely platinum, nickel, palladium, have a remedium of 5%.

Advantages and disadvantages

Purchasing gold jewelry marked 375 is usually based on the advantages of this alloy:

• high strength and therefore wear resistance;
• affordable cost compared to higher quality metals.

However, we should not forget about its shortcomings. First of all, this relates to the high susceptibility of the precious metal to an aggressive environment. Even air easily affects its appearance and properties. The negative impact can only be reduced through regular cleaning and careful care of the product.

How much does a gram of 375 gold cost?

Below is an online chart of the current price per gram.

The cost of a product with a gold content of 37.5% is influenced by several factors. However, the main thing is the percentage of impurities and their composition. Thus, jewelry that contains palladium along with pure precious metal is significantly more expensive than similar products based on copper or even silver.

When establishing the cost of an item made of 375 gold, the seller operates:

• the price of a gram of pure gold at the international rate;
• the price of the precious metal set by the Central Bank;
• manufacturer's and distributor's premium.

The approximate cost of a gram of 375 gold can be found using an approximate formula. To do this, you need to multiply the price of 1 gram of pure metal by a factor of 0.375. Today it is approximately:

If you take old jewelry with the “375” stamp to a pawnshop, its value drops even more. As a rule, such products are accepted at the price of scrap.

Exceptions include original jewelry in excellent condition. That is why, before visiting a pawnshop, it is recommended to clean the product from plaque if possible.

Carat sample system

The multiple hallmark system provides that 1 carat is equal to one twenty-fourth of the weight of the alloy, according to the British carat system. Russia switched to this system in 1927, after which the metric system was introduced. In addition, previously the country used the 583 gold standard, which was slightly inferior to the Western 14K, so it was decided to use the 585 standard.

How to convert carat to metric?

In order to independently navigate both sample systems, widespread throughout the world, you need to know how to convert the value of a metric sample into a carat sample and vice versa.

Sample correspondence table.

To do this, it is necessary to compare the carat value with the metric one, which can be done by simply dividing the first value by 0.024. Accordingly, to determine whether a metric sample corresponds to a carat sample, the metric value is multiplied by the same coefficient. For example, to find out how 385 gold is designated in the karat system, you will need to multiply 385 by 0.024.

Pure gold in the karat system has a 24 hallmark, in the metric system 96. The international alloy has a 900 metric hallmark and 21.6 carats. Jewelry alloy 958 in metric and carat is designated 23K.

Recommendations for care and cleaning

Any decoration needs proper care and periodic cleaning. 375 alloys are no exception. To ensure that jewelry made from them does not lose its physical properties and attractiveness, you must adhere to a few simple rules.

1. Any contact of gold with acids and alkalis is unacceptable. This rule applies to both pure substances and their derivatives: cleaning agents and detergents, nail polish removers, washing powders, solvents, etc.
2. Paintwork and abrasive materials also negatively affect the quality of jewelry.
3. It is recommended to remove 375 gold jewelry before taking water procedures.
4. Cardboard boxes are not suitable for storing gold, since their surface is treated with a special compound that necessarily contains sulfur. This, in turn, causes 375 gold to turn black.
5. It is necessary to periodically clean the jewelry from dirt deposits. Cleaning is carried out according to the same rules and tips that are developed for the 585 alloy.

Does gold darken?

One of the main complaints about 375 gold concerns its appearance. Beautiful and shiny when purchased, it can soon darken and even leave marks on the owner’s body. This process is influenced by the use of cosmetics, wearing conditions and, of course, the composition of the ligature.

Why do gold items turn my fingers black?

1. These are the characteristics of the impurities contained in the alloy.
2. Reaction of gold to components of decorative cosmetics, detergents and cleaning products, etc.
3. Increased sweating, which causes the skin to release nitrogen compounds. These react with the copper and cause black ring marks to appear.

Appearance of gold streaks

The presence of a large number of impurities in 375 gold makes products made from it susceptible to chemical reactions when exposed to an aggressive environment. Acids, alkalis, high humidity - these are just the main factors affecting the condition of the product, its appearance and the possibility of darkening.

When interacting with a harmful environment, gold begins to oxidize and leaves black marks when it comes into contact with the skin. As a rule, they take the form of stripes.

Modern World Sample Systems

With the advent of various types of alloys, a sampling system was introduced. Different systems and designations were used in different parts of the world, however, this was the first step towards systematization of precious metals.

The gold hallmark is imposed by a special institution and means a quantitative measure of the content of impurities in gold and guarantees the presence of a certain amount of yellow metal in the composition of the product.

A gold product always contains a mark in either metric or carat system.

In the modern world, there are two systems that are most widely used - carat and metric. The spool test is already archaic.

Tips for choosing gold jewelry

When purchasing gold items made from low-grade precious metals, you must use the same rules as when choosing more expensive alloys. The color of the product, its design and appearance are the key parameters of jewelry. And, of course, do not forget to check the presence of markings on the product, which will confirm the quality of the sample.

Reviews

Marina:

“Unknowingly, I bought a pendant and chain a couple of years ago. At first it looked normal, after a month the color became darker. And after 2-3 months, black stains appeared on the body. Now they are in the box.”

Sveta:

“Gold is not bad for its price. If you clean it and don’t get into water with it, the shine will last for a long time.”

Luda:

“My husband gave me an engagement ring, but I rarely wear it so as not to spoil it. Too much hassle with cleaning"

Where is it used?

375 gold is used to make various types of jewelry; the metal can act as a frame for semi-precious stones and minerals. The price per gram of precious metal with such markings is about 1 thousand rubles.

But if there is a need to take the jewelry to a pawnshop, you won’t be able to get much for it. Jewelry of 375 purity is valued as scrap gold, so it is unlikely that it will be possible to get a decent amount for them.

Products made from 375 standard precious metal:

• rings and earrings;
• pendants and chains;
• watch.

In the Soviet Union, metal with similar markings was mainly used to make watch cases. The material was not durable, but still had the status of precious. You could also find wedding rings with this hallmark; the rings had an interesting shade and cost quite a bit. In times of shortage, such savings were fully justified.

In European countries today, various jewelry is made from a similar alloy; they have certain advantages and are invariably in demand.

In Russia, 375 standard is not in great demand, so jewelers often use a trick by coating the product with rhodium. This is done by galvanization; the coating increases the cost of the ring or earrings and is marked 585. Contacting a jeweler will help you recognize the trick.