The special brilliance and beauty of precious metals attracted the attention of primitive people. Their value has always been very high. Metals were used both as the first money to be exchanged for other valuables, and for making jewelry.
Precious Metals
Even in ancient times, people noticed the unusual properties of some metals, native ingots of which were found in nature. They did not succumb to corrosion and did not change their properties under the influence of the negative influence of the environment. This became the main factor in determining the degree of nobility of sparkling chemical elements.
Until the 18th century, only two precious metals were known to people, later platinum was discovered.
Gold
Gold is recognized as the most important precious metal in the world. It has been known to people since the Stone Age. As a rule, the noble metal was found in nature in the form of native ingots with small inclusions of ores or in an alloy with silver.
As a chemical element, gold has a high thermal conductivity and low resistance. Nice sunny color and radiantsurface made it the most popular metal for jewelry making. But for jewelry, not pure gold is used, but its alloy with other metals. This gives the mineral additional strength, changes color and quality characteristics.
Yellow gold is the most traditional. For the manufacture of this type of metal, alloys of copper and silver are used. Depending on the ratio of these impurities, it acquires characteristic shades: reddish or lemon. In jewelry, the most common items are hallmarked as 585 and 750.
Red gold is less common. It has a democratic price due to the high copper content. Rose gold, thanks to its delicate hue and small inclusions of copper and silver, has become popular for the manufacture of fashion jewelry houses.
There are several more rare alloys - green, black, blue and gray shades. Such colors are gaining popularity in jewelry and are becoming a field for experimentation.
One of the most desirable and popular alloys is white gold. How to distinguish from silver and other alloys? Platinum, silver and even palladium are mixed into its composition. These impurities have a positive effect on the strength of products, and the shade goes well with precious stones. Such jewelry emphasizes the status of the owner and is distinguished by a more refined appearance.
Silver
One of the oldest noble metals. In natureIt occurs both in native form and in the composition of ores. Silver is no less plastic than gold, and also enters into chemical reactions more actively.
Silver jewelry has always been popular. The metal has a reasonable price, and jewelry goes well with different skin tones, suitable for any age and for any gender. Such jewelry looks simple, but nevertheless always very elegant.
Signs of difference
Of course, gold is much more expensive than silver. What other characteristics does white gold have? How to distinguish from silver and not overpay scammers? The first and most important advice is not to buy jewelry in dubious places or from hands.
External characteristics make white gold and silver very similar. How to tell?
The visual way to distinguish these two precious metals, of course, does not give one hundred percent reliability, but nevertheless it can help to highlight the external features of the products. If you look closely, you can see that silver does not shine as brightly, because it does not have alloys characteristic of gold.
How to distinguish white gold from silver visually?
Of course, with the help of modern rhodium plating, silver can also be given a characteristic shine. And in order not to succumb to its influence, you can look at the sample, which must be present. Almost always, silver has one hallmark - 925, and the numbers are stamped in the shape of a barrel, and the hallmark of gold resembles a rectangle and can be 585 or 750 (with stones).
What do silver and white gold have in common? How to distinguish white gold alloy from silver? Consider further.
White gold and silver - how to distinguish? Photos of jewelry will help with this. Gold items are characterized by special sophistication, originality and subtlety of work. This is not typical for silver items, and it is also not customary to place precious stones in silver.
What else can you do to understand that you have white gold in front of you, how to distinguish it from silver by other methods?
You can check the authenticity of the metal with acids. At home, it is recommended to use vinegar. Upon contact with acid, silver will become colored and tarnish, while gold will not lose its luster. At the same time, the acidic environment should also not lose its original appearance. If it becomes cloudy, then this may be a sign of various impurities in the metal and a signal of a fake.
As you can see, it is possible to distinguish between noble white metals. You just need to take a good look at the product or apply vinegar.
