What are the different gold fineness levels and how do they differ?

In the dawn of human history, gold was considered one of the most revered metals. A symbol of divinity and the sun, it was depicted as a powerful totem by our distant ancestors. Gradually, its cult properties gave way to aesthetics, which were then reinforced by economic value. One thing remains unchanged – the desire to possess gold jewelry in one's treasure chest.

Gold fineness, or purity, is a marking that indicates the ratio of pure gold to impurities in an alloy. The reason for this lies in the fact that 100% pure gold is an incredibly soft material, so soft that it can be easily deformed by fingertips. Therefore, in jewelry and various industries, gold is often alloyed with other metals (additives) to enhance its properties. The following metals can be used as additives:

• Copper, which imparts hardness and a reddish hue to gold. This alloy variant was particularly popular in the Soviet Union, known as "red gold."

•Zinc, which increases the material's malleability and can provide an emerald tint at specific alloy percentages.

• Platinum, which raises the melting point and imparts a unique brilliance to gold.

• Silver, which enhances casting properties, adds hardness to items, and lightens the color of gold.

• Nickel, which increases the alloy's hardness and corrosion resistance, giving gold a light hue.

• Palladium, which raises the melting point and increases metal's ductility, resulting in a light shade alloy.

• Cadmium, which enhances casting properties and can provide a greenish tint to gold.

The numbers associated with the fineness represent the ratio of gold parts to additive parts. It's worth noting that there are four systems for defining gold purity. The most popular ones are the metric system and the carat system (used in Europe and the United States).

With the metric system, it's quite straightforward – it shows how much gold is used in 1 kilogram of the alloy. For instance, if the fineness is labeled as 585, it means that the alloy consists of 585 grams of gold and 414 grams of additives.

In the carat system, gold content is expressed in a ratio of 24 parts per alloy. Therefore, 24k represents pure gold. And 12k corresponds to the 500 fineness in the metric system. Below is a conversion table for fineness.

The most common gold fineness is 585. This is because the 58.5% mark yields an affordable yet beautiful and functional material. Items of 585 fineness are convenient for daily wear: they resist deformation, are less susceptible to scratches, retain their shine over time, and do not tarnish or discolor the skin. For instance, a wedding ring, which is rarely taken off during household chores, can withstand repeated daily contact with water and cleaning agents. The malleability and strength of 585 fineness gold allow for crafting jewelry of any design.

The 750 fineness is less common due to its costliness. However, jewelers consider it the "benchmark" as it possesses excellent casting properties. The 750 fineness is often used by renowned jewelry houses to create elite ornaments.

The 375 fineness is an economical variant of gold. Its lower precious metal content makes such items affordable for a broad range of customers, while adding rigidity during processing. Unfortunately, jewelry with 375 fineness tends to lose its luster quickly.

Standard gold bars, in which the world's nations store their wealth, have a fineness of 999.9. Pure metal without impurities corresponds to 1000 fineness, but bars are not isolated from their surroundings and can undergo chemical reactions with the air. Due to the incorporation of additional elements, the fineness of a bar is considered 999.9, rather than 1000.