It is becoming more and more difficult for jewelers to surprise customers with some novelties made of precious metals. Even traditional gold pieces with a reddish tint have become an element of everyday life, rather than an exquisite decoration for a special occasion. But lemon-colored gold is a completely different matter.
Can you answer the question, what is lemon gold? Most probably not. But this is one of the varieties of gold that has real value.
Features of lemon gold
First, let's figure out what it is all about. Lemon gold or electrum is a unique alloy that differs from ordinary gold in its unusual citrus hue. This color is due to the high content Silver as an impurity. Also in the composition must be present copper, which follows silver in terms of percentage. Some manufacturers may also add in small amounts nickel, platinum or other metals that have practically no effect on the color and characteristics of the alloy, but give small amounts of shade.
Almost nothing was known about lemon gold in the Soviet Union, although this type of precious metal was already very popular in the USA and Europe. And even though there is no "Iron Curtain" now, citrus-colored jewelry is quite rare.
Lemon gold is no longer considered a curiosity, but has not yet gained popularity among buyers.
Lemon-colored gold is also found in its native form, but industrially obtained metal is usually used in jewelry. Citrus alloy is very similar in its characteristics to traditional red gold and has similar properties. The material is resistant to oxidation, is flexible and lends itself well to various processing.
By the way, a soft lemon shade is not the only color in the electrum palette. There are also products of saturated green и olive flowers, which are also called green gold. This is the same electrum, but with the addition of other chemical elements. So, in composition alloy can occur:
- cadmium;
- palladium;
- zinc;
- potassium;
- magnesium.
But jewelry with such a composition cannot be worn every day - they are very fragile and impractical. Therefore, if you are looking for products for every day, then it is better to stop at a shade of lemon color.
What is the sample of lemon gold and what is the composition
The composition of any piece of jewelry depends on a sample - an impression that is located on the inside of any piece of jewelry. The higher the number, the more precious metal is in the composition.
But you will not find products made of pure gold anywhere else. Why? Because gold itself is a very impractical metal. Jewelry made from it is very soft, easily damaged and quickly deteriorates. But impurities make products more durable and affordable - the cost of exclusively gold jewelry would be much higher than the usual prices.
Gold has the highest fineness - 999. This means that 1 kg of this alloy accounts for 99,9% pure gold and only 0,1% of impurities.
But this metal is used mainly for the manufacture of ingots - jewelry made of soft gold is prized only in Japan. In addition, products of such a high standard cannot boast of an original citrus shade and are not considered lemon gold - there is too little silver in them.
When purchasing products, keep in mind that not all countries have the same sampling system. In Canada and the United States, carats are used to measure ligatures. 999 fineness is 24 carats.
The most expensive and prestigious alloy is considered to be gold. 750 samples or 18 carat. Some people mistakenly think that this is what lemon gold is. But this is a myth. "Citrus alloy" simply does not have such a high standard - it must contain much more silver. The 750-carat metal has a more pink tint, which is imparted by copper.
585 testwhich matches 14 ct, is very popular in jewelry. In such an alloy, 58,5% pure gold, everything else is impurities that give the metal strength and a special shade. The type of gold depends on the percentage of impurities. The product acquires a citrus tint due to its high silver content (29-30%), which suppresses the reddish tinge. Copper in 585 lemon gold should be no more than 13%.
The lowest-grade alloy is considered to be gold. 375 standard (9 ct) ... Jewelry made from this alloy contains only 37,5% of the precious metal. This sample is in the lowest demand on the Russian market. Items made from this alloy seem duller and less attractive, as they have too little gold percentage. In addition, low-grade jewelry appears orange rather than lemon.
Scope of Lemon Gold
Lemon gold is used in jewelry. Craftsmen make original and unique jewelry from this alloy, which are distinguished by a beautiful lemon shade. Today you can find anything from this gold, from bracelets and earrings to cufflinks and crosses.
In European countries, jewelry made of this metal is considered an excellent gift that will tell the hero of the occasion about your sincere feelings. Lemon gold wedding rings are also popular. It is believed that this alloy - a symbol of pure love of the newlyweds for each other... And the light yellow shade itself personifies the desire to live and is an endless source of energy.
Lemon gold does not tolerate "competition", so it cannot be combined with jewelry made from other metals. Next to this alloy, any product will not look as aesthetically pleasing as the owner would like.
For this reason, you should immediately decide what you want to buy. It can be an independent product that will focus all attention on itself - a ring, a large brooch, an exquisite pendant, and so on. You can also choose a set of several pieces of jewelry, such as earrings and bracelet or earrings and ring. This way you don't have to look for an addition to a single piece later, which can be quite difficult - after all, lemon gold is not so common.
How to choose lemon gold rings
Lemon gold rings look very beautiful and sophisticated. Such products look especially good on a woman's hand, so the number of jewelry for women is much greater than for men.
To enhance the beauty of metal, you can use the right gemstones. Special the following stones look good with a citrus alloy:
- diamond;
- ruby;
- emerald;
- Garnet;
- quartz;
- chrysolite;
- topaz;
- pearl.
Also used as decorations zircon and cubic zirconiabut not so often and with caution. It is believed that these stones make the metal look dull and less attractive.
Among the stones listed above, they look the most beautiful with lemon gold. Diamonds... They perfectly complement the citrus metal, which in combination with stones looks even more elegant.
If you are preparing for a wedding, then your attention will definitely be attracted by lemon gold wedding rings. And this is no coincidence, because they look just gorgeous. There are a variety of models on sale - from classic and smooth rings to decorated with stone inserts or carvings.
How to choose lemon gold earrings
Lemon gold earrings are a wonderful accessory that emphasizes a woman's beauty, grace and elegance. In addition, such products are perfect for a gala evening or a wedding. The main rule that you need to be guided by when choosing jewelry is your own feelings. You should definitely like earrings, attract and delight you. Then they will look just great on you.
To make it easier to decide, you can divide all the earrings according to several criteria, for example, by the presence of stones. Basically, girls choose products inlaid with inserts of precious stones or minerals. Especially popular in earrings:
- diamond;
- agate;
- chrysolite;
- pearl;
- ruby.
Some jewelers offer interesting ceramic and enamel jewelry. Such inserts make the product original and more effective.
You can also look for earrings without stones. These decorations are made to maximize the beauty of the metal itself. Models with geometry are now considered especially popular - these can be rings (smooth or threaded), cubes, triangles etc. Do not lose their popularity and crossesthat will make your look more challenging.
Earrings can also be classified by the fastener. The options are as follows:
- carnations;
- English clasp;
- clamp;
- pin;
- a loop;
- French clasp;
- bracket;
- chain;
- Italian clasp.
For every day, it is recommended to pick up jewelry with reliable locks - English, staple, pin. But for a special occasion, you can choose a more original product with an elegant clasp - a loop, a chain, a clip. Choose the option that seems most convenient to you for your particular case.
How to store and care for your lemon gold jewelry
And although gold jewelry does not require special care, it is also impossible not to pay attention to them at all. Products need to be worn neatly, properly stored and not forgotten about regular cleaning. Otherwise, lemon gold will quickly lose its attractive shade and shine, and will be covered with scratches.
You can remove dust and dirt from lemon gold jewelry using soap or dishwashing liquid.... To do this, pour water into a glass, add a couple of drops of cleaning agent there and put the product there for literally a few minutes. Then you need to carefully wipe the jewelry with a soft cloth.
If you notice that the shine of the product is not as bright as before, do not despair - it is easy to fix it. Take a soft cloth and try to rub the gold to its former shine.
Over time, rings and other jewelry made of lemon gold lose their smoothness and become covered with a cobweb of scratches. To restore smoothness, dissolve a spoon in a glass of warm water sahara and lower the product there overnight. Wipe dry with a soft cloth in the morning.
If the decoration needs global cleansing, it is better to take it to a jewelry workshop. It is not worth choosing aggressive detergents on your own, as there is a chance that this will ruin the product.
You need to store gold jewelry in a dark and dry place, preferably separately from other products. A box or case from a jewelry store is ideal for storage.
Although lemon gold is a tough metal that can be difficult to break or bend, it is not worth the risk. Jewelry should be worn carefully, avoiding mechanical damage.
Lemon gold is a beautiful kind of gold with a unique pale yellow hue. Jewelry made of this durable metal looks very unusual and is a chic accessory for every day. Since it is better not to combine lemon gold with another metal, it is better to immediately choose a set of matching products. If you do not like to wear several pieces of jewelry at the same time, you can choose single items - earrings, ring, brooch. They should be worn carefully, not forgetting about regular cleaning from dirt and dust.
