What is a sample of silver

Despite the fact that we already habitually estimate the value of silver relations much lower than those made of gold, silver, depending on the alloy, the work and the sample of silver can cost more gold. Of course, in some cases, the decisive role played by the fineness of jewelry work, because some filigree techniques for making jewelry can not be repeated when working with gold. But in most cases an important role is played by the sample.

Usually jewelry is not made of pure precious metals, because they have a certain number of shortcomings. For example, pure silver - is a very soft material, so it makes an alloy with the addition of a small amount of copper to increase its strength. The content in the copper alloy in percent determines the sample and the purity of silver. In very rare cases, other metals are used to "strengthen" silver, additives include nickel, aluminum, zinc and cadmium. But in the vast majority of cases for a silver alloy the main material is copper.

In this case, high samples of silver, in which copper is present in minimal quantities, have a delightful white tint, and a light yellowish tint has only the silver of the lowest sample. But the most expensive alloy of silver is its alloy with cadmium and often in these cases the silver jewelry made of it is valued more than gold. In most countries of the world, a metric system is used to designate a sample of silver. With it, the sample denotes the number of parts of a noble metal in one thousand parts (weight units) of the alloy. The maximum for jewelry is 960 test, and also along with it there are 925, 916, 875, 800 and 750th. In Russia, it is officially established that if jewelry has a noble metal content below 800, which is defined as the minimum, then in this case they are not subject to state branding and are already realized as products made from base metal.

These products can often be found in everyday life, which are used as material for springs, pins, solder and so on. For this, a 720 alloy of silver is used. But in European countries, you can often see small fancy goods with 750 pieces put on them. However, the most common test in Europe is the 925th, except for France, in which the 800th is more common.

The highest 960 sample is used for making the finest filigree jewelry, since only such an alloy of silver allows you to prepare threads from it, which then the masters make lace designs. No other precious metal has such capabilities. To impart strength to filigree products, they are often made of an alloy of silver with cadmium, from which it is obtained simply magnificent delicate filigree (lace pattern, in which the through pattern is clearly visible). However, in this case, the value of the jewelry obtained from this alloy increases dramatically.

Separately, we should focus on how to clean silverware. They must first be washed with warm water with the addition of soap and then smeared with a slurry of chalk soaked in ammonia. When the applied mixture dries, the product should be thoroughly rinsed with water and wiped with a dry soft cloth. If silverware is oxidized, you need to clean them with an aqueous solution of sodium sulphate. Silverware should be cleaned as well as to clean 925 silver, from which silver knives, forks and spoons are usually made. To keep their shine after use, the dishes need to be lowered into boiling water with the addition of a small amount of soda.