Fineness

Definition and Measurement

Fineness refers to the proportion by mass of the highest value precious metal in a piece of jewelry, coin, or other metallic object. It is expressed as a percentage of the total weight, with the fineness given in per thousand parts.

History and Regulation

Prior to 1888, different units such as the lot or carat were used to measure fineness. In Germany, it is optional for manufacturers to indicate the fineness on jewelry and equipment through a fineness stamp. According to German law, jewelry can be produced and sold in any fineness, including alloys with lower precious metal content.

Common Fineness Ranges

In general, goldsmiths use fine grades between 585 and 999 when making jewelry. In industrial jewelry production, finer grades between 333 and 750 are primarily used. Alloyed aggregates such as silver, copper, iridium, tungsten, palladium, and zinc produce new materials with distinct chemical and physical properties.

Sampling Systems

There are several sampling systems available for determining the fineness of noble metals:

* Metric system: based on the number of milligrams of the basic noble metal
* Karat system: used to express the proportion of gold in an alloy
* Golden system: similar to the karat system, but with a different scale
* Lottery system: not commonly used

Legislation and Branding

In the Russian Federation, all industrially produced alloys containing more than 30% by weight of precious metal must be tested and branded accordingly. A discrete line of possible contents in alloys (samples) has been established for all noble metals.

Determination Methods

The fineness of noble metals can be determined using various analytical methods, including:

* Penetration testing: to determine the content of the basic noble metal
* Branding: to fix the data obtained as a result of analysis and indicate the proportion of the noble metal in the manufacture of jewelry, coins, etc.

References

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