Russian or Turkish gold - what's the difference? Turkish gold: proof, price per gram and recommendations for choosing jewelry.

In Turkey, a special attitude towards gold jewelry

Every year, hundreds of tourists go to rest closer to the sea coast. Turkey is a wonderful country for a holiday. The sun, mountains, sea, flavor of local cuisine, visits to local markets (souvenirs and Turkish gold) attract carefree vacationers. The unique geographical location of the country between 2 continents Asia and Europe, washed by 3 seas Black, Aegean and Mediterranean.

The mild continental climate is combined with indescribable mountain landscapes. Turkey is one of the most popular holiday and travel destinations. Ancient temples and unusual beauties of mountains, gentle sea surf and beautiful sun tan are the main dream of a traveler.

Turkish jewelry industry is one of the most developed and promising in the world

The country is one of the strongest producers of gold jewelry. Quite deservedly, Turkish gold holds the 2nd place in the world in the production and manufacture of jewelry. Turkey, with its inherent eastern foresight, preserves its deposits and imports gold from other countries. Low prices for gold goods are becoming attractive to the tourist community. This is achieved through jewelry processing of finished products. High modern technologies, a highly developed sales market, an attractive pricing policy and a rigid link to quotations on the global stock market - all this contributes to a great demand for these products.

The exquisite fantasy of Turkish masters is striking in its beauty. Fine intricate gold patterns combined with precious stones give uniqueness to products. The use of garnet, emerald, ruby, sapphire and other stones does not in any way affect the price of the product, in comparison with world pricing. The original yellow metal design has always been and remains competitive worldwide.

But can you believe in the impeccable quality of Turkish gold? As you know, gold is a very soft metal and in its pure form it is not on store shelves, it is necessary to add impurities for processing. According to the chemical composition, gold is produced differently in different countries: in Ukraine and Russia, copper (Cu) is added to it, in Turkey - silver (Ag). Therefore, Ukrainian and Russian gold has a reddish tint, in contrast to the yellowish color of Turkish metal.

Such abundance can only be found in Turkey

In Turkey, there are many specialized boutiques selling gold jewelry, which can be bought wholesale and retail. However, it should be understood that the low cost of goods often indicates low quality. You can easily buy fake Turkish gold. This can be especially seen when buying low-grade goods in the markets or from the hands of enterprising sellers. As a rule, all offered goods are made of low 375 gold or plain gilded silver. Quality jewelry in Turkey, as well as all over the world, is not cheap. Before you buy a product, you need to ask: who is the manufacturer, what additives (ligature) were used in the manufacture. You need to weigh the gold jewelry in order to know exactly the cost of 1 g.

The sample of gold from a Turkish manufacturer, like other countries, is determined by the percentage of ligature in it, measured in carats. Pure gold contains 24 carats, that is, it is 99% gold. The most common today are jewelry containing 14 carats (14 parts of pure gold account for 10 parts of various impurities). This corresponds to 585 samples.

For reference:

  1. includes an alloy containing: 58.3% pure gold (Au), 33.5% copper (Cu), and 8% silver (Ag). So, 583 g of gold comes out of 1 kg of gold alloy of this sample, the rest (415 g) are metal inclusions (ligature).
  2. Gold 583 is distinguished by the fact that it has sufficient strength and hardness, easily takes the desired shape and is practically not subject to oxidation in air. 583 is comparable to 14 carat gold in the British system.
  3. Gold 585 was first experimentally made in the Soviet Union (1927) in the image of 583 samples. In those years, a sample of 14 carats was considered the European standard. Dividing 14 by 24, we get 0.5833333, which can be rounded down to 583. In order not to give 583 gold for the minimum price, the price of which was extremely low abroad, it was decided that the gold standard needed to be changed. So gold of 583 samples was increased to 585.
  4. 375 gold contains an even lower amount of precious metals. Accordingly, this decoration looks a little worse.

What can be the mark on the gold jewelry

The attractiveness of such products is their availability and diversity. It is obligatory for each unit of goods to have a corresponding stamp indicating the sample. According to statistics, approximately 60% of gold items imported to the CIS countries from Turkey contain less precious metals than those indicated on the sample.

In Turkey, the stamp is put by the manufacturer himself, in contrast to world practice, where this is controlled by the state. Therefore, the choice of the place of purchase of jewelry should be approached with caution. Small traders and artisanal producers in spontaneous markets and shops should be avoided.

In this article:

Turkish gold attracts buyers with its low cost and exquisite design. Openwork weaving of a ring or earrings can delight any woman. But not everything is so simple - Turkey does not have its own gold, jewelers use metal, which is brought from the USA or Germany, to make jewelry. So why are fine jewelry so cheap, and is there a catch?

Features of jewelry from Turkey

Turkish gold is different from other jewelry, it can only be compared with jewelry from India. They also look spectacular and have a similar design. But do not flatter yourself - when buying jewelry in an oriental style, you can stumble upon a fake.

Gold in Istanbul shop

At the same time, the price per gram, against the background of prices of domestic producers, can pleasantly surprise the buyer. You can buy a jewel at the price of a silver product, which is made in Russia.

Jewelry at the same time may well meet high requirements, but do not relax. Before making a purchase, you must make sure that the product meets the specified requirements.

So, how to check Turkish gold for quality:

  1. It is necessary to inspect the product and study the brand.
  2. Check for damage.

Often, jewelers from the East give out silver or copper, which is covered with a layer of gilding, as a precious metal.

Earrings or rings are stigmatized in a special way, the sample is different from the one that is put in Russia. The Turks put the letter “K” on the jewelry - it says how much gold as a percentage is contained in the product.

For example, a 14K sample corresponds to 585 samples. The larger the number before the letter "K", the higher the sample and the content of the precious metal in the product.

But enterprising Turkish jewelers often give out a low-quality fake under the guise of a quality product. Visual inspection will help to recognize the quality of the product. If the jewel has a pronounced red tint, this indicates that there is too much copper in the ligature.

An alloy of gold and copper gives a red tint, the cost of jewelry made from such an alloy is much lower.

Also, do not buy a product that has a too pronounced yellow color. Such a shade may indicate that not noble metal, but jewelry, the cost of which is much lower than gold, fell into the hands of the buyer.

Since gold is not mined in Turkey, and jewelry from this metal is successfully made and sold, jewelers go for a trick. In the manufacture of an alloy, impurities are added to the ligature - metals that do not differ in nobility.

Palladium, an element of the platinum group, is often added to the ligature. It gives the alloy a cold tone and is more commonly found in white gold jewelry.

To reduce the cost of production, jewelers replace platinum with nickel - a metal that has nothing to do with precious ones. Its addition to the ligature can lead to the fact that a person will have an allergy.

Jewelry made of gold with the addition of nickel have the same color and shade, but at the same time they can harm human health, unlike platinum - it does not cause allergies. Thus, the cost of jewelry is reduced at times, but the quality suffers.

Tricks of jewelers

Turkish gold can only be partly precious metal. Jewelers often make jewelry from various materials, using admixtures of silver, copper and other elements in the process.

That is, part of the chain or ring is Au, and the other part is an alloy of several elements. The ligature may contain silver, nickel, brass. You can recognize the poor quality of the product when it starts to darken after several days of wear.

As is known, Au is an inert element and does not react with reagents. It cannot be spoiled by acid or alkali, which cannot be said about other metals. Therefore, upon contact of the little thing with sweat, clothes, water and other substances, the jewel will change its shade, a dark coating will appear on its surface.

It is noteworthy that such jewelry can have a high standard, which will testify to the quality of the jewelry.

Turkish gold can be an alloy:

  • nickel and iron;
  • aluminum and copper;
  • platinum and other base metals.

Products from this type of ligature are very cheap, but they do not differ in quality. Such jewelry cannot be called precious. Therefore, if the seller offers to buy a product made of precious metal at a bargain price, it is better to refuse the purchase.

Often, the Turks offer jewelry with a fineness of 375 under the guise of high-quality gold. Such jewelry contains Au, but its amount corresponds to 30–37% of the total weight of the ligature. As a result, the jewel quickly darkens when worn and becomes coated.

In order for the purchase to bring joy and pleasure, and the jewelry to serve the buyer for a long time, it is worth buying jewelry not in the markets, but in boutiques.

If the store does not inspire confidence, then you should refrain from buying in it, especially since finding a jewelry store in Turkey is not difficult.

If the jewelry does not inspire confidence at first sight and there is a high probability that it has nothing to do with gold, you can try to scratch it with your fingernail. It will not work to damage the product in this way, but by the reaction of the seller it will be possible to understand what the product is made of.

If we talk about the reviews that buyers leave about jewelry brought from Turkey, then they are completely different. At one time in Russia it was fashionable to wear jewelery from the East, so when going on vacation to Turkey, tourists were so willing to buy jewelery from local jewelers.

Today it is not difficult to find jewelry of a similar design. But before you make a purchase, you should make sure the quality of the goods. In Turkey, you can really buy jewelry at a low cost, but there is also a great chance to bring a fake from a trip that has nothing to do with gold.

Turkish jewelry is very popular. Tourists are offered products at an affordable price and good quality.

Value for money

According to the authenticity, Turkish gold jewelry can be divided into the following categories:

  • jewelry made of pure gold, with high quality additives, for high wear resistance and color. The quality of this gold is confirmed by an international certificate and guarantee. Products from this category of gold have the highest gold purity: 917 and 999.
  • jewelry made from jewelry scrap or gold of unknown origin. Copper, silver or other impurities are usually used to impart color. Products from this category of gold have fineness not exceeding 585.

Price per gram for Turkish gold in Turkey

Everyone knows that gold items in Turkey are offered at an inexpensive price. This is explained by the low-paid work of jewelers. Also, the price per gram of Turkish gold depends on the quality of the gold and the place of sale. The cheapest jewelry in shops on the streets of Istanbul. The price of such gold is from 30 dollars per gram. However, such gold may turn out to be low-grade or ordinary copper. Specialized stores in Turkey offer high-end gold from $50 per gram. At the same time, the store provides the relevant documents confirming the sample.

According to statistics, in Turkey, the content of precious metals in jewelry is less than indicated on the sample. Since in Turkey the brand is put by the manufacturer, and not by the state. When buying gold in Turkey, remember that its price cannot be lower than the price on world markets. The average price per gram of 14k gold on world markets is about $26.

The main thing remains the fact that pure gold is the same in any country, regardless of the country of origin.

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Turkish gold attracts tourists with its unique, oriental design and low cost. can be bought at the price of silver - this attracts buyers who strive to take away as much gold from Turkey as possible. But why does the precious metal have such a value? Few people think about this, the truth emerges only upon arrival home.

Golden Bazaar in Turkey

What is the difference?

Turkish gold is different from Russian, for several reasons:

  1. In our country, metal is mined independently.
  2. There is no gold in Turkey, jewelers sell imported metal.
  3. Metal samples in Russia are established by GOST.
  4. In Turkey, there are other tests for jewelry.

On the territory of our country they sell raw materials that are mined in Russia. When buying jewelry, studying its sample, you can understand what the jewelry consists of and how much gold and impurities it contains. The metal has 41.5% impurities in its composition.

In Turkey, gold is not mined, jewelry is made from metal that is exported by other countries: Germany and the United States. Samples are set in accordance with the presence of gold in the carriages, for example, the “14 K” sample corresponds to our 585. But some craftsmen from Turkey can change the marking and put a different sample on a product that is not of high quality.

Indeed, in Turkey you can buy jewelry that is distinguished by an oriental design, looks attractive, but it is not a fact that this product is related to jewelry.

Often, jewelers put up low-grade items for sale; nickel is added to the ligature instead of palladium - this helps to reduce the cost of jewelry by several times.

Turkish gold bracelets

Nickel gives the decoration the usual white color. Everyone knows that white gold is made with the addition of platinum, but jewelers replace platinum with nickel. As a result, a product of the desired shade is obtained, but its cost is much lower.

disadvantages

Turkish gold, which is of low quality, can:

  • cause an allergic reaction;
  • oxidize, lose luster and color during wear;
  • to be in fact not an alloy of gold, copper and silver.

Too red shade of jewelry should alert the buyer. The red color of the ligature is given by copper. It quickly oxidizes upon contact with air and water, so gray and dark spots will appear on the surface of the product during wear.

Nickel, iron and other base metals that can be added to the alloy can cause an allergic reaction in the buyer in the form of itching of the skin.

Showcase of gold rings in Turkey

In addition, Turkish jewelers like to combine metals, they make a part of a chain or a ring from gold, then they use copper and silver, covering parts of the jewelry with gilding.

Common alloys:

  1. Gold is mixed with silver, the ligature is called "Electron".
  2. Aluminum is mixed with copper, the ligature is called "Goldin".
  3. The iron, nickel and chromium alloy is called "Belgica".
  4. Platinum with a large amount of impurities is called "Goldin".

Products made from the above alloys can be sold as jewelry. In addition, the Turks like to pass off as pure gold. When buying, you can try to scratch the jewel - the seller's reaction will be eloquent.

But it is worth remembering that Turkish gold is not 100% fake, sometimes only an expert can distinguish jewelry from a fake.

Purchase rules

You can make a bargain and please yourself and your relatives with a beautiful gift, but for this you need to know a few tricks:

  • it is worth paying attention to the marking, consider it carefully;
  • compare the jewelry with the existing gold product;
  • examine the surface of the jewel in the light.

If the seller persistently offers to purchase jewelry that has a red tint, then you should be wary and refuse to buy.

It is worth buying jewelry in large jewelry houses or stores - this will reduce the likelihood of acquiring a fake.

The product must be carefully compared with the existing decoration, if they are similar. At the same time, if you drop or throw a jewel on a flat surface, you will hear a characteristic sonorous sound - this indicates that the products are of high quality.

The Turks like to pass off tompak as jewelry - an alloy of zinc, copper and brass. The ligature has high plasticity and has anti-corrosion properties. Visually, the tompak looks like gold, it is quite difficult to recognize a fake, the Turks often pass off the tompak as jewelry, explaining the plasticity of the metal with its high breakdown. But in this case, knowledge of chemistry will help to recognize a fake.

Gold is a heavy metal, so jewelry made from pure metal has an impressive weight, which cannot be said about tompak.

Turkish gold is a godsend for a tourist. Products have a unique design, beckon with their brilliance. But when making a purchase, you should understand that a good piece of jewelry cannot be cheap. In order not to be disappointed upon arrival home, you should carefully consider the purchase, make it in a large store, where prices, by the way, differ little from Russian ones.

Turkish gold is bright yellow. This color is achieved by adding more silver to the alloy than is established by Russian standards. This leads to some difficulties in servicing foreign products in our country. If, for example, a piece of jewelry is broken, jewelers do not undertake to repair it. The craftsmen simply do not have the right alloy.

As for gold, it is 58.5% in jewelry from Turkey, as well as in the 585th sample of the domestic sample. Copper, usually 32%, silver about 10%. This mixture is softer than the standard 585th variation. Products are more malleable, plastic, and therefore fragile. There are also differences in pricing policy. In Russia, the cost of an item depends on the number of grams of gold in it. In Turkey, metal is not sold by weight. The price is set on the jewelry, and not on the amount of the precious element in it. Therefore, many creations of jewelers are much cheaper than in Europe and in the domestic space. For a designer unpretentious little thing, they will take it inexpensively, even if it weighs decently.

The weight of the Turkish alloy is, in principle, less than mixtures in the same Russia. The mass of a gram of oriental gold is greater than that of domestic gold. This is also why jewelry from Turkey “does not bite” in terms of cost.

The price of Turkish gold also depends on the place where it is sold. In tourist meccas, for example, the city of Kemer, buy a chain chain for 450-500 dollars. In Ankara, an identical piece of jewelry will cost 100-150 conventional units cheaper. In Russia, the same chain from Turkey is sold for 600-700 dollars.


In overseas centers, the cost of gold varies in shops without a license and specialized salons. Firstly, jewelry is much cheaper, but they cannot be checked, they do not give a guarantee for jewelry, they do not issue a return. In the second type of stores, there are devices on which it is allowed to check the quality of products, their sample. Specialized centers provide quality certificates for goods, take things back within 5 years. You can return earrings, a ring, a bracelet if the presentation and accompanying documentation are preserved.

The disadvantage of specialized salons is that bargaining is prohibited there. In the markets, in small shops, you can drop the price. Given that the products there are already about half the price, the additional deduction makes them fabulously profitable. If purchased as a gift or intended to be a prestigious accessory, but not an investment unit, a bazaar will do. If the metal is purchased specifically for investment purposes, you should contact certified sites.

In cases of spontaneous markets on turkish gold price sometimes 5-6 times lower than Russian standards. With such a huge discrepancy in value, there is a high risk of the absence of precious metal in the products. In the handicraft industry of Turkey, they sin with the use of tompak. This is a type of brass with the addition of copper. Externally, the alloy is identical to gold. Even jewelers cannot distinguish a fake by eye.

Turkish gold buy does not mean to buy Turkish gold. Here is such a pun. There are practically no deposits of the precious metal in the country. Raw materials are purchased in other states, including Russia. The characteristic "Turkish" indicates the proportions of alloying metals in the alloy, but not the origin of the gold itself. Despite the fact that the extraction of a valuable element in the eastern country is not involved, in terms of the production of gold jewelry, Turkey is in 2nd place in the world.

Historians believe that the jewelers of the eastern state, to some extent, owe their skill to the Greeks. They were the first in the world to start producing gold jewelry, bringing their skills to perfection. Turkey was a colony of Greece for a long time, adopting the secrets of the mastery of the colonizers.

In a resort country, they know how to paint metal. Turkish stores sell blue, olive, amethyst gold. For colorful specimens they ask for more than for standard yellow ones. The production of non-ferrous alloys is a labor-intensive process, it has not been mastered in all states that produce precious jewelry. Turkey is a place where you can easily buy rare variations of gold.

Salespeople in Turkey are mostly men, not women. Therefore, tourists share, in a sunny country they always give a big discount to girls than to the representatives of the stronger sex. Sometimes, in the shops of merchants you can find gold samples that are not standard for Turkey. Approximately 20% of the state market falls on metal with the 500th and 375th marking. These are low-grade variations of the alloy. About 10% more items are marked 925. In such an alloy, the maximum gold content is 92.5%. For the rest Turkish gold sample 585.

However, there is no GOST, as in Russia, in Turkey. Standards for the production of precious alloys are not prescribed by law. Conscientious manufacturers maintain the amount of gold that should be present in an alloy with a specified breakdown. But, with regards to alloying materials in the country, as they say, complete freedom. That is why the products of oriental craftsmen differ from domestic ones and are not accepted by Russian jewelers for repairs.


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