Fineness

The fineness is the mass fraction of the most precious metal in a piece of jewelry, a coin or otherwise metallic object.

Generally

The fineness is given in parts per thousand, ie in thousandths of the total weight. Before 1888 other dimensions such as the solder or carats were common. The indication of the fineness can be impressed with jewelry and equipment. It is optional. An engraving or an introduced by laser indication of fineness into the surface is not permitted. Under German law, jewelry can be in any fineness produced, be provided with a salary indication and sold. This is also a piece of jewelry from 825er 635er or gold would be conceivable.

Precious metals which are used in the manufacture of electronic components, automotive catalysts, or in the production of films, the fine content in the control is not specified.

Many precious metals 999.9 ‰ denotes the highest yet available in normal commercial purity. Even higher levels of purity than 999.99 ‰ can only be manufactured under tremendous effort. They are usually needed only for chemical and physical purposes. In international trade, for example gold is trading at a fineness of 995 ‰, known as 12.44 kg heavy " Good Delivery bullion ".

Until 1886, the fineness for silver in solder has been specified. The starting point was, as with gold, the Cologne mark ( = 1/2 pounds Kölnisches = 233.8 grams). It was divided in silver in 16 parts ( solders ). 1 Lot = 18 Graen = 1/16 Mark. The conversion in the prescribed since 1886 fineness results from the equation: 16 Lot = 1000/1000 parts.

In the production of jewelry using goldsmiths usually fineness between 585 and 999 in industrial jewelry manufacturing primarily come fineness 333-750 for use. Hinzulegierte surcharges such as silver, copper, iridium, tungsten, palladium, and zinc to create new materials - with sometimes considerably different from the actual precious metals chemical and physical properties. So they differ in hardness, coloring as well as in their behavior when in contact with acids and alkalis.

It is noteworthy that, the fineness of 585 and 333 mainly used in the industrial jewelery making in Germany. The imported from southern countries in the 1950s and 1960s jewelery were specially produced in these fine levels for export to Germany. In those countries, in turn, women like men wear, almost exclusively, 750 jewelry.

Common standards of fineness

In jewelry

Gold

  • Gold 999
  • Gold 916 2/3 ( Gold Crown )
  • Gold 750 ( 18k )
  • Gold 585
  • Gold 375
  • Gold 333

Silver

  • 999 silver ( fine silver )
  • Silver 970 (e Silver)
  • Silver 935
  • Silver 925 (Sterling Silver)
  • Silver 835
  • Silver 800
  • Silver 625
  • Silver Lot 16 = 999 ( fine silver )
  • Silver Lot 15 = 937.5
  • Silver Lot 14 = 875
  • Silver Lot 13 ​​= 812.5
  • Silver Lot 12 = 750

Platinum

  • Platinum 950 ( hallmarking ' Pt 950 ')

Rarely are the following fineness for platinum jewelry:

  • Platinum 800 ( hallmarking ' Pt 800' )
  • Platinum 750 ( hallmarking ' Pt 750' )
  • Platinum 585 ( hallmarking ' Pt 585 ')

Palladium

  • Palladium 950 ( hallmarking ' Pd 950 ')
  • Palladium 500 ( hallmarking ' Pd 500' )

With coins

For coins is called the fineness also fineness, Fine or grain. The fineness of a coin corresponds to the ratio of the fine weight, so the mass of the proportion of precious metal, for Total weight or shot.

The German 10 - and 20 -Mark gold coins ( Kurantmünzen ) from 1871 to 1915 had a fineness of 900/1000, as well as the silver coins of 20 Pf to 5 M. The ducats had even a fineness of 986 /1000 sec. But there are also many variations depending on the century and country.

For example, a Friedrich d'or 1713-1770 had a fineness of 906/1000, in the years 1755 to 1757 but only 638/1000 and 902/1000 from 1770. With a purity of 916.67 / 1000 (22 carats) coined the UK, Portugal, Russia and Turkey gold coins.

For silver, the bandwidth of the fine content is even greater, it usually starts at 500/1000 and ends at 945 /1000 sec. Many German silver coins before the 20th century often had a fineness that is still clearly lay partially under 500/1000. Such coins were called Billonmünzen. Silver coins of the Weimar Republic had, for example, of a total of 1000 parts 500 parts of pure silver.

Only modern medals and the so-called bullion coins ( bullion coins ) were minted in almost pure precious metal ( 999/1000 ) or ( 999.9 / 1000).

Statement

The exact fineness of precious metals can only be determined in the laboratory. In everyday life, therefore goldsmiths, etc. Coin manage to approximate determination of the fineness of the bar sample.

Noble metal Carat (purity) Billon (alloy)
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