Struck Russian Gold But What Karat?

[englishladyfromkent]

I inherited this gorgeous Russian amber bead necklace. The chain is gold as are the bead caps, and near the clasp is a ring with the stamp of the star and the numbers 875. I'm trying to figure out what karat of gold this would be equivalent to and would very much appreciate help or advice.

I will load the pictures once I master the system and would like to thank anyone who takes the time to help.

Many thanks and best regards

Julie

[dognose]

Hi,

The mark is a Soviet one. On a gold object, the number 875 would equate to 21ct. However, that mark appears to me to be one that was used on silver, and thus 875/1000. At this point, it is well to remember that my knowledge of Soviet gold marks can be written on the back of a postage stamp, so hopefully one of the Russian experts can reveal the answer.

Trev.

[englishladyfromkent]

Hello Trev - I read the new section thinking maybe I had got lucky and might find this Soviet mark there. Even though I didn't, it is a great read. I did wonder if this was a silver mark, but the metal is clearly gold. I have looped - oh dear - I mean I have looked at it with a loupe all over and whilst at first I thought it was tarnished silver, now I am quite sure it is gold.

It's such a delicate piece I dont want to damage it with any kind of testing.

I did find some info somewhere which said the star and the sickle were used after the 1950's but nothing more specific than that.

Thanks so much for taking a look Trev - if you can spare another minute, I've got another query on another amber necklace with a fish outline mark along with 835 silver on the 'other countries' forum. I am guessing it is Scandinavian but cant get any further than that so far.

I thought the fish was some well known Scand silversmith but now I am actually researching it - cant find it anywhere! I have spend hours and hours on that one - it seems an enigma which I hope someone who pops in here can help with.

My thanks again, really kind of you.

Best regards


Julie

[englishladyfromkent]

Just wanted to add that I have carefully cleaned one bead cap on the largest bead (one side only) and it is absolutely certain that the metal is gold. I had half expected it to clean up as silver, but no. Absolutely no doubt that it is made from gold.

Trev I am fascinated at the possibility of it being 21kt. But must say I have never heard of any country using more than 18kt gold because of its softness.

I wonder what the Soviet mark for gold plate over silver would be? I have no clue. I do have two books on 'World Gold Marks' but there is nothing in either which comes anywhere close to this mark.

Ho hum - I am hoping with fingers crossed that a Russian Gold expert trundles along sometime...........

Thank you to everyone in advance for help.

Much appreciated.


Julie

[Qrt.S]

Dear Julie,

I'm afraid that I must disappoint you Julie, Your amber necklace is not gold but gilded silver (875/1000). It is made in Riga in Soviet, nowadays the capital of Latvia. The letter P shows it clearly (Cyrillic R for Riga). The necklace is made between 1958 and 1994. I you wonder how I know it is silver, I can tell you that the barrel shaped mark tells me that. If it had been gold the mark's shape would have been shovel like. Please see pictures below. One other indication of silver is the typical Soviet fineness of 875/1000 or in the past 84 zolotnik. The gold fineness were 375, 500, 583, 750 and 958. As you noticed no 875. Your necklace is nice even if it is not made of solid gold but gold plated. It is a memory from the past days of the cold war.


Have a nice day
Qrt.S

[Qrt.S]

Some more information. If you mean the book Guide to Goldmarks of the World, please see mark #1442 on page 196 and you will find the same Soviet gold mark I showed you above. As to you other object with the fish and 835, I can tell you that the fineness does not indicate Scandinavia, Finland included. This fineness is used in central Europe i. e. Germany, Netherlands Belgium and Portugal etc.

[englishladyfromkent]

WOW ! Thank you SOOOOOOOOO much.

I don't really mind what it is made of, I guess 21kt gold would be better, but that 875 seemed so much more likely silver than gold, I am not surprised.

What a treasure trove of information you have given me, I cant tell you how grateful I am, thank you very much. As to the barrel shape, I did not even notice that part of the mark. The book I have on Gold marks is an old library book (bought in a flea market somewhere) and only a small pocket sized abridged version. But I will look and pay more attention to the shape of the impressed mark, although now I dont need to - hoooooooooorah!

I will have to go back and re-read what you said about the fish marked silver amber pendant. I've been googling my eyes out looking for fish marks and the nearest I can come to it is (I think) a German company - something like 'fishcelande' or something similar. The style certainly would fit with that maker, but I have yet to find an image on the web of the actual fish outline. I found someone selling a pre-owned bracelet which says something like 'with the fish mark for fishcelande' but cant see the mark!

I know also that 'burnstein' is German for amber, so again Germany would fit.

I always knew this was a fantastic site with fantastic people, even when it first started. I am grateful to whoever first came up with the idea too, I wonder if that was you Trev?

Thank you so much for all the info - going to let it sink in and go back and read what you said about the blasted fish mark which has been haunting me for years.

Thanks again

Kind regards


Julie

[Qrt.S]

You're welcome, but Bernstein dear Julie, not burnstein!

[englishladyfromkent]

oh dear - yes, I only remember it all because it got its name as people would burn it and stein is stone. Or maybe that is not accurate. Forget where I learned that now.

Thanks again.


Julie