It is rare to find a modern piece of jewelry that will evoke the same feelings and emotions as the time-tested Soviet classic. I don’t know how the jewelers of the past era managed to do it, but the jewelry they made was as if endowed with some kind of magic that attracted the attention and admiring glances of others. There was something truly bewitching and truly impressive in Soviet accessories, which, unfortunately, is no longer found in new accessories.
But time goes by and no matter how much we would like it, but Soviet products made of precious metals are gradually losing their relevance and simply becoming out of fashion. Wearing them, for many, becomes a sign of the presence of outdated tastes, and the demand for jewelry from the times of the USSR, if they are not exclusive, is gradually falling.
In such a situation, many owners of jewelry with 583 gold and, for example, inserts of a ruby or sapphire, involuntarily begin to think about updating their jewelry wardrobe and face the choice of what to do with Soviet jewelry — to sell or keep as a memory.
On the one hand, a feeling of nostalgia and memory of a bygone era or youth does not allow making the right decision. On the other hand, wearing products, albeit precious, but already out of date, is not acceptable for everyone.
How to be in such a situation? Let’s try to figure it out.
What you need to know about Soviet gold with rubies and sapphires.
The first thing you need to know about Soviet jewelry gold is that it is very difficult to remelt, and if you want to make something new out of it, then with each subsequent reworking, the metal will lose its properties and become either more brittle or vice versa soft.
Therefore, it is not recommended to make complex jewelry from old gold at the jeweler, because if the final design of the jewelry does not suit you, its subsequent alteration may result in poor quality of the metal.
Rubies.
If you are the owner of a gold accessory with red rubies, there are a couple of things that you should definitely consider when deciding whether to sell or remake it.
In the USSR, a real ruby was rarely used in jewelry for the mass segment. More than 90% of all products are encrusted with synthetic stones. Therefore, getting a good reward for such jewelry will not work. It would be most reasonable to sell such an accessory on the secondary market, or to make a ring with a modern design from it.
Sapphire.
This gem in Soviet jewelry is quite rarer than the artificial red ruin. At the same time, just like the latter, it is a special kind of corundum.
Both real and artificial sapphires were found in jewelry, so before selling, it is advisable to check the gemstone for authenticity. At the same time, in any of the cases, they will not give a lot of money for the product, or they will even appreciate the decoration only at the price of scrap.
In such a situation, you can simply leave the stone for yourself and, if necessary, encrust it into a new accessory.
How to make a decision.
It is very difficult to refuse Soviet jewelry. As I said above, there is something magical and attractive in them.
But if you have already thought about the issue of replacing them, then you should not doubt your decisions. Soviet products are as much gold as modern jewelry, and they receive the main value not because of their beauty, but because of your memories and feelings associated with them. Over time, new accessories will acquire similar memories. Therefore, you should not hold on to the old, but you just need to take a step towards meeting new feelings and discoveries. After all, it’s like riding a horse, while everyone has been traveling by car for a long time.
The cost of most Soviet jewelry is several times lower than that of new jewelry. And their only value is your feelings associated with them.
PS: The idea for writing this article was inspired by the materials of the blog «Dronova Nona» dedicated to the jewelry of the USSR.