Buying jewelry
Guides to buying with confidence: authenticity, price, certificates and questions.
31 entries
Buying guides
14 karat or 18 karat gold: differences and which to choose
Differences between 14 and 18 karat gold: purity (58.5% and 75%), color, hardness, price and which suits rings, wedding bands and daily wear.
Jewelry
Bridal and wedding jewelry: what to choose
Guide to jewelry for brides and guests: engagement ring, wedding bands, earrings, necklace and tiara; how to combine them with the dress and neckline.
Buying guides
Fine jewelry or costume jewelry: differences and which to choose
Differences between fine jewelry (gold, silver, platinum and gemstones) and costume jewelry (base metals, glass, plastic): price, durability and when each suits.
Buying guides
Gold plated, gold filled, vermeil and solid gold: differences
Differences between solid gold, vermeil, gold filled and gold plated: gold layer, durability, price and which to choose for everyday wear.
Materials
Gold-filled
Gold-filled is a base metal covered with a thick layer of gold bonded by heat and pressure; more durable than gold plating and much cheaper than solid gold.
Jewelry around the world
How to buy artisan and Indigenous jewelry ethically
A guide to buying artisan jewelry from Indigenous peoples with respect: ask about the artist, origin and materials, and avoid appropriation.
Buying guides
How to buy jewelry online safely
A checklist for buying jewelry online: seller reputation, material and hallmark, certificates, returns, insured shipping and red flags.
Buying guides
How to choose an engagement ring and how much to spend
How to choose an engagement ring: style, size, metal, stone and budget; the salary rule is a myth and what to look at so you do not overpay.
Buying guides
How to choose jewelry for your style and personality
How to choose jewelry that represents you: define your style, look at your wardrobe, decide between understated and statement and start with versatile basics.
Jewelry care and maintenance
How to clean jewelry with gemstones
How to clean jewelry with stones: which stones handle water and a brush, which are delicate (pearls, opal, emerald, turquoise) and which avoid ultrasonic.
Buying guides
How to read a diamond certificate: what each section says
What information appears in a gemological diamond certificate (4Cs, measurements, fluorescence, inscription) and what it is not: it is not an appraisal.
Buying guides
How to tell if gold is real
How to check whether a gold piece is genuine: stamp, magnet, color, wear and professional acid or XRF testing; which home tests are unreliable.
Buying guides
How to tell if silver is real
How to check whether a silver piece is genuine: 925 mark, magnet, ice, white cloth and professional testing; which tests are reliable and which are not.
Jewelry
Jewel
What a jewel is: a personal adornment of precious metals and stones. Types of jewelry (rings, necklaces, earrings), materials and the difference from costume jewelry.
Buying guides
Jewelry by occasion and profession: what to wear and avoid
Which jewelry to choose for the office, a wedding, sport or travel, and what to avoid in jobs with hands-on work, kitchens, healthcare or machinery.
Buying guides
Jewelry for your hands, your fingers and your height
How to choose rings and bracelets for the size of your hands and fingers, and which scale of jewelry suits your height and proportions.
Buying guides
Jewelry for your neckline and clothes: which necklace to wear
Which necklace and earrings to choose for the neckline, collar and color of your clothes: V, round, high, boat and strapless.
Buying guides
Jewelry for your skin tone, your hair and your face shape
Which metals and colors flatter your skin undertone and hair, and which earrings to choose for your face shape. Guidelines, not rules.
Buying guides
Jewelry hallmarks and stamps: what 925, 750 or 585 mean
What the numbers stamped on jewelry mean (925, 750, 585, Pt950) and how to read gold, silver and platinum marks.
Jewelry care and maintenance
Jewelry that does not tarnish or stain: which materials to choose
Jewelry materials that do not tarnish or darken: solid gold, platinum, titanium and 316L stainless steel; what happens with plated, vermeil and silver pieces.
Buying guides
Lab-grown or natural diamond: differences, price and which to choose
Differences between a lab-grown and a natural diamond: same material, different origin and price; how to tell them apart, certificates and resale value.
Jewelry
Pearl necklace: how to choose
Guide to choosing a pearl necklace: cultured, freshwater, Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian pearls; size, luster, shape, length and care.
Jewelry
Pendants and charms: types, bails and how to choose
What a pendant and a charm are: types (initial, drop, cross, medal, solitaire), the bail, size relative to the chain and how to combine them.
Techniques
Refining and cupellation of precious metals
Refining purifies gold and silver; cupellation separates precious metals from base metals with lead and bone ash, an ancient assay technique.
Jewelry
Seals in jewelry: Mesopotamian cylinders, scarabs and intaglios
Engraved stone seals are among the oldest jewels: Mesopotamian cylinders, Egyptian scarabs, Roman intaglios and Chinese seals; what they are and how they were used.
Techniques
Stone settings: types and how to choose
A setting holds the stone in the jewel: prong, bezel, channel, pavé, tension, invisible and flush; how each works and which to choose for the stone and use.
Jewelry
Tiaras: what they are, styles and how to choose one
A tiara is a semicircular headpiece worn at the front of the hair; history, styles (halo, kokoshnik, floral), materials and how to choose one for a wedding.
Jewelry
Wedding rings: types, widths, metals and how to choose
How to choose wedding rings: profiles (flat, domed, comfort fit), widths, metals (gold, platinum, titanium), engraving, size and which hand and finger to wear them on.
Buying guides
What chain length to choose for a necklace
Necklace length guide in centimeters: choker (35-41 cm), princess (43-48), matinee (50-61), opera (71-86) and rope (90 or more), with where each one falls.
Buying guides
What to ask before buying jewelry: a list of 12 questions
Twelve questions worth asking at a jeweler before you buy: metal, hallmark, stones, certificate, warranty, size, care and returns.
Buying guides
Why does jewelry cost what it costs? What is behind the price
The price of a jewel adds up metal, stones, design, making, finishing, brand and distribution. Here is how it splits and why handmade costs more.