You may be buying a beautiful necklace for your mother, or an engagement ring for the love of your life, but whatever the piece is you’ll find it’s hard to top the feeling of buying the perfect beautiful piece of jewelry. Alternatively, nothing is worse than spending a lot of your hard-earned money on a piece that’s not top quality, breaks easily, or simply isn’t as brilliant as it seemed to be in the store. When you buy jewelry you expect it to be the same quality at home as it appears in store, and using this guide you should be able to walk out of the shop with confidence, knowing that your purchase, whatever item it may be, will meet your standards.
The Importance of the Metal
Too many people simply overlook this building block of just about every jewelry piece. Most people become so engaged in the gemstone of a ring or necklace that they forget to check the materials surrounding them. There’s not a right or wrong answer necessarily, but it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into, as each metal has their ups and downs.
Gold: Gold is a very soft metal, and it can easily be damaged or misshapen. Often to avoid this issue gold will be mixed with different metals. This is where karat really comes into play. Karat is how you measure how pure the gold is. If it’s less than 24 karats then it’ll tell you the percentage of gold in the piece. For example, a ring that is advertised as 18 karats (K) is approximately made of 75% gold. The lowest karat allowed in the U.S. is 10K. Pieces that have higher levels of other metals, and thusly are a lower karat, will be less brilliant or colorful compared to the traditional look of gold. The danger with this is that other metals, such as copper, will be more likely to have chemical reactions to everyday use, such as sweat, and ruin the quality of the piece by changing color. Gold is beautiful, but it’s also very high maintenance.
Silver: Silver is still quite lustrous while also being more durable than gold, however it can become tarnished quite easily when it’s exposed to the elements. Major problems found with silver lie not with the metal itself, but with labels. Often people will believe regular silver is the same as “German silver” or “nickel silver”. No real silver is actually found in these products though. They simply appear similar to silver. Be sure to clarify with the jeweler before buying a silver piece. As well, ask them the percentage of silver in the piece, since anything less than 92.5% is legally unable to be sold as silver.
Platinum: Due to its high levels of durability, platinum is expensive for manufacturers to work with. While this means less maintenance than other pieces it also means that the luster is quickly lost, and it will potentially need even more upkeep to keep it looking nice. Just like silver the piece will often be called just “platinum”, however there’s more to it than that. Like gold, it can be comprised of many different metals, so it’s important to ask the jeweler the specific percentage of platinum in the piece before purchasing. It’s nice to have verification from the jeweler, but the information can also typically be found stamped into the piece.
Read more about three stone setting engagement ring.
The gems and how they Sparkle
There are three types of gems to consider: Natural, Imitation, and Synthetic. Natural gems are exactly said; they are found growing in the world and are cut and treated. Natural gems are rare, and thereby far more expensive. Synthetic gems are created inside of a lab and are made to act and look similar to their real counterpart. Imitations are just as they say, and are often made of materials like plastic and glass. Along with this, keep in mind the following qualities as well:
- Color: Color isn’t the most reliable indicator for identifying gemstones, since the notion that all emeralds are green, all sapphires are blue, and all rubies are red has been long since debunked. Certain companies use this misinformation to sell cheaper gems as if they are something more precious. You can still use the various tone levels though to narrow down which gem it may be. Note the different colorations of a gem when it is observed from at least three different angles.
- Transparency: This term is just about how well light passes through a gem. Gems that are more transparent will allow more light to pass through, while other gems that are more opaque will allow less to pass through. This is another good way to identify a gem, as each kind will have a general level associated with them.
- Cut: Gems tend to be cut into certain styles. Some of the most common styles include the cameo, bead, tumbled, cabochon, and faceted cuts. In any case, generally speaking they are all cut in a round shape, and any other shape is referred to as “fancy cut” and will usually be more expensive. Some common fancy cuts might include the marquise, trillion, princess, pear, oval, and antique.
- Phenomena: phenomena refers to light’s interaction with the structural anatomy of the gem, resulting in some sort of optical effect. The effects might appear as a moving band of light, shimmer, glow, flash of light, or a change of color. The type of phenomena will greatly reduce the number of possible gems it could be. You’ll typically find chatoyancy, color change, orient, play of color, and asterism type phenomenal effects. Stones with phenomenal effects are extremely appealing due to the captivity and rare beauty they add.
- Luster: Also applicable with metals, luster describes the intensity and quality of a gem’s surface in reflected light. This is useful to determine the level of polish that went into making the gemstone.
- Dispersion: Dispersion is the separation of white light into spectral colors. This visual effect is called ‘fire’, and gems will each have a unique level of fire within them.
- Heft: This is simply the weight of the stone compared to its size. A stone may look large but have light density, meaning that it is low in heft. Typically amber and plastic are low heft materials, while pure gems are high heft.
Diamonds have their own category, as there are no other gemstone quite like it. They use four categories: cut (similar to the gems in how they are presented), clarity, (how flawless the diamond is), carat (the weight of the gem, also a seperate term from karat), and color (from colorless to yellow). Known as “The Four C’s” this method is commonly accepted as the best means by which you can measure a diamond’s worth.
Since you’re now better educated on the individual components it’s time for you to learn some of the more fine details in shopping for necklaces, earrings, and rings.
How to Decide on Which Necklace to Buy
When it comes to fashion, necklaces are a big complementary piece. They are far more noticeable than any other piece of jewelry, and can either make or break an outfit. Their job is to make you stand out, so it’s important to know what to look for.
Monochromatic Vs. Multicolored: Monochromatic necklaces are comprised entirely of one solid color, and are generally easier to coordinate with an outfit. A multicolored necklace will include more than one color, or gradient of color. These are often best paired with plain outfits, like a simple white top or single colored dress. Anything with a pattern can look too busy and detract from the attire.
Shapes: Necklaces are described in one of the following three categories in regards to shape; Bib, Geometric and Irregular. Bib necklaces will fit tightly and rest just under the neck, and best match with outfits that include strapless dresses or smooth and simple tops. You can use geometrics with most any type of outfit as they are tend to follow more traditional looks and include geometric shapes. Irregular necklaces will stand out, and are often the centerpiece of the outfit, so it’s best to wear something simple with it.
How to pick the Perfect pair of Earrings
A large number of people have had their ears pierced, making earrings an ideal safe choice when it comes to shopping for friends and family. A rule of thumb would be to find a matching necklace for them, but this isn’t necessary. Given earrings are typically a one-size-fits-all item you won’t have to worry about how well they fit. Even better, most styles compliment every attire, allowing a fair amount of variety in our wardrobes. They are most commonly found in three styles:
Studs: Small yet elegant, these are the easiest to wear and the most versatile. A single pair of studs is able to both compliment a cocktail dress as well as flatter a shirt and jeans outfit.
Hoops: Hoops are some level of circular design, similar to a ring. They come in many shapes, sizes and styles. Though they are normally used in light, casual attire, they are able to work with a formal dress if they’re made with finer metals or some gemstones.
Drops: Drops will drop down below the hole and dangle there, often swaying with movement. This style will often be seen at formal events due to the level of sophistication it brings.
How to pick a Wedding or Engagement Ring
The best, and often most important, piece is left for last. Rings hold more weight than other pieces as they often symbolize a level of commitment. They are often regarded as the ultimate statement of love and romance, and nothing encapsulates that more than the wedding band or the engagement ring. Everything we’ve discussed in this article should be utilized when picking out these rings. Especially think about the metal and gemstone topics, as they will help you find the perfect piece for your soulmate.
As well as this, be sure to have as much information compiled together as you can before even stepping into the jewelry store. Know important details, such as ring size, styles that your lover likes, what stones they enjoy the most, etc. You’ll get the most help from a jeweler if you can provide this information to them.
Alongside all of that you will want to always receive a certificate of authenticity, and invest your money with a jeweler that offers excellent return and insurance policies. More often than not, these rings are more expensive than any other item in the shop, so you need to make sure that you get the best services you can when you make one of these purchases. If your ring becomes damaged, but is uninsured, then short of paying a hefty price for a new one you’ll find yourself out of luck.
Three Stone Setting Trillion Emerald Shape Center Engagement Ring 