Jewelry - Interesting Jewelry Facts - Jewelry Education Learning Center



	Sponsored Ad

■ JEWELRY FACTS ■ EXPOSING THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY ■ JEWELRY RETAIL STORE SECRETS ■ JEWELRY IN THE NEWS ■ JEWELRY SCAMS ■ FACTS ON STERLING SILVER, GOLD, PLATINUM, STAINLESS STEEL, TITANIUM, GEMSTONE AND DIAMOND JEWELRY ■ CONSUMER JEWELRY INFORMATION AND JEWELRY EDUCATION ■ JEWELRY RESOURCES ■ JEWELRY CONVERSION TOOLS ■ TRUSTED SAFE JEWELRY PRODUCT LINKS ■ CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ■

Home

Submit Your Story / News

Jewelry Learning Center

Trusted Jewelry Product Links

Forum

■ Home

■ Jewelry Headlines

■ Jewelry Store Directory

■ Jewelry Web Links

■ Jewelry In The News

■ Jewelry Learning Center

■ Jewelry Trends

■ Tips & Advice

■ Consumer Complaints

■ Jewelry Product Links

■ Interesting Facts

■ Get Help!

■ Fun with Jewelry!

■ Forum

■ Contact Us

■ Boycott Zales!

Shout Out

Take Our Poll

Jewelry Help

Your Personal Jewelry Shopping Assistant

We've partnered with JewelryByNet.com to help you find the specific jewelry item you're looking for without spending the time to research. Their FREE Jewelry Shopping Assistant will locate your product for you and email you with all the details.

Latest Market Prices

Jewelry Education & Learning Info Center

Interesting Jewelry Facts

What are the different metals in jewelry?

Gold
Since ancient times, gold has been used to create the finest objects of art, religious articles and fine jewelry. Because gold can be mixed with other metals to create different colors and karats, it is one of the most popular metals for jewelry today in the United States and Europe. To regulate the use of gold, the United States passed the National Gold and Silver Stamping Act, which states that if an item is marked with its quality, that mark should be accurate and within the tolerances provided by the Act.

The most common marks for gold jewelry are 18K or 750 (signifying 75% gold), 14K or 585 (58% gold), and 10K (42% gold). Ten karat gold is the lowest level allowed under U.S. law. Jewelry made of higher-karat gold is more yellow in color and slightly softer than gold jewelry made of lower-karat gold, which may include copper, silver, zinc, or other metals. You, the consumer, need to be concerned with the alloys if you are allergic to certain metals or have a high acid content in your body. Acid can turn the jewelry that you wear on your body to black and appear to be of poor quality when it actually is not.

Pure gold (which is always yellow) is too soft for jewelry use. The metals that are mixed with pure gold for strength can also modify the color of gold resulting in different shades of yellow, white, and pink gold. White gold was originally developed to imitate platinum, and is usually an alloy containing 25% nickel and zinc. If stamped 18 karat, it would be 75% pure gold.

Care of Gold

To keep gold gleaming, rub it with a soft chamois or clean it with a few drops of dishwashing detergent and gently brush away dirt with a soft toothbrush.

Platinum

Platinum is an extremely durable metal that has been used in making fine jewelry since the 1880s. Because of its density and strength, platinum is favored above all metals to hold diamonds and was often used in very intricate designs requiring great detail. In the early 1900s platinum became very popular, and its popularity grew until World War II, when it was temporarily banned from use in jewelry because platinum's military uses had higher priority. In the past 10 years, however, platinum jewelry has grown in popularity. The most common marks for platinum are "900 PT, 900 PLAT, PT900 and 900 Plat 100 Irid," which signifies the percentage of platinum and other metals used. Because of the small percentage of other metals alloyed with it, platinum is hypoallergenic and excellent for people who are allergic to other metals. When buying platinum jewelry, follow these tips:

• Be sure the item is stamped with its metal content.

• Be prepared to spend more initially because of the expert craftsmanship required to work in platinum.

• Be sure the sales receipt has "Platinum" written in the description.

Care of platinum is the same as for gold outlined above.

Silver

Silver has been used for jewelry since 3500 BC, when the Egyptians created ornaments out of silver. The word "sterling" is short for "Easterlings," a form of money used in 12th-century England. Silver jewelry was popular because of its large supply, affordable price and ease of manufacture. To be considered "sterling silver," an article must contain at least 92.5 percent silver; that is why sterling silver is marked "925." Although rich in luster, silver tarnishes when exposed to the elements, causing it to turn dark or black. The tarnish can be cleaned using a variety of products on the market.

What can you tell me about buying a diamond?

Diamonds

Diamonds were formed millions of years ago inside the earth under intense heat and pressure. Their unique brilliance and hardness have put them in high demand around the world. Nature's imperfections are inclusions or flaws that appear in this process and affect the stone's clarity. The Gemological Institute of America rates color and clarity using the following terms:

Color

Colorless: D, E, F

Near colorless: G, H, I, J

Faint yellow: K, L, M

Very light yellow: N, O, P, Q, R

Light yellow: S through Z

Clarity

F: Flawless under 10x magnification

IF: Internally flawless under 10x magnification

VVS: Very very slightly included under 10x magnification

VS: Very slightly included under 10x magnification

SI: Slightly included under 10x magnification

I: Included and seen with the naked eye

The prices for rough cut diamonds are regulated, in large part, by De Beers Consolidated Mines Corporation. Approximately eighty percent of the world's production of rough diamonds filters through the De Beers Central Selling Organization, which sells the rough diamonds approximately eight times a year to 160 worldwide members called "sightholders." All rough is sold at the same price to each sightholder, and as the diamonds filter down to cutters and wholesalers, the prices change and reflect various profit margins. Buying from a knowledgeable jewelry professional is your key to finding the best-quality diamond for the greatest value. Take the time to be educated about diamonds so you will understand where the best value is and why. For more information, visit the Gemological Institute of America's website.

Diamond Care

Diamonds are best cleaned in warm water and a little dishwashing detergent, or warm water and a small amount of ammonia (6 parts water to 1 part ammonia). Rinse and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth. We do not recommend ultrasonic jewelry cleaners because the vibrations can enlarge any inclusions that are present in the diamond. These machines can also damage semi-precious stones.

What is a Cubic Zirconia?

Cubic Zirconia

Cubic Zirconia stones are a man-made diamond simulant having optical characteristics that are very close to natural diamonds. On the mohs scale of 1-10 for hardness, a CZ is 8.5 - 8.9, while a diamond is 10. Sand or dirt will not scratch a CZ or a diamond, but CZs and diamonds will both scratch glass. A CZ weighs more than a diamond, and that is one of the principal ways to tell them apart. But once it is set in a piece of jewelry it is very difficult even for a jeweler to distinguish between a diamond and a CZ. For many years there were inferior diamond simulants that were introduced to the public, but current technology has changed that and today's CZ gems remain brilliantly clear just the way a diamond does. We use only the highest grade of hand cut and polished cubic zirconia stones.

No special care is required for a CZ to retain its brilliance; like all stones, keeping it clean using warm water and a drop or two of dishwashing detergent is all that is needed.

Top of Page

Jewelry Learning Center

■ Learning Center Home

	Popular Resources
	■ Find Your Ring Size ■ MM To Inch Conversion ■ Conversion Calculator ■ Chain Length Chart ■ Birthstone Info & Chart ■ Gemstone Info & Chart ■ Anniversary Gift Chart ■ Jewelry Definitions ■ Jewelry Facts

Diamond Section

■ Diamond Guide
■ Ring Advice for Men
■ Engagement Ring Options
■ Make Diamonds Look Larger
■ Fancy Color Diamonds
■ Color Treatments
■ Clarity Enhanced Diamonds
■ Diamond Laser Inscription
■ Learn the 4C's
■ Diamond Shapes
■ Diamond Cut
■ Diamond Colors
■ Diamond Clarity
■ Diamond Settings
■ Diamond Weights
■ Diamond Fluorescence
■ Diamond Inclusions
■ Diamond Blemishes
■ Carat Weight Options
■ Diamond Care
■ Cleaning Diamond Rings
■ Care Of Fine Jewelry
■ Diamond Legends
■ Resetting an Heirloom

	Gemstone Section
	■ Colored Gemstones ■ Created Gemstones ■ Birthstones and Other ■ Birthstones Chart ■ Gemstone Information ■ Caring For Gemstones ■ Learn About Emeralds ■ Peridot Jewelry ■ Gemstone Terminology ■ Truth About Gemstones ■ Before You Buy

	Precious Metals
	■ Precious Metals ■ Learn About Gold ■ History of Gold ■ Colors Of Gold ■ White Gold ■ Other Gold Colors ■ Colored Gold Alloys ■ Gold Jewelry Care ■ Learn About Silver ■ Learn About Platinum

	Pearl Section
	■ Learn About Pearls ■ Pearl History ■ Buying Pearls ■ Types Of Pearls ■ Pearl Sizes ■ Pearl Styles ■ Cultured Pearls ■ Caring For Pearls

	Special Occasions
	■ Birthdays ■ Anniversaries ■ Engagements ■ Weddings ■ Graduations ■ Mother's Day Gift Guide ■ Holidays ■ Celtic Claddagh Info ■ Evil Eye Jewelry

	Body Jewelry
	■ All About Body Jewelry ■ Gauge Chart 1 ■ Gauge Chart 2 ■ Body Jewelry History ■ Conversion Chart ■ Definitions ■ Metals Used ■ Body Piercing Aftercare ■ Piercing Healing Times ■ Suggested AfterCare ■ Other Jewelry Care

	Jewelry Technology
	■ Lost Wax Casting ■ Stamping ■ Holloware ■ Electroforming ■ Chain Making ■ Soldering ■ Finishing ■ New Technologies

Breaking News Saturday, July 31, 2010

Jewelers sweat a 'Blood Diamond' holiday
source
As U.S. jewelry merchants see it, "Blood Diamond" could mean a blue Christmas.

"It's a tough movie ... it will raise a lot of questions," Tiffany CEO Michael Kowalski told analysts last week at the Goldman Sachs retail conference in New York

Have a complaint, story or article that you would like featured on JewelryFacts? Submit it here!

JEWELRY LEARNING CENTER

JEWELRY HEADLINES

Saturday, July 31, 2010

■ Is Jacob the Jeweler Jacob the Money Launderer? Jacob the Jeweler was Arrested on Money Laundering Charges

■ Zales threatening to sue BoycottZales.com for publishing the truth

■ Consumer Complaints: Blue Niles Break Half-Price Promises

■ Ebay users fed up with fakes

■ Stores to stop selling jewelry with toxic lead

■ ShopNBC jewelry Scams and consumer complaints

LATEST JEWELRY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS

Elsarings.com doesn't deliver on custom sapphire ring
I bought myself a beautiful sapphire several years ago and finally had the money to have it set. I contacted a few different jewelers and chose one based on price and also whoever contacted me back. ...

Consumer Complaints: Amazon.com uses shady practices with it's own sellers
I'm not going to use my real email address as we all know what happens to sellers who speak the "truth" about Amazon selling. They get canned. ....

Consumer Complaints: Blue Niles Break Half-Price Promises
Dollsome reader Paige C. writes in about the tragic mislaying of one of her Blue Nile earrings. It is rather predictably followed by a smattering of appalling customer service on Blue Nile’s part after they promise (then deny) her a half-priced replacement

Complaints about Zales Jewelry - Customers being ripped off
Christmas 2000, my husband bought me a heart-shaped diamond necklace from Zales Jewelry located at the Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City, Iowa at a cost of $212.96. Just before Christmas 2001, I noticed that two of the diamonds were missing, so I took it back to the mall store to be repaired. That was the last time I saw it!!

ShopNBC jewelry Scams and consumer complaints
Mary of Spring Hill, FL, purchased $10,000+ in jewelry from Shop NBC only to find that many of the pieces were not as described. The diamonds were not the quality as stated on the site and by host. Major stones were cracked, broken and even missing when they arrived.

Ebay users fed up with fakes
Rogers thought she had snagged a great deal on Ebay. But when the jewelry arrived from a seller in Rhode Island, her well-trained eye told her all the pieces were knockoffs.

UPS - Lost Jewelry Case
UPS loses $15,000 Diamond Ring and leaves customer empty handed.

Chicago Jeweler Accused of "Cyber-Squatting"
With the online Christmas shopping season in full swing, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is suing a Chicago area jewelry store that she says unfairly took business away from its competitors and deceived online shoppers by using copycat Web addresses to redirect consumers from their intended Internet destinations.

Add To Del.icio.us

Top Gift Ideas

14K White Gold .02 Carat Diamond Heart Pendant
~~List Price: $289.00~~
Your Price: $116.00
You Save $173.00!

14k White Gold 3 1/2 Carat Tw Diamond Bracelet

14K Gold Basketball Custom Number Personalized Sports Pendant
~~List Price $999.00~~
Your Price $500.00
You Save $499.00!

14k Yellow Gold 3/4 Carat Tw Diamond Three Stone Pendant With Chain

14K White Gold Diamond Heart Chain Slide Pendant
~~List Price: $548.00~~
Your Price: $220.00
You Save $328.00!

14K Gold Bling Double Name Plate With Diamonds Pendant

14K Gold Designer XOXO Bracelet
~~List Price: $599.00~~
Your Price: $263.00
You Save $336.00!

10K 2 tone gold link designer Designer bracelet

14K White Gold Hinged Diamond Earrings
~~List Price: $999.00~~
Your Price: $669.00
You Save $330.00!

14K Gold Personalized Custom Made Name Belly Ring
~~List Price: $250.00~~
Our Price: $120.00
You Save $130.00!

Exclusive Penthouse® 14kt Yellow Gold fish hook earrings with Penthouse signature key

Stainless Steel & 14K Gold Designer Bracelet With Black Carbonite Links
~~List Price: $99.00~~
Our Price: $40.00
You Save $59.00!

14K Yellow Gold Custom Personalized Bling Name Ring With Diamonds
~~List Price: $1,035.00~~
Our Price: $499.00
You Save $536.00!

Sterling Silver And 14K Yellow Gold Heart Fashion Ring
~~List Price $220.00~~
Your Price $88.00
You Save $132.00!