FAQs
How do you know if the gold is real?
Legally, every piece of jewelry that is sold in the United States, Europe, and Asia, requires a stamp that identifies the karat of the gold, silver, or platinum. Within the industry, we still test the metal to ensure the stamp corresponds with the actual piece of jewelry. Using traditional diluted hydrochloric acid, we test the jewelry to determine which acid corresponds to the karat of the gold, silver, or platinum. A seasoned professional knows how to do this and read the results.
How do you know the diamond is real?
A natural diamond that is faceted has a very distinct look, versus a synthetic stone. A faceted diamond has sharper facet junctions and looks markedly different than a synthetic stone. Diamonds reflect and refract light differently than any other gem. Furthermore, diamonds weigh differently than synthetic gems. A diamond ranks a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. The Mohs Scale is used to determine the hardness of solids, especially minerals. Diamonds exhibit fluorescence, that is, they emit light of various colors and intensities, occasionally appearing milky or blue that would not occur in a synthetic stone.
What is the value of my diamond?
The value of a diamond is determined by the 4 C’s:
Color
Cut
Clarity
Carat Weight
Just because your diamond is small doesn’t mean it has a lower value than something that is bigger. Each diamond is evaluated on its own merits and properties, then price is determined accordingly.
What is the value of Colored gemstones?
Colored gemstones are evaluated similar to diamonds. Both follow the 4 C’s: color, cut, clarity, carat weight. With colored gemstones, we also add in the additional hue, tone, and saturation. Additionally, market desirability impacts value. If the color is a desirable in the market at this time, the cost will rise. Scarcity in the market will also determine the price of a particular gem.
what’s the difference between 10 karat? 14k? 18k? 20k? 22k? 24k?
24K is 100% gold
22K is 92% gold & 8% alloy
18K is 75% gold & 25% alloy
14K is 58% gold & 42% alloy
10K is 41.7% gold & 58.3% alloy
How do you tell the difference between white gold, pink gold, yellow gold?
Gold is a mineral that comes out of the ground and is yellow in color. In order for gold to be more durable (because the mineral itself is not hard enough to make jewelry out of), you need to mix it with alloy. The color of gold is determined by the type of metal added to the initial pure gold to create the desired shade and materials.
White gold has nickel and zinc added to make color white. Additionally, to keep the color white as long as possible, we put a coating of rhodium on top of the piece of jewelry that keeps the color and strengthens the metal.
Pink gold (rose gold, red gold) has copper and silver in it.
Yellow gold has zinc, silver, and copper in it.
If you decide to sell gold jewelry, be aware that you receive the percentage of the gold weight for your particular piece, not the price of gold for the day. This is for pure gold, and most gold jewelry is mixed with other metals.
How do you store your jewelry?
Store jewelry in a way that is most visible to you and works best with your collection. Some options you can try:
Jewelry trunk for organization (for people who have a lot of pieces)
Jewelry tray where everything is laid out and stacked on top of other trays
Small, clear containers and with each piece in its own separate compartment
Hang small hooks in your closet to match pieces with your outfit
The whole idea is to store your collection in a visible way in front of you. Avoid storing items in little boxes, as you are less likely to wear it if its not easily accessible.
What do you do with expensive jewelry when you're out of home?
You can take your jewelry and lock it away in a secure place in your home like a file cabinet, closet, or lock box. I also have a safe deposit box that I use for when we go on vacation. I will take expensive pieces and store them there.