Gold and Silver Fine Jewelry
The definition of fine jewelry can vary depending on who you speak to, but generally most would agree that fine jewelry is considered jewelry that is made of precious metals such as gold and silver, and it may or may not contain precious and semi precious gem stones.
There is not question that gold is not only one of the world's most precious metals it is also the precious metal that is enjoyed and worn the most as jewelry. Jewelers, designers, artisans, and consumers all have one thing in common. There love affair with gold! The availability of styles, colors, and finishes appears to be endless. As long as there are creative designers gold will continue to have an ever refreshing look.
Sterling silver is almost as popular as gold and for some it is even preferred. As with gold, sterling silver artisans and designers are continuously designing to styles and finishes. There appears to be no waning in the love affair with sterling silver either.
The best thing about gold is that it will last forever. From one generation to the next, for eternity gold jewelry can be handed down. It may wear thin but it will never corrode or rust. .
24 kt gold is pure gold but it is so soft that it is not really feasible for jewelry. That's why it is usually mixed with other metals to increase the hardness. The karat marking tells you the portion of gold that is mixed with other metals. So 14k jewelry contains 14 parts of gold mixed with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat the higher the portion of gold in the metal. Gold jewelry should be marked with the karat.
As with gold sterling silver is too soft to use by itself and so it is normally mixed with copper or another alloy. These combinations make silver much more durable and hardy. For silver to get the sterling silver mark it must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. There are several marks used to identify sterling silver. Some of the more common marks are 925, sterling, and sterling silver. You will also see sterling silver with a hallmark.
Fine jewelry often is set with precious gem stones or semi precious gem stones. Diamonds are one of the many very popular gems for jewelry. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, amethyst, and topaz are just a few of the very popular gem stones. Turquoise, coral, onyx, hematite, and peridot are just a few of the popular semi precious gem stones.
You should always remove your fine jewelry if you are participating in activities that may cause impact to your jewelry. If you are using cleaning chemicals, and you should avoid getting makeup, perfume, or hair spray on your jewelry. These products can damage your gems.
You should have your jewelry regularly checked by a jeweler for worn claws, loose stones, and worn clasps. Pearls should be restrung at least every two years. The claws on your diamond rings should be checked at least once a year and preferably every six months. If you are snagging or catching on your ring, remove it and do not wear until a jeweler has examined the claws. Check necklace clasps when putting your necklace on to be sure the clasp is catching correctly.
Your jeweler will be happy to clean your jewelry if you take it to him. Most jewelers will even do it for free. But if you have a lot of jewelry this can be rather a pain, so the best thing to do is purchase a good quality jewelry cleaner or use a mild soap and water and clean your jewelry at home. You can use a soft toothbrush to clean around the claws and places where dirt can become trapped. After cleaning rinse with warm water and polish with a soft cloth. You should clean your jewelry on a regular basis. At least every three months and more often if it is a jewelry item you wear often.
Your beautiful fine jewelry cost plenty and that's okay because you plan to enjoy it for your life and leave it to a loved one to continue enjoying. Fine jewelry truly can be enjoyed for an eternity. Don't buy fine jewelry and then leave it in your jewelry box because you are worried you will loose it. Regular checks by your jeweler will keep your risk to a minimum and it's a shame not to enjoy those beautiful fine jewelry pieces you own.
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