How To Buy Guide - Jewelry Guide

Gemstone and pearl jewelry both have a classic flair about them...gemstones add a splash of color to any outfit, while pearls add a cool sense of elegance.

Gemstones

Gemstones are either found in nature or naturally-grown (the natural gemstones being the most expensive). Gemstones created in a lab can look identical to stones mined from the earth, but since they're much less rare they're required by law to be identified as lab-created.

Many gemstones have also been treated in some way. A jeweler should disclose whether a gemstone has been treated when the treatment is not permanent, devalues the gemstone, or when the treated stone requires special care.

The same 4 C's that establish diamond quality are used for gemstones: look for carat weight, cut, clarity, and (most importantly) color.

A great gift is a piece of jewelry bearing a person's birthstone. Click here to browse our selection of ruby, sapphire, and other birthstone earrings.

Pearls

No other type of jewelry quite evokes the same classic, sophisticated sense as pearls. Natural pearls are grown by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls are also grown by mollusks, but with human intervention – an irritant introduced into their shells causes the pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made using glass, plastic, or organic materials.

Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls sold by jewelers are cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls are more expensive, of course, since they're grown by mollusks. The value of a cultured pearl depends on its size, measured in millimeters, and the quality of its coating, which gives it lustre.

A merchant should be able to tell you whether the pearls are natural, cultured or imitation, and in the case of colored pearls whether they have been dyed (or if they occurred that way in nature).

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