| Jewelry is often the preferred gift for all people | | | | Gemstones occur naturally, but some are created |
| and all occasions. From high school graduation to | | | | in the laboratory-they appear the same and have |
| diamond or ruby weddings jewelry tends to be | | | | similar physical and chemical properties. They do |
| the top selling gift. If you do intend spending some | | | | not have the rarity of natural gemstones and are, |
| money on jewelry however, it is wise to do your | | | | or should be, less expensive than naturally mined |
| homework first. Not every item of jewelry is | | | | stones. Imitation gemstones, on the other hand, |
| suitable for all-people can be quite particular about | | | | resemble natural gemstones in appearance, but |
| the type of jewelry they wear; some people for | | | | that is where the resemblance ends. Gemstones |
| example, think that pearls are unlucky and so | | | | may be measured by size of weight or a |
| they refuse to wear them. | | | | combination of the two-like precious metals they |
| Although most jewelry salespeople are quite | | | | are measured in karats. |
| honest and upfront about their merchandise there | | | | The quality of diamonds is based on their color, |
| are those whose day is not complete unless they | | | | cut, clarity and karat. The clarity and color of a |
| manage to scam the unwary. So it makes sense | | | | diamond is graded-find out what criteria is used in |
| to understand some of the industry terms for | | | | grading the clarity and color of any diamond you |
| jewelry and to be aware of the quality of the | | | | may be intending to buy. The weight of a |
| item or items that you wish to purchase. If | | | | diamond is measured in karats. Natural pearls |
| something is sold simply as gold, then what it | | | | come from oysters and mollusks, cultured pearls |
| really means is 24 karat. Because it is so soft | | | | imply some sort of human intervention in the |
| 24kt gold is usually mixed with other metals to | | | | process. Natural pearls are quite rare and so most |
| harden it. Any item that is sold as gold, but is not | | | | jewelry that is made from them is either cultured |
| 24kt should have the karat attached to it. If the | | | | or imitation pearls. The value of cultured pearls is |
| vendor tells you that they don't know the karat | | | | based on its size and the quality of the coating |
| or that it's 18kt but not marked, then be on the | | | | which gives a pearl its luster. Jewelers should tell |
| safe side and don't buy it. Platinum is a precious | | | | you whether a pearl is imitation or cultured. |
| metal that is usually more expensive than gold-it is | | | | Don't buy the first item you see, even if it does |
| often mixed with other similar metals such as | | | | fulfil all you criteria. You can often get a better |
| palladium and rhodium. The markings that are | | | | deal on jewelry by shopping around. Many people |
| used to denote an item as platinum are different | | | | now buy jewelry items over the internet-if you |
| to the markings used on gold. They are based on | | | | do this then make sure that the item is |
| the amount of thousand parts platinum per piece, | | | | accompanied by the relevant criteria as listed |
| the more parts, the more valuable-and expensive, | | | | above. |
| the item. | | | | |