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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “tiffany and co”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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The Difference Between White Gold and Platinum
The first difference between white gold and platinum is the most basic and is the foundation of all the other differences. White gold and platinum are different…and platinum have their own properties that make them unique. How is white gold made? White gold is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as silver, nickel or palladium. The white color is achieved by a careful choice of the … bleach the deep yellow of pure gold. The amount of alloy mixed with gold is called its karat. The key to understanding gold karat is the karat value over 24. An example is a 14-karat gold wedding ring. It is 14/24, which equals 58.3% …
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Caring for and Cleaning Your Jewelry
… Jewelry A diamond’s spectacular beauty is due to its light show. Diamonds make light reflect, show its many colors, and dazzle. To perform its magic the diamond must be clean. Diamonds are grease magnets. They will pull the oil from … and dirt stick to the grease and oils creating a lifeless diamond. Cleaning your diamond jewelry at home is simple and rewarding. Use a soft toothbrush and mild soap then rinse thoroughly with warm water. The key to diamond cleaning is …
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The Magic of Polarized Light
… when we put on our sunglasses, turn on our TV, or sit down at our computer. But, what is polarized light exactly, and why is my jeweler writing about it? It turns out that polarized light is actually a very useful tool in gemology, and …ll show you why. What Is Polarized Light? Light from almost any light source travels in many different directions, and the vibrations around each ray of light are random. This is called unpolarized light. In the gemological world, this w…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
Amethyst is known for its beautiful purple color, and it is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry. Purple has long been considered a royal color, so it is not… in so much demand throughout history. Gemology Amethyst is a variety of quartz that is colored by the presence iron and aluminum. The violet color of amethyst can range from a pale lavender to a deep, dark purple, and it is often found …, and Madagascar, but it can also be found in smaller deposits in other countries such as Russia, the United States, and Canada. Amethyst is known for its durability with a Mohs hardness rating of 7. For reference, amethyst is roughly as…
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Anatomy of a Ring
Knowing the different parts of a ring can help you make a better decision when choosing a new ring and it can help you know when your ring may need maintenance. It’s also a fun way to impress your friends with your vast… know it was sized looking at the shank with your naked eye. Over time, the shank can wear thin—yes, even gold and platinum can wear away. In such cases a jeweler can “re-shank” the ring by replacing the metal at the bottom of the shank… (removing them when doing dishes, cleaning with harsh chemicals, gardening, etc.), the shank may last your lifetime and beyond. But, shanks that were thinner to begin with are more likely to need attention sooner. When shopping for a …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire
… the imagination as does sapphire. Sapphire’s beauty inspired people to wonder. Ancient cultures had many lore and beliefs about the sapphire. The ancient Persians believed the earth rested on a giant sapphire whose reflection gave the …. Ancient priests and sorcerers honored sapphire above all gems, for this stone enabled them to interpret oracles and foretell the future. Symbolizing truth, sincerity and tradition, it has been said that when Moses received the Ten …
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Synthetic Gems: The Whole Story
Ruby, sapphire, emerald and alexandrite are very beautiful gems and very rare in their stunning beauty. These four gems have been coveted by … of years. But, what if anyone could own them? At gem shows and museums, I have seen jaw dropping rubies, sapphires and emeralds. These gems in high quality have put ownership beyond most people to justify the price. Just a one carat gem…over $10,000 routinely. The answer was to find a less expensive way to have these gems. It took over a hundred years and millions of dollars of research to create what nature can produce. Man made gems come in many forms. Every thing …
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Measuring Gold Weight
…. One ounce of gold is not the same as the ordinary ounce (really called avoirdupois ounce). The best way to understand this is to convert them both to a uniform system. A gram or gramme is a standard metric unit of mass. An avoirdupois … the troy. In the Troy system only 12 ounces equal a pound. So a pound of feathers weighs 453.59 grams approximately and a pound of gold weighs 373.24 approximately. So a pound of feathers weighs more then a pound of gold. Some say gold …
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Platinum
Everything you ever wanted to know (and more) about Platinum and its use in jewelry. Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable precious metals. … forever, unlike other white metals which can, in time, turn yellow or tarnish. Platinum belongs to the noble and precious metals family. It is resistant to tarnishing and discoloration due to chlorine and other chemicals. These factors…, have made platinum an increasingly popular choice for jewelry, either on its own or as the setting for diamonds and other precious gemstones. Platinum jewelry does not fade or tarnish and keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum’s …
