Jewelry Craftmanship

Pay attention to the mounting and setting if you want your jewelry to last and hold gems securely.
Mountings:
* Select sturdy mountings for everyday jewelry.
* Avoid hollow ring and chains.
* The jewelry must be well finished on the back and underneath.
* Make sure the clasp works if there is one.
* Ask if the jewelry is well crafted and find out why it is or isn't.
Settings:
* Determine if there's enough metal holding the stone.
* Make sure the edge of the stone is flat against the seat,there shouldn't be space between the prongs and the stones.
* Verify that you can see most of the stone.
* Get hand fabricated or machine made settings for everyday prong style rings.
* Ask the jeweler to show you some examples of good quality settings so you'll have a basic for comparison.

Choosing a jeweler

At least 3 things you should consider when you choose a jeweler:
1. Knowledgeable, a jeweler should have gemological credentials at least be able to detect synthetic stones.
2. Are they candid and ethical? Do they explain quality and tretment in clear language not just rely on trade euphemisms and marketing term.
3. They should have a love for gems and jewelry. Jewelers who only care about price and benefit are not likely to have artistic designs.

Price factors for diamonds

Six basic price factor for diamonds: cut quality (proportions and finish), color (less color higher the price), clarity (fewer and smaller the flaws,the higher the price), carat weight, shape and cutting style, and type of treatment (untreated or treated) .

Misnomers of gemstones

Some sellers add qualifying words or prefixs to gemstones names that misrepresent their true identy to make them seem more valuable.These names called misnomers,for examples:dyed blue jasper called german lapis or swiss lapis,green glass called emerald,green sapphire called oriental emerald,topaz called mogok diamond,brazilian ruby or brazilian sapphire.So beware of those names.

BIRTHSTONES

Birthstones established in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers' Association:

• JANUARY Garnet
• FEBRUARY Amethyst
• MARCH Bloodstone/Aquamarine
• APRIL Diamond
• MAY Emerald
• JUNE Pearl/Moonstone
• JULY Ruby
• AUGUST Peridot/Sardonyx
• SEPTEMBER Sapphire
• OCTOBER Opal/Tourmaline
• NOVEMBER Topaz
• DECEMBER Turquoise/Lapis lazuli