what is l4kt gold filled?
14kt gold filled jewelry conveys the appearance of solid l4kg, but is 1/20th l4kt gold & is made of layers of l4kg with heat & pressure superimposed over a base metal. l4kt gold filled means that it is NOT plated, & will not change color...permitting an affordable pricepoint,as compared to costly solid l4kt gold. 14kt gold filled has had a big surge in popularity over the last few years as gold prices continue to rise
what is sterling silver?
sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5 percent silver mixed with another material, most often copper; it appears as a white & highly reflective metal. however, it does tend to oxidize & tarnish, but may be easily polished back to original state (see our jewelry cleaning tips)
what does the .925 stamp indicate?
it means that the silver is 92.5% pure silver, usually with a copper base. it is the most popular standard
what is nickel silver?
nickel silver is a metal alloy of copper with nickel & sometimes zince is added..it has a silvery appearance & is often used in costume jewelry...but it doesn't contain the element silver. it's an alloy that has been popular in jewelry making since the l800's
what is vermeil & how do you pronounce it?
pronounced VUR-MAY, vermeil is 18-22k gold applied over a base of sterling silverbonded with l00 millionths of an inch of karat gold. it is very attractive,easily mistaken for solid gold-- another substitute for the higher cost of l4kt gold. often used as accents combined with sterling...a very popular finish in fashion jewelry.. its finish does wear away eventually with time, but if you store in a plastic baggie when not wearing & are careful not to wear them in the shower or while swimming in a pool, they will last for a long while.
what is repousse & how do you pronounce it?
pronounced re-POO-SAY, repousee is created when an artisan presses a sheet of silver into a mold, from the reverse (back) side. after removing the sheet from the mold, the artist uses tools (chisels of varying sizes) to create definition in the design...a three dimension effect.& a challenging craft. please see repousee work by a master, Henryk Winograd, in our store catalog of products
why do some designers put rhodium plating on sterling?
rhodium is a silvery white metallic metal with reflective qualities. it is used as a finish on sterling silver pieces to prevent corrosion & tarnishing & to give the pieces the "look" of platinum
could you explain the differences in l4kt gold, l8kt gold, 24k gold & platinum?
l4 kt gold = 58.3% gold, l4 parts gold + l0 parts of additional metals
l8 kt gold = 75.00% gold, 18 parts gold + 6 parts of additional metals 14kt gold is 58.3% gold
24 kt gold is PURE GOLD
PLATINUM is hard, durable, & heat resistant & a rare metal known as a
PRECIOUS METAL
what is rose gold?
rose gold is gold mixed with 90% copper & l0% silver; also known as Rose de France or pink gold, it was very popular in early 40's jewelry & was a standard classic in European jewelry for years...still popular now, especially with the revival in vintage & estate jewelry
what is the difference between gold plate & gold tone?
goldtone means that the jewelry is plated with l4kt gold, but with a thickness that is less than gold plated. gold plated is less than l/2 of the total weight of the item is
what is cubic zirconia? is it the same as moissanite?
cz's, as they are nicknamed, are synthetic, manmade, highly light refractive gemstones with many properties similar to diamonds, & are known as diamond simulants, no, moissanite is not the same as cz. it is a carbide materail found in meteorites, has a high refractive index, & light dispersion. it came to mass poopularity in the late l998-9 yers, and is touted as a diamdond replacement far superior to cz's...& much more costly.
what is a bail?
a bail is the pendant part that slides onto a chain & is attached to the top of pendant. they appear in many styles from simple to elaborate & in many sizes including variations in the bail openings, which determines the type of chain, ribbon, cord you may fit thru the opening to make a necklace
what is a bezel?
a bezel is a thin metal band that surrounds
the outside edge of a stone
what is filigree?
filigree is an intricately woven design. popular in Spanish jewelry, estate pieces, & classic styles
what does "hallmarked" mean?
a hallmark found on silver & gold articles, frequently indicates the initials of the person who made the aticle, the country of origin, date, & fineness of the metal, e.g. 925 Mexico
WE WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT JEWELRY THAT YOU THINK OUR CUSTOMERS WOULD LIKE ANSWERS TO--please submit & we will review your suggestions & perhaps add your questions to our glossary list of descriptive jewelry terms
