Although we can’t help you with your lovely lady’s individual taste in jewelry, we can help you choose the best quality jewelry for your money. There are just a few things you need to know, and they depend on which type of jewelry you are buying.

• Gold jewelry: If the label just says “gold,” it is 24 karat gold. 24 karat gold is very soft and usually mixed with other metals so that it can last longer. The karats tell you how many parts (out of 24) of the jewelry is gold. For example, 14 karat gold has 10 parts other metal and 14 parts gold. Watch out for gold plating - it is just a coating on another metal and will eventually wear off. Gold electroplating, gold flashed, or gold washed are also only gold on the outside. White gold is an alloy of a silvery-white metal and gold, and is also measured in karats. Women often have a strong preference between white and yellow gold, so make sure you know which one the woman in your life prefers!

• Platinum jewelry: Platinum has gotten very popular, especially for engagement and wedding rings. Platinum is measured in parts out of one thousand, so platinum jewelry marked 900 means that it is 900 parts platinum, 100 parts other metal. Platinum is a silvery-colored metal that is more durable (and more expensive!) than gold or silver.

• Silver jewelry: Silver is not very durable and is usually not used for items like wedding rings. However, it is inexpensive and a very popular choice for other jewelry. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and is often marked 925. Silverplating is a coating of silver on top of another metal.

• Gemstone jewelry: Gemstones can be mined in nature or man-made in a laboratory. Synthetic, or lab-created gemstones appear the same as natural gemstones, but are often cheaper because they are more plentiful. Imitation stones are usually colored glass made to look like gemstones. Gemstones are measured by size, weight, or both. Different gemstones require different levels of care, so you should talk to a jeweler about the specific gemstone you are looking for.

• Diamond jewelry: Diamonds are, of course, popular with many women. Diamonds are measured in carats, according to their weight. There are many factors that go into the price and quality of a diamond, including cut, clarity, and color. Try Ice.com coupon codes and Diamond.com coupon code for great diamond deals.

• Pearl jewelry: Pearls are made naturally by mollusks such as oysters, and naturally come in a variety of colors, from white to pink and black. Other pearls are colored. Pearls’ value increases with its size and luster.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 18th, 2007 at 11:16 am and is filed under Shopping Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.