Fine jewelry is meant to be worn for years, which is why a few minutes spent learning the basics pays off. Once you know what the metal stamps mean and how gemstones are described, comparing two pieces becomes simple, and choosing a gift stops feeling like guesswork.

Gold: What the Karat Number Means

Pure gold is too soft for jewelry, so it is mixed with other metals. The karat number tells you how much of the piece is gold, out of 24 parts.

Gold comes in yellow, white and rose. White gold is usually plated with rhodium for a bright finish, which can be renewed over time. Rose gold gets its blush from a little extra copper.

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Silver, Platinum and Modern Metals

• Sterling silver (925) is 92.5% pure silver. It is bright, affordable and often rhodium-plated to resist tarnish.
• Platinum is naturally white, dense and hypoallergenic, and it holds stones very securely.
• Stainless steel, titanium and tungsten are tough, low-maintenance metals that suit everyday bracelets and men's bands.

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Gemstones: Natural, Lab-Created and Simulated

You will see three words on gemstone jewelry, and they mean very different things:

• Natural stones were mined from the earth.
• Lab-created (or lab-grown) stones have the same chemistry and hardness as the natural gem, grown in a controlled setting. They are real gemstones.
• Simulated stones only imitate the look. Cubic zirconia, for example, resembles diamond but is a different material.

Hardness matters for how a stone will wear. On the Mohs scale, diamond is 10, sapphire and ruby are 9, and topaz is 8. These handle daily knocks well. Opal, pearl and turquoise are much softer and are happiest in earrings and pendants.

Choosing a Piece That Suits the Wearer

1. Match their metal. Look at what they already wear: mostly gold, or mostly silver?
2. Start with no-size pieces if you are unsure: earrings, pendants and adjustable bracelets.
3. Make it personal. A birthstone turns a simple piece into one chosen only for them.
4. Check the fit. Our ring size guide helps, and the wrong size can be exchanged within 30 days.

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Caring for Fine Jewelry

• Put jewelry on last, after lotion and perfume, and take it off to swim, shower or exercise.
• Clean gold, platinum and most gemstones with warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush.
• Wipe soft stones such as opal and pearl with a damp cloth only; never soak them.
• Store pieces separately in soft pouches so harder stones cannot scratch softer metals.

For more, see our jewelry care guide and metal and gemstone guide.

Questions, Answered