Metals & Gemstones Guide

Metals & Gemstones

Know Your Metals & Stones

A clear guide to the metals and gemstones behind every piece, so you can choose with confidence and care.

Understanding metals

The metal sets the tone of a piece, its color, its weight, and how it wears over time. Here is what to know before you choose.

Warm & classic

14k gold

58.5% pure gold, prized for its rich color and durability. A refined choice for pieces worn every day, and gentle on most skin.

Strong & value-minded

10k gold

41.7% pure gold, the most hard-wearing of the golds. A practical choice for active hands that still carries the glow of solid gold.

Bright & versatile

Sterling silver

92.5% pure silver, cool and luminous. Beautiful and easy to live with, it simply asks for an occasional polish to stay bright.

Warm & romantic

Rose gold

Gold alloyed with copper for a soft pink hue. Durable and flattering against the skin, it has a distinctly modern romance.

Gemstone hardness at a glance

The Mohs scale measures how well a stone resists scratching, from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Harder stones handle daily wear with ease, while softer ones are best saved for pieces that see less contact, like earrings and pendants.

Popular gemstones by Mohs hardness
Stone Mohs hardness Best for
Diamond 10 Everyday
Ruby 9 Everyday
Sapphire 9 Everyday
Topaz 8 Everyday
Emerald 7.5 - 8 With care
Aquamarine 7.5 - 8 Everyday
Amethyst 7 Everyday
Citrine 7 Everyday
Garnet 6.5 - 7.5 Everyday
Peridot 6.5 - 7 Everyday
Opal 5.5 - 6.5 With care
Turquoise 5 - 6 With care
Pearl 2.5 - 4.5 With care
How to choose. For a ring worn every day, lean toward harder stones like diamond, sapphire, and ruby, and durable metals like 14k or 10k gold. For earrings and necklaces, softer stones like opal and pearl are a lovely choice, since they meet less wear and tear. When in doubt, match the stone to how often the piece will be worn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 10k and 14k gold?
14k gold is 58.5% pure gold and has a richer color, while 10k gold is 41.7% pure gold and is harder and more hard-wearing. Both are solid gold and both wear well; the choice comes down to color preference and durability.
Is sterling silver good quality?
Yes. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, the standard for fine silver jewelry. It is bright, versatile, and long-lasting, and needs only an occasional polish to counter natural tarnish.
What does the Mohs scale mean?
The Mohs scale ranks a gemstone's resistance to scratching from 1 to 10. Diamond is a 10, the hardest, while pearl sits between 2.5 and 4.5. The higher the number, the better a stone stands up to everyday wear.
Which gemstones are best for everyday rings?
Diamond, sapphire, and ruby are the most durable and ideal for rings worn daily. Emerald, opal, and pearl are softer, so they shine in earrings and pendants that see gentler use.

Find the piece that is right for you

Explore our full range of gemstone jewelry in gold, silver, and rose gold.

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