Jewellery myths

Hardness and durability of low karat gold

When choosing items in gold, customers are often reluctant to choose the higher karats of gold, because they have heard that 18 kt gold is softer and will wear away faster than 14 or 9 karat. The sales staffs in some jewellery stores, that mainly sell cheaper 9 karat gold items, also sometime state this idea in order to help sell the 9 karat items. This is simply not the truth. For centuries cultures have used the purest form of gold possible. All one has to do to prove the durability of 24 karat gold is to visit a local museum. Purer forms of gold have the ability to last many lifetimes. To this day, Chinese and Indian brides refuse to wear any jewellery less than 24 karat gold on their wedding day because it is bad luck. Pure gold offers the richest colour and composition. Even though 24 karat gold is highly prized, it is sometimes harder to come by. Eighteen karat gold has captured the retail jewellery market and is probably the most common. This type of gold is eighteen parts gold and six parts base metal. It offers the consumer the best of the worlds of purity and durability. It´s the perfect blend! All gold can also be purchased in white, pink or yellow. What one chooses is a matter of personal preference.

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Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Another misconception is that white diamonds are the height of class, sophistication and expense. This isn't necessarily true. Coloured diamonds and other gemstones, such as sapphires and rubies, can be just as expensive. In fact, many coloured diamonds and other coloured gemstones are much more costly than white diamonds and show the wearer's prowess regarding gemstones and their quality. Coloured gemstones and diamonds are perceived by the true jewellery aficionado as much more personal, unique and original than white diamonds, and the true jewellery connoisseur is unimpressed with the consumer appeal of the average diamond. They crave the personalized appeal of the coloured gemstone. For maximum impact, they can be used as centre stones with white diamonds as accents. Coloured diamonds and gemstones are quickly becoming very fashionable in today's day and age. Celebrities are embracing them at a rapid rate and therefore they are becoming more common to the average consumer. The rarity and beauty of coloured gemstones and diamonds has been known by true jewellery aficionado for years, but the mainstream consumer is only discovering their enchantment now! The diamond market is carefully controlled by mainly one organization. De Beers Consolidated Mines has managed to create a very stable market for the white diamond and limits the amount available on the market. So while certain gemstones might be just as rare as white diamonds, they are not as highly priced because they are more readily available. The price of coloured gemstones can vary widely because they are mined by much smaller companies using more primitive methods of excavation. Coloured gemstones and diamonds are much more personal, unique and original than white diamonds. For maximum impact, they should always be used as centre stones with white diamonds as accents. The true jewellery connoisseur is unimpressed with the consumer appeal of the average white diamond. They crave the personalized appeal of the coloured gemstone.

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Precious and semi-precious gemstones

A very common myth involves the so-called precious and semi-precious gemstones. At one time only emeralds, rubies, sapphires and diamonds were considered precious. Other stones such as agate and aquamarine - essentially anything other than the "big four" - were considered to be of a lesser value. In fact, a high quality topaz can be more expensive than a shoddy ruby. The quality of the stone has more of an impact on price than any other factor. Therefore many jewellers have abandoned the "precious" and "semi-precious" terms altogether and now simply grade a stone on other factors such as colour, clarity and cut.

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Jewellery is a profitable investment

Another myth that plagues the jewellery industry is that buying jewellery is an excellent way to invest. Perhaps that is true for a gemologist or private jeweller, but the average consumer does not have the skill or the expertise to properly judge a good investment. This is especially true when it comes to coloured stones. The grading for coloured stones is very subjective and difficult to pin down completely. Buying gemstones to make a profit later on is not as easy as it seems, and many have lost money by making bad decisions or by falling victim to fraud.

If one still intends to proceed with gemstone investing, it´s important that one love gemstones in general. Passion will go a long way and help the individual properly assess the value of the variety of pieces they see. They must also be willing to watch the market carefully and be sure to buy and sell at the appropriate time. It might be beneficial to stick to a certain type of stone so that one becomes accustomed to its colour and cut. In addition, investors must go into the business with a strong plan. A lot of research will be required before getting started and only someone fully committed should undertake the task.

At any rate, for most of us, buying jewellery should first and foremost be looked upon as an investment in the satisfaction and pleasure that comes with owning a personal and beautiful object that can be admired by ourselves and others, and that can be passed on from generation to generation.

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