Jewellery and You: How to make the right decision?

Jewellery to you might have a sentimental value because it’s a heirloom or a present from a loved one.

We all have a different relationship with things that are precious, unique and personal to us. It doesn’t have to be expensive or made of precious metal such as gold or silver to be special for us. If you are thinking of buying a gift or your partner has asked what you would like, then here are some tips to help you navigate the options.

 Diamond, Gold, Silver or anything at all?

The difference between fine jewellery and costume jewellery is the quality of the metal used and the authenticity of the stones set into the pieces. Additionally, fine jewellery can last for generations, and it is often considered an investment or something worth collecting and passing down to family members. There are a few guidelines that can help consumers to understand the difference between fine jewellery and costume jewellery. Items considered to be fine jewellery are constructed of gold, sterling silver, or platinum. Both yellow and white gold must be at least 10 karats or higher to be classified as fine jewellery. Generally, yellow and white gold are offered to consumers in 10, 14, and 24 karats. When examining yellow gold, its appearance will become a deeper gold colour in the higher karats. White gold looks just about the same in all choices of karats. Gold in higher karats will tend to be softer, and it will scratch more easily than the lower karats. We advise to make your decisions based on the following criteria:

Style

There are lots of different styles when it comes to jewellery. Perhaps consider the jewellery your partner or friend currently wears – will they like something  traditional or more modern looking, something in between perhaps?

Stone

The traditional engagement ring would be a solitaire diamond. If you’re looking for something a little more unusual, why not choose an alternative stone entirely? A ruby, aquamarine, emerald or sapphire all make for beautiful pieces with the added touch of being distinctive and unique.

The Cut

For the main stone in the ring you have a few options for the cut. The two main cuts for diamonds are Brilliant or Princess. Brilliant cut is round, with slightly more sparkle than a Princess, whereas the Princess is a more modern square cut.

Setting

Depends on how you prefer a gem to sit within your piece.

Colour

Does your partner wear more white-gold or yellow-gold? You’ll want to consider this carefully and then think about having your jewellery in the same quality to match.

Size

Don’t forget to consider the size and weight of jewellery too. You don’t want earrings that will become uncomfortable and heavy to wear or a ring that will get in a way of work during work.
KidStart, a little help along the way.