Precious metals for jewelry
Platinum, palladium and gold alloys: their properties, how they behave at the bench and how to care for them.
925 Sterling Silver: What the Mark Means, Tarnish and Care
What a 925 stamp means, US and UK rules for sterling, coin, Britannia and fine silver, why silver tarnishes, and how to store and clean it.
Gold Karats Explained: 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K Compared
What 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K and 9K mean in gold content and stamps, how US marking rules work, and how karat affects color, wear and allergies.
Gold Plated vs Gold Filled vs Vermeil: What Each Term Means
FTC definitions of gold plate, gold filled, rolled gold plate, gold electroplate, heavy gold electroplate and vermeil, the marks to look for, and how each wears.
Jewelry Hallmarks and Quality Marks: How to Read Them
How US quality marks and trademarks work, what a UK hallmark contains, Convention marks, a table of common stamps, and how to inspect a mark with a loupe.
Palladium in Jewelry: A Practical Guide
Palladium's properties, 950 and 500 fineness, US and UK marks, supply and price swings, its role in white gold, and how it behaves at the bench.
Platinum in Jewelry: Properties, Alloys and Care
Platinum's density, melting point and purity marks, the main jewelry alloys and how they behave, patina versus scratches, bench notes and white gold compared.