With so many different ring settings to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you and your loved one. Each persons style is unique so if you’re purchasing a gift take a peek at their usual jewelry to get a sense of what their preferences are like. Here are some of the most common styles explained. SOLITAIRE Technically, a solitaire can be any ring...

Understanding which styles work best for you is important. Jewelry after all should enhance your look and earrings are no exception to that. Wearing the best suited styles for your face shape can help you look longer, shorter, or even less angular. Rather than write up an article about face shapes and earring styles, I’ve created an easy reference infographic that can definitely come in handy next time you’re feeling...

We’ve all been there, having a beloved piece suddenly break on us. Nothing worse than a clasp coming loose or chain breaking. Most repairs are fairly simple, however if you’re dealing with fine or demi-fine jewelry you’ll need to get it repaired professionally to ensure quality. Having spare parts for jewelry is always a good idea and I would suggest keeping spare ear nuts and jump rings on hand. Here’s...

When I was younger thanks to my grandma, I was taught to bite pearls to ensure they’re real. (Anyone else grow up thinking this was legit?) I cringe looking back because yeah, that totally scratches the nachre but hey it was an easy way to tell. Fast forward many years and with new technology, real gemstones can be grown with the same chemical properties while being more friendly to the...

Gemstones have such unique and interesting histories individually that it’s no surprise birthstones also have an interesting backstory. So where does the idea come from? Birthstones are believed to have a religious origin tracing back to Moses who directed 12 gems to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. They began to gain popularity in the 5th century though when Christians wore ornaments containing the 12 gemstones. The idea of wearing single...

I will start off by saying that while there are a few groups who verify sustainable practices, there’s no single major organization that determines whether jewelry companies are legitimately sustainable or not. That’s why understanding what sustainable jewelry is will help you to make informed and environmentally friendly decisions in the future. Responsibly mined/conflict free gemstones are another aspect of sustainability I didn’t mention because I personally feel as though...

If you're an avid jewelry lover then you probably know the most common types of clasps. But what you may not know are when or why certain types of clasps should or could be used. Sometimes clasps are chosen as the designers preference, but there are times that chosen clasps are more functional. While there are certainly more types of clasps out there but generally they're mostly variations on these common...

Do you absolutely love diamonds but they're a little out of your price range? Or maybe you love rubies or emeralds but realize they're expensive for the piece you want. While cubic zirconia is a common substitute, it's a man made stone that frankly looks a little too perfect. Since cubic zirconia isn't mined, it will never have any natural characteristics like inclusions, varying clarity or even color. For some...