Jewelry of any kind makes a fashion statement, but perhaps the most interesting statement can be made by selection vintage jewelry. The workmanship in high quality vintage jewelry stands out from what you can buy in modern jewelry stores, and you'll stand out as someone with a very decided style.

Vintage jewelry is often quite detailed. That is one of the charms of it. A lot of work has clearly gone in to much of it.

You can buy both fine and fashion jewelry when you look for vintage pieces. In fine jewelry, it can have the advantage that the quality of gemstone is often higher than is easily available today. Edwardian jewelry in particular tends to use gemstones such as emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds to good advantage.

A key factor in choosing good vintage jewelry is the condition it is in. Many pieces are very difficult or even essentially impossible to repair within a reasonable cost. The occasional loose or missing gemstone, especially if it is small, may not be a disaster, but other kinds of damage may be more serious.

There are a few areas you need to be careful in when shopping for vintage pieces. Perhaps the most obvious to say is that you need to know the difference between vintage and reproduction. It's not that uncommon to see pieces that are labeled as vintage style. You don't want to pay an excessive price for reproductions when you're looking for the real thing.

One of the delights of online shopping is that it is easier to find the pieces you want. Auction sites make this much easier, but you do have to be careful. It's all too easy to be fooled as to what it is you are buying.

One of the most important things to know is the reputation of the seller. Auction sites tend to make this easy with feedback given on transactions and available publicly. This lets you know if the seller has been providing quality products, at least if they've been around a while.

You'll also want to inspect pictures carefully. A good auction will include some closeup shots, so that you can really see the details of the piece and any flaws. Corrosion, discoloration and holes are all flaws that cannot be repaired, and you will want to consider if they ruin the piece for you.

Read the descriptions carefully. With vintage jewelry it is too common to read descriptions that are somewhat misleading, such as when something is of a vintage style. If you miss the word that makes it clear that something is not actually a vintage piece you can end up overpaying by quite a bit.

Cautious shopping, however, can result in great finds at reasonable or even amazing prices. If something doesn't feel right, trust that instinct, but if everything is checking out you might just find a beautiful new piece of jewelry for your collection.

From a functional perspective, the purpose of a jewelry armoire is simple, to have a safe place for your jewelry collection. But in reality, the jewelry armoire fulfills many roles and four of them will be described here. First, it is furniture that is used to organize expensive pieces of jewelry. Second, it is the sanctuary of a person's favorite possessions. Third, it is a tasteful addition to the interior of the house. And fourth, it is an investment.

To fulfill the role of organizing jewelry, the jewelry armoire must have features that allow for the effective and systematized arrangement of jewelry pieces. Some of these features include dividers, hooks, and drawers of different sizes. The dividers allow a person to place bracelets together in one big drawer but keep the individual bracelets apart. This is to prevent the bracelets from scratching each other. The gemstones of jewelries have different hardness and one gemstone can scrape another. Thus, the divider is an important protection parameter for all those treasure. The hooks are places for necklaces. Some necklaces have sturdy chains and they can be laid out on a cushioned drawer. But the majority of today's precious necklaces have delicate chains that become damaged when tangled with others. Thus, the hooks are needed to allow proper spacing of the items. And finally, drawers of different sizes are important simply because pieces of jewelry are of different sizes. Here you can group earrings and brooches of different sizes and even composition.

To become a safe sanctuary of a person's personal treasures, each jewelry armoire must have the most excellent fabrics that will protect the jewels. Jewelries are valuable treasures that a person can acquire, naturally they need protection and care. Many pieces of jewelry, even those made of high-quality gold and diamonds needs regular cleaning. Diamonds, the most brilliant of precious stones, have been known to collect dust. Thus, there should be a safe place for this items that will reduce exposure to dust and other elements that can reduce the value of these treasures.

To ensure that the jewelry armoires add to the personality of the bedroom's owner, you have to look for a complimentary and beautiful design that will blend well with your interior. Each jewelry armoire should be unique because this can reflect the owner's personality. This uniqueness is best placed in the most private of all rooms in the house, the bedroom. Thus, it is best to choose a design that will complement the various personalities of the jewelry collector whether austere or quirky.

At the same time, the jewelry armoires can be designed to be the centerpiece of a walk-in closet. Truly this will enhance the beauty of the bedroom's interior design. Make sure that it becomes an investment in itself, it should undergo strict quality inspection. Genuinely qualify that the structure is stable and durable. They are supposed to be built to last a lifetime or two. With care and proper maintenance, each jewelry armoire will sustain its beauty and can be handed down from one generation to another, making it as precious as the jewelry stored inside.

When planning to buy a jewelry armoire, the first thing that must be quickly and permanently removed from the mind is the idea of a cabinet. This is not just an ordinary cabinet; it is more similar to a jewelry box. Buying a jewelry armoire should take a similar approach in choosing a jewelry box. You should then consider these three categories in buying a jewelry armoire: personal needs, product quality, and customer service.

Personal Needs

While it is possible to find two jewelry armoires that look the same on the outside, there is a high possibility that the interiors are very different. There are stacks, drawers, hooks, folding tops, and mirrors which are constructed and combined in various ways. But which combination is needed? How do you know that it is the best for you?

To choose the best is to take stock of the personal collection of jewelries you have as of now. For example, do you have more necklaces than bracelets? What kinds of earrings are most numerous? With the whole jewelry collection in mind, it becomes easier to decide the features that you need for in a jewelry armoire. If there are more necklaces than bracelets, there must be enough hooks to hold all the necklaces. If there are more brooches than earrings, then you need a design with more pull-out drawers. Do you often use the mirror? Perhaps you should go for the one with bigger interior mirror.

Product Quality

The next thing to consider is the product quality. The customer must keep in mind that jewelry armoires are supposed to last for at least a couple of generations. This means that the construction must be durable. Imagine how it is used daily, this includes pulling out the drawers and opening the doors, this actions must give the least possible stress on the whole construction. This does not imply that a customer must grab a textbook on wood construction. You will notice a sturdy construction if the body seems to be solid and does not budge. A free sliding drawer and a hitch free locking mechanism can give it a nod of approval. These are just a few things that must be checked before buying the jewelry armoire.

On the Interior aspect, the first thing to consider is the velour, which should line all the compartments of the jewelry armoire. The color of the velour is less important than its ability to protect the jewelry from nicks, grazes, and scratches. The second thing to consider is the design of the drawers, especially the top drawers. The recommended design for top drawers is the presence of multiple dividers. These dividers keep the jewelry from tangling with each other. And the third thing to consider is the attachments. Some of the questions to ask are these: Does the mirror juggle off if the door is suddenly opened or closed? Will the hooks give way to the weight of bigger design necklace? If the answer to both questions is "yes," then the product quality is suffering.

Customer Service

And finally the store or the suppliers' customer service should be impeccable. A customer is entitled to walk out of a store if the people at the store are rude or inattentive. You must know that customer service does not stop as soon as the customer leaves the premises of the store. The store should have guarantees about the durability of the jewelry armoire. A no-hassle return policy is best to give you peace of mind when you finally decide to buy one.

Some say crystal has healing powers, while some try to find their future in crystals - but to a jewelery enthusiast, the best thing is that they make jewelery extremely beautiful. Yes, that's exactly what we are going to discuss here -- crystal jewelery and how you can utilise their beautifying powers to your benefit in every part of life.

As more and more women choose to work in a professional set up and in the corporate sector, office becomes one of the integral parts of our lives. Most of the offices today lay emphasis on professional dress codes and that very much include the jewelery. On a daily basis, we may choose to wear light trinkets; but for those who deal with clients and customers face to face, it is important to wear good jewelery that also look professional. Crystal jewelery fit the bill here. They make one look quite impressive that might also just help you clinch good deals.

We love going to parties where we come across a plethora of styles and fashions. In such a set up, we cannot afford to be left behind. We cannot choose to not look gorgeous. Therefore, we need an outfit and jewelery to match with it that would help us attain the right look. Crystal jewelery goes well with nearly all kinds of evening wear and outfits. They are never out of fashion and there are new and contemporary designs available in crystal jewelery.

Crystal jewelery has also made their mark in wedding ceremonies. Not just the guests, friends and family members, but the brides of modern times are also opting for crystal jewelery. There is a wide variety of crystal bridal jewelery available today. From chunky and bold designs to light and delicate ones - they are all waiting to be picked up so that they can beautify you and make you the talk of the town.

Women love wearing nose jewelery. A pretty little ring or a stud on the nose looks quite chic and stylish. It enhances the beauty of the face and adds depth to the personality of the person wearing the jewelery. Both nose studs and nose rings enjoy equal popularity. Everyday, thousands of Internet jewelery sites are visited by millions and millions of jewelery enthusiasts, who seek nose jewelery that have different styles and designs.

Crystals can make great nose studs. They also look quite good on nose rings. They sparkle right in the middle of the face, brightening up the entire area. The dazzle and sparkle of Swarovski crystals on the nose twinkles and reflects light. It catches the attention immediately and leaves everyone around gaping helplessly. There are diverse colors and designs available in Swarovski crystal nose studs.

If you are getting your nose pierced for the first time, you might wonder where to do the piercing and what jewelery to wear. Ideally, the nose is pierced around the top of the curve that defines the nostrils. It is one of the favorite places where women get their nose punctured. A petite little crystal over there would look absolutely stunning. If you want to try something different, you can pierce any place on the nose that looks good aesthetically.

The Swarovski crystal comes encrusted in carriers made of different materials. However, the best element that you can wear is gold. You can also try out platinum, which is the latest sensation or sterling silver. However, try to avoid silver as there are high chances that it would not suit your skin. Also, try to avoid copper and nickel as they can trigger allergic reactions.

Dressing up for an occasion sometimes needs a little extra than just a nice outfit. To look beautiful, ravishing and ready for the moment, you need the right jewelery. When the occasion is big, you need to add some drama to your looks and with the help of crystal jewelery, you can do just that. Let us look at crystal and how they can help you look winsome.

Crystal comes in different colours and shapes. When worn in jewelery, crystals can accentuate the beauty of your outfit and your overall appearance. You can match the colour of the crystal with the outfit you are wearing, or you can also go for something contrasting. If you can contrast your jewelery with your outfit in the right way, you can convert simple and plain dresses into something quite fashionable and elegant.

A lot of women who love to wear crystal jewellery often wish to wear them to work sometimes. But some organizations have a formal dress code, so these women are not sure about wearing them. However, you can wear some design of jewelery to office without flouting the codes. When worn over formal wear, light and delicate designer crystal jewelery that are not too gaudy makes the outfit look exceptional. They add a certain charisma to your personality.

Crystal is the choice of both the traditionalists and the trend setters. There are conventional designs available in these kind of jewelery. Then there are new and iconoclastic designs that enjoy high popularity among those who are young at heart and want to remain in tune with the times. As long as we love jewelery and continue wearing and making them, crystal jewelery would have a substantial role to play in our lives.

Your plans are set, the tuxedos have been chosen, and the invitations are on their way. Of course, being the typical groom you were there for every decision, painstakingly fretting over every detail with your bride. Yeah right! If you're like most grooms your input ended with "Will you marry me?" but that's OK because you have a chance to redeem yourself. Most men have no idea how much work goes in to planning a wedding and it's very likely that your bride has placed her heart and soul in to creating a perfect day for you both and your friends & family. Don't miss your chance at thanking her for everything that she has done by giving her a wedding gift. In this article I will share with you ideas on how to choose a meaningful gift that'll warm her heart and make this very special day - just a little more special!

Give the gift of jewelry

I can't think of a better wedding gift to give than jewelry, it's always a romantic gift but in this case it's a great choice for so many reasons. First - it makes a stronger statement than just about any other gift you can give. Second - if you choose the right gift, she can wear it on her wedding day. Third - in some cases the jewelry that you give her can be worn for many years to come. So you can see that jewelry is a wonderful wedding day gift on so many levels. There are several jewelry items that is appropriate for wedding gifts and I'll cover the most important or popular with you.

Choosing a gift that she can wear on her wedding day and beyond

Diamond stud earrings are a classic jewelry gift and one of the best for a wedding day gift. Diamond studs are a staple in every woman's jewelry wardrobe and this is because they can be dressed up or dressed down. Many brides will wear the diamond studs that you give them on their wedding day, and of course she'll have them forever. Choosing the perfect diamond studs requires a little thought on your part, you should know what shape diamond engagement ring you've given her and what color precious metal her wedding set is made of. When choosing diamond studs, be sure to match the shape of the diamond to the diamond shape in her engagement ring. The most popular shapes for diamond studs are round or princess cut and chances are that her engagement ring is one of these shapes as well. Look for a jeweler that offers a lifetime upgrade policy on diamond studs, this way you'll be able to go up in size for other occasions. A good upgrade policy will give you full trade-in value on your studs toward a pair of a larger size.

Other ideas for jewelry gifts

If you think diamond studs are too safe or if you've already given them to her then you're going to need some other ideas. Weddings are of course a formal event and formal jewelry can be a very fun or daring gift. Some ideas for formal jewelry are dangle earrings, drop earrings, or necklaces. Dangle or drop earrings are longer and more dramatic looking earrings usually set with diamond or colored gemstones. They catch much attention and look amazing with a wedding dress, but keep in mind that she won't get as much use out of them as a simpler or more basic jewelry gift. Although, she'll be able to wear them for other formal events like your friend's weddings. One great idea for dangle earrings is chandelier earrings.

Pearl necklaces are one of the most popular wedding day gifts because many wedding dresses are made with sequins or beads that look like pearls. So a pearl necklace is a very appropriate choice, it's also a sophisticated and charming gift that she can cherish for many years to come. Many mothers give their daughters pearls that they have worn on their wedding day and this of course was made popular because of the tradition of wearing "something old", "something new", "something borrowed", "something blue".

A great time to give her your carefully selected wedding gift is the night of your rehearsal dinner, when you'll be surround by friends and family. Giving your beautiful bride a wedding day jewelry gift gives you a chance to slow down from the manic wedding planning and thank her for all the hard work that she has done and also tell her how much she means to you.

What's the latest and greatest in jewelry making and home decoration? Believe it or not, it's mammoth ivory.

For centuries, elephant ivory was prized as a status symbol of the rich and famous. Unfortunately, demand for this increasingly trendy material led to a drastic decline in the modern elephant population by the late 20th century, and elephant ivory trade was banned as of 1989 in order to preserve the species.

Due to its silky feel, creamy color and luxurious connotations, ivory continues to be a much sought-after material, with police seizures of illegally poached elephant ivory an all too common occurrence. In an interesting attempt at compromise, mammoth ivory is becoming the substitute material of choice, for the obvious reason that no illegal action--and no killing of an animal--is required.

The woolly mammoth, an ancestral cousin of today's modern elephant, sharply dropped off in population about 12,000 BCE (before the current era), with small pockets still in existence until approximately 1,700 years ago. Mammoth have been excavated by archaeologists specifically for study for about 200 years, though remains of this once prolific mammal have been accidentally uncovered for far longer.

Mammoth were so prevalent across the globe during their reign in the Pleistocene era, fossilized remains--including the ivory--have long been unearthed by villagers and commissioned builders. Across Siberia, where the remains of this ancient mammal are frequently found, mammoth ivory has been an article for trade for centuries. In today's more interactive and communicative world, mammoth ivory trade is accomplished with a simple phone call, thumbing through a catalog or clicking a computer mouse.

Mammoth ivory tusks easily reach 4.5-5 feet in length, leaving a substantial amount of material to work with, or, if left whole, an impressive wall hanging and conversation piece. Aficionados are familiar with different types and qualities of mammoth ivory. For example, mammoth ivory can be found in a variety of color tones, from nearly white to somewhat dark. There is also "inner ivory," which lacks the outside covering (or "bark"), considered a more rare and exquisite ivory to own and popular in knife-making.

Bits of mammoth ivory can also be purchased in pieces and carved at home. According to professionals, care should be taken in working the ivory, especially if heat is applied (for bending of the material). Mammoth ivory dealers are often willing to seek out or trade specialty pieces upon request. Professional carvers can also be commissioned to carve or work a piece into jewelry or other items. Try the internet as your starting-off point in your investigation of mammoth ivory, and look for a dealer or artist who has a good following and adequate, verifiable testimonials. The result, whether a finished piece or a full mammoth ivory tusk, will be a family keepsake for generations to come.

When a person purchases jewelry, he or she is taking on the responsibility of protecting the said jewelry. Usually, the value of a piece of jewelry appreciates because the values of gold, diamond and other gemstones also appreciate. But this does not assure that the gold or diamond jewelry will become more expensive as time goes by. In fact, it is just as possible for the value of jewelry to depreciate. Depreciation happens when the jewelry owner neglects his or her responsibility to protect his or her jewelry collection.

To illustrate, an expensive emerald ring is bought. It is expensive because the ring contains one of the few perfectly cut emeralds. But if this emerald ring is carelessly tossed together with other rings such as diamond rings, trouble is likely to happen. Basic material chemistry taught us that diamonds are the hardest of minerals and this means that it can easily scratch other minerals, even emeralds. The diamond can create grooves on the surface of the emerald stone as a result, the value of this blemished emerald stone plunges.

Therefore, jewelry must be protected, separated, and organized so that they don't lead to the depreciation of each other. It is suggested that the jewelry collector obtain either a jewelry box or a jewelry armoire.

In a jewelry box or jewelry armoire, the necklaces, bracelets, rings, and brooches are not piled up on each other. The chains don't get tangled and then accidentally get broken in an attempt to untangle them. For people with an extensive collection of necklaces, the far better choice is the jewelry armoire because of the hooks that will allow individual places for the necklaces. For people who collect rings, a divider must be present in either the jewelry box or jewelry armoire.

Quality jewelry boxes and jewelry armoires are lined with soft fabrics that will cushion and protect the pieces of jewelry. But it is still advised that each piece of jewelry must be carefully wrapped to ensure that dust does not accumulate on the facets and surfaces. The wrapping material can be anything that resembles tissue paper but it is less coarse.

Aside from storing the pieces of jewelry in a jewelry box or jewelry armoire, there are other helpful ways to protect these prized possessions. One way is to ensure that the jewelry is not carelessly tossed on a table or if you are in the bathroom, avoid placing it near the sink. The jewelry can get lost by getting drained into the sink. Thus, it is recommended that a person first takes off the jewelry and store them in the jewelry armoire before changing clothes.

And still another way of protecting jewelry is to keep the pieces of jewelry away from chemicals, liquids, and even water. Some gemstones do not react well when submerged in cold or hot water. Chemicals from hair sprays and gels can dull the brilliance of the diamond and make gold jewels lack luster.

When the pieces of jewelry are properly stored and protected, they can be handed down from generation to generation and their value appreciates significantly.

Personally, I love to go shopping for jewelry, especially necklaces. There are so many different styles to choose from that it can make your head spin. It is important to remember that the perfect necklace for you doesn't need to be the latest trend or the one with the lowest price. You need to find one that best fits your body while keeping style and price in the back of your mind.

Most of the necklaces you find in jewelry boutiques are made to measure one of several standard lengths. You can use these standard lengths to help you see how the necklace will look on you even if the styles may be different. If you have a build or body type that is larger or smaller than the average, most necklaces will fit you differently than others. The lengths of necklaces you already own should be your guide to finding new necklaces of different lengths. Here are a few descriptions of the different lengths to help you out:

* If you have a thin neck or are wearing a top which would show your necklace off, go with a collar style. This style usually is 12 to 13 inches in length and can be worn with any off the shoulder to or V-neck blouse. This type of necklace style looks its best at formal occasions such as dinners and parties but can also look good with jeans.

* Some women don't like wearing collar style necklaces because they feel as though it chokes the, If that's the case for you, a choker makes a nice accessory. Necklaces made in this style are made to be 14 to 16 inches as single or multi-stranded. It will hang slightly below your neck so I wouldn't recommend wearing one if you are comfortable with drawing attention to that area of your body.

* A princess length is a great choice to go with if a store has a necklace which is absolutely perfect for you but can't have the size customized. The princess is also the most popular selling style as well, coming in sizes between 17 to 19 inches. Your tops' collar needs to either be higher than the necklace so that it can hang below it or lower than the necklace itself.

* A matinee style necklace is made specifically for high or very low necklines since it runs about 20 to 24 inches long. It adds a touch of style and elegance to those drab work clothes you wear everyday. It can also be worn with casual wear but be sure your top has nothing on it to clash with the necklace.

* Have you ever thought about wearing an opera-length necklace for some added elegance to a formal gown or blouse. This length of necklace draws the eyes down away from your neck and towards your chest since they are cut about 28 to 34 inches in length. Most people would rather looking at a sexy chest rather than a plain chin or neck.

* If you're wearing a rope necklace, than you know the occasion is something else since this 45 inches long necklace accentuates all of your curves. It will draw the eyes down to your torso area but being that they are so long you can double or triple strand them to make them shorter in length.

In more ways than one, Black Hills gold jewelry has the ability to turn gold into green. Black Hills gold has been a very popular choice when buying gold jewelry pieces. Black Hills gold jewelry can be seen as rings, pendants, bracelets, and even belt buckles, almost any type of jewelry design you can imagine. The characteristic pink and green gold is what gives Black Hills gold its distinctive look.

There has long been misimpression that Black Hills gold jewelry is manufactured from gold mined from the Black Hills in South Dakota. While it is true that some of this popular jewelry originates from gold mined in South Dakota, the fact is that the base gold bullion comes from many different areas around the world.

The Homestake Goldmine

Much of the gold mined in the Black Hills of South Dakota did indeed come from the famous Homestake mine. At the height of its history, Homestake was one of the largest working gold mines in the world. After more than one hundred and twenty five years, the mine was closed for good 2002. The mine consisted of a huge underground hard rock mining operation and a large open pit strip mine that sat right in the middle in the town of Lead, South Dakota.

The main shaft of the underground mine reached a depth of close to eight thousand feet and branched out in all directions for thousands of feet. The open pit was said to be thirteen hundred feet wide and over five hundred feet deep. In its heyday, the mine had over thirteen hundred workers and was the lifeblood of the northern Black Hills economy.

The mine and town was of Lead was very near the famous boom and bust town of Deadwood which today has been restored as a gambling mecca with much of the towns historic architecture still intact. Visitors to Lead can take a tour of what remains of the surface operation of the mine and get an idea of just how big an operation the mine used to be.

The Pink and Green Gold

The colors seen in Black Hills gold jewelry is primarily gold combined with shades of pink and green. The color variations are achieved by combining gold with certain metal metals in an alloying process. Though the jewelry starts out as 24 carat gold bullion the alloying process does reduce the carat weight and purity of the gold but the artistry and unique designs more than makes up the lower carat weight. The carat weight of Black Hills gold jewelry can range between 10 and 14 carats depending on the other metals that are added during the alloying process.

The processes after alloying can include molding and solder assembly and the pieces are usually finished by artisans who add the fine etching done to achieve the unique look that this type of jewelry is known for.

A trip to Rapid City, South Dakota allows visitors to tour the many producers of Black Hill gold jewelry. Most all of the manufacturers give factory tours where visitors can see first hand just how these beautiful pieces are made. The combination of pink gold and green gold can be striking.

Manufacturers generally have factory stores where visitors can purchase finished pieces, often at prices that are less than what might be paid at a retail store in another part of the country. Many producers offer genuine Black Hills gold at very competitive prices.

So when someone brings up the question about whether pink or green gold really exists just tell them the story of Black Hills gold jewelry and the history of the Homestake mine.

Gold has captivated us for thousand of years especially when it comes to jewelry. The gift of gold has never fallen out of favor, considered an act of respect and love. Gold has started wars, helped build far flung empires and fueled great economies.

The sparkle of pure gold helped to drive some of greatest human migrations in history, most notably in the Western United States. From the Black Hills of South Dakota to Sutters Mill in Northern California, thousands of people abandoned careers, homes and families is search of the precious yellow metal. Some became rich while many more did not.

Today, gold jewelry is still as popular ever. There is so much gold jewelry available for sale that one might think that the supply of gold is inexhaustible. Gold ore is a finite resource and the world supply of pure gold is limited. Contrary to what many of us might think, pure gold is never used in a finished item of jewelry. There are several important reasons why you will not find pure gold jewelry that has little to with supply.

The purity of gold and other precious metals, like platinum and silver, is measured in carats. The term carat refers to the purity of the metal. This is not to be confused with how the term carat is applied to gemstones. Gemstones carats refer to the weight of the stone and are not a reflection of purity. Precious metals are graded by purity. The purest form of gold is twenty four carats.

Pure gold is very malleable and is much too soft to be used for jewelry. When gold is combined with other base metals, the carat purity is reduced. However, adding base metals like silver, palladium and copper, makes the gold more workable and the result is a harder, more durable piece of jewelry. Eighteen carat gold jewelry is considered very valuable since it is seventy five percent gold and twenty five percent base metals.

For those of us who can not afford the high cost of eighteen carat gold jewelry, there are some less expensive alternatives. For example, fourteen carat gold contains fifty eight percent gold and twelve carat contains fifty percent gold. Even though the amount of gold is less, fourteen and twelve carat gold jewelry can be a good buy.

Where the balance of gold to base metals really changes is in ten carat gold. Ten carat gold contains roughly fifty eight percent base metals. Despite the lower amount of gold, ten carat gold jewelry can still be a good buy. The value comes in knowing the type base metals that have been alloyed with the gold.

Ten carat gold that has been made with more silver or palladium, and less copper, is a much better value. Low carat gold that has a high copper content will tarnish and blacken. Copper tarnishes and discolors very easily as anyone who worn a copper bracelet or other type of copper jewelry will attest to.

Gold alloyed with palladium is far less likely to discolor. Palladium a white colored metal that is similar in content to platinum.

The only retail standard in place for selling low carat gold is that it must be labeled as such. The average consumer does not have a way to assay the gold and must therefore rely on the honesty of the seller.

So buying ten carat gold jewelry needs to be an exercise in information. When buying low carat gold it is important to know which base metals are present. Do not hesitate to ask the seller for this information. If the seller can not, or will provide this information, keep shopping.