Diamond quality has long been expressed in terms of the "Four Cs": Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight.  The better these four characteristics, the more valuable the diamond will be.  Of course, there are literally thousands of Web sites dedicated to diamond education, but the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is one of the most respected sources of information regarding diamonds and diamond grading.  We also invite you to visit the Jewelbox for a personal, hands-on education... all the better to understand the role the Four C's play in different ring settings and jewelry design.

Colored Gems

The International Colored Gemstone Association is an essential resource for anyone interested in colored gemstones. From traditional birthstones to the history of gems, the ICA site is worth a peek.  We also really like this Colored Stone Tutorial from GIA.  And considering our brick & mortar store in Ithaca, NY, boasts one of the largest selections of quality loose gems for hundreds of miles around, you might want to stop in to our for a visit to see how colored gemstones can add beauty and sparkle to your life for a fraction of the cost of diamonds.  Not that we don't love diamonds...

Metals: The Big Three

Gold - by far the most popular metal for jewelry, gold doesn't corrode, rust, or tarnish.  Gold's purity is expressed in karats, represented by the letter "k." Karats are reported in 24ths - 24k gold is 100% gold. Most gold jewelry is either 18k gold (75% gold) or 14k gold (58.3% gold).  Because pure gold is too soft to be used in jewelry, it is most often mixed with other metals.  Read more about gold at Wikipedia.
Silver - like gold, silver is too soft to be used by itself in jewelry. For this reason, it is mixed with other metals to enhance its durability. One of the most popular jewelry metals is sterling silver, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Read more about silver at Wikipedia.

Platinum - platinum is the strongest of all the jewelry metals. It is also the whitest metal - as opposed to white gold, which isn't pure white, but can be coated with rhodium for a whiter effect.  Platinum doesn't tarnish or scratch, which is why it is the metal of choice for stone settings. Quality platinum jewelry is usually 95% platinum, with the other 5% consisting of palladium, iridium, or ruthenium. The best platinum metal will bear the mark "Plat" or "950 Plat." Read more about platinum at Wikipedia.

What is the difference between "carat" and "karat"?
One of the 4 C's, a carat is a weight measurement used in reference to precious gemstones.  Note that it is a measurement of weight - not size - and while weight does effect the size of a gemstone, a carat is not a measurement of length, mass or volume.