Moissanite and cubic zirconia: a plain comparison
Two different materials that get lumped together as diamond alternatives. What each one is, how they differ in hardness and sparkle, and which is worth the extra money.
Buying a first piece of pearl jewelry
Freshwater, Akoya and Tahitian, what lustre means, why perfectly round costs more, and how to tell a real pearl from an imitation with your teeth.
How to keep plated jewelry from tarnishing
What actually wears a plated finish, in order of how much damage it does, and a short storage and cleaning routine that costs nothing.
What birthstone jewelry actually means
The month-by-month list used in American jewelry, where it came from, and how modern birthstone pieces are made — including what "birthstone" means when the stone is synthetic.
Gold plated, vermeil and solid gold explained
What the words on a jewelry label actually mean, how thick each layer is, and which of them we sell. No piece on this site is described as gold unless it is.
How to choose a necklace chain length
Where each standard chain length actually sits, why the same number falls differently on two people, and how to measure at home with a piece of string.