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.
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.
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.