It can be easy to distinguish between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry because the materials used to make each type of jewelry are the same. Determining the quality of the metals and gemstones is all that is necessary to distinguish between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry. To help you know what to look for when you go jewelry shopping, we’re going to walk you through the definitions that professional authenticators use to guarantee the quality of jewelry.
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Fashion Jewelry is another option.
Costume jewelry, sometimes referred to as fashion jewelry, is typically composed of imitation stones and base metals. These pieces are frequently made of easily bent and tarnished materials like brass, copper, or aluminum. Fashion jewelry also includes jewelry composed entirely of leather or textiles, base metal alloys, and even metals plated with precious metals like gold or silver. Swarovski crystals, plastic stones, and cubic zirconia are examples of synthetic stones.
A middle category known as “semi-fine,” which is purportedly defined by jewelry composed of gold vermeil or that is gold-filled, is what some jewelry enthusiasts will insist upon. (Read this post about jewelry metals to learn the distinctions between gold-filled, gold-plated, and gold vermeil). “Semi-fine” jewelry can also be made from real gemstones that are much more reasonably priced, such as opal and morganite, or from “enhanced” stones, which undergo laboratory treatments with chemicals or heat to make the stone appear clearer, more perfect, or a different color.
Jewelry makers may find the “semi-fine” category helpful in more precisely classifying their pieces, but experts and authenticators do not use it as a benchmark. Because “semi-fine” jewelry contains base metals, an expert believes that it is still fashion jewelry. As previously mentioned, the components of a piece determine whether it qualifies as fine jewelry or fashion jewelry.
Fashion jewelry has a short shelf life because the materials used to make it are prone to chipping and tarnishing. Furthermore, once they break, they are nearly impossible to repair because the heat needed to solder the copper or brass pieces back together would simply leave the gold or silver plating blackened. Fortunately, fashion jewelry is typically much less expensive than fine jewelry, and a broken piece is simple to replace completely.
A Fine Jewelry
Jewelry crafted from solid gold, sterling silver, platinum, and/or other precious metals is referred to as fine jewelry. Real precious gemstones, such as genuine diamonds, rubies, sapphires, etc., are also frequently used in this style of jewelry. With the right maintenance and storage, fine jewelry will not tarnish because it is composed entirely of solid precious metals and gemstones, making it far stronger than fashion jewelry. Furthermore, exquisite jewelry can be fixed when it breaks. (Read this post about what to do in such an event for tips on repairing fine jewelry.) Although fine jewelry can be expensive, the worth and durability of these pieces make the investment worthwhile.
To determine where designer jewelry fits into either of these two categories, just consider the piece’s composition. Because fashion jewelry is associated with a brand, some designers do raise prices, giving the impression that a piece of lower quality is actually worth more. However, the majority of brands only create fine jewelry using real gemstones and precious metals. When determining whether your jewelry is genuinely fine jewelry or just fashion jewelry with a fancy brand name, pay attention to the hallmarks on it.
Consider purchasing pre-owned jewelry if the thought of investing in fine jewelry scares you off due to the high cost. All of the superior components and superb craftsmanship are yours for a far more affordable price. Our in-house team of experts has verified all of the pre-owned fine jewelry and watches that UK jewellery wholesale sells.