Our goal is to treat each customer as a partner in the creative process and help educate our clients so they can make informed, wise decisions about jewelry design and purchasing.

Our web site is designed to be an informative place, where we can share our knowledge and passion for fine jewelry and exquisite jewelry design.

Our web site offers invaluable information on custom design and fabrication, diamonds, gold, platinum, estate purchasing, care and security tips, jewelry insurance and more

The following provides answers to some of the more frequently asked questions

• What is the difference between platinum and white gold?
• Why is platinum jewelry more expensive?
• What are the advantages of making jewelry out of platinum?
• Does platinum scratch easier than white gold?
• Is a cast jewelry made by the lost wax method the same as handmade jewelry?
• What is the difference between 14 karat and 18 karat gold?
• Which diamond grading labs are considered to be the best and most accurate?

What is the difference between platinum and white gold?

Unlike white gold, platinum is pure white metal. White gold is made up of pure yellow gold and other metals, usually nickel, to make it white in color. Platinum is hypoallergenic and will not tarnish. White gold will tarnish and appear slightly yellowish over time.

Platinum is a more dense metal than white gold. If you have two rings exactly the same dimensions, one made in platinum and one made in white gold, the platinum ring will be heavier.

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Why is platinum jewelry more expensive?

Platinum is more rare than gold. Platinum jewelry can take up to 2-3 times longer to construct and finish than jewelry made of gold.

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What are the advantages of making jewelry out of platinum?

Platinum is the preferred metal when it comes to setting diamonds securely. Platinum is a "dead" metal, unlike white gold that has "memory". Platinum prongs when bent stay bent, where as white gold prongs when bent have a tendency to go back to their original position prior to bending.

Platinum is very cohesive unlike gold. Therefore, prongs and ring shanks (bottoms of rings) made of platinum will not become thin from over time from excessive wear as their gold counter parts will.

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Does platinum scratch easier than white gold?

Platinum is more malleable (softer) than white gold, yet it is very strong. Platinum jewelry over time as it is worn develops a "gray character finish" which replaces its' original high luster. White gold jewelry retains a higher luster finish longer than platinum, however over time white gold tarnishes and becomes slightly yellowish in color.

We recommend that you have your platinum jewelry polished twice a year to keep its original high luster finish.

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Is a cast jewelry made by the lost wax method the same as handmade jewelry?

No. Under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, the only jewelry that can be called "handmade" is jewelry that is made by hand forging and fabricating the entire item by hand. If a ring has been made with any cast parts such as ring shanks or crowns that hold stones, in accordance to the FTC the ring cannot be sold in the United States as being "handmade".

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What is the difference between 14 karat and 18 karat gold?

The amount of pure gold that is actually in the item. Pure gold is 24 karat. It is soft so it is often mixed with other metals to make it harder. In addition, varying the added metals (alloys) are used to change the color of the gold from it rich pure lemon yellow color. 14 karat gold contains 14/24 (.583) percent pure gold and 10/24 (.417) percent of other metals. 18 karat contains 18/24 (.75) percent pure gold and 6/24 (.25) percent of other metals. 18 karat gold is richer in color, but is softer than 14 karat gold. We make jewelry both in 14kt and 18 karat gold.

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Which diamond grading labs are considered to be the best and most accurate?

Within the jewelry industry, the four top respected diamond grading labs are the Gemological Institute of America, The American Gem Society, and the European Gemological Society and Professional Gem Sciences. If you read the fine print of any diamond grading report you will notice that all the labs have disclaimers which state that their reports are not quality guarantees. Diamond lab graders grade diamonds using advanced methods and assess and evaluate their findings which allow them to be subject to human error. Although we can not guarantee qualities, we do check all of our diamonds against their diamond grading reports and reject any that we feel have been graded inaccurately.

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