Metals
Metal jewellery includes pieces made from a number of precious, semi-precious and non-precious metals. Silver and gold are of course the most common metals used. Silver jewellery is less expensive than gold jewellery and presents a popular way to wear items made of a precious metal.
Gold jewellery is measured in carats, with pure gold being 24 carat. Pure gold is soft, and hence it cannot be used for jewellery making on its own, as it would wear away very quickly. It is therefore mixed with other metal (usually copper) to ensure that the resulting piece of jewellery is durable enough to become a necklace, bracelet, ring or a pair of earrings.
When purchasing gold jewellery, it is essential to look at the carat rating. This tells you the ratio of gold to other metals. When pure gold is mixed with other metals, the result is a gold alloy. An 18 carat gold piece of jewellery contains 75% gold. The remaining 25% consists of other metals. A 14 carat gold item contains 58.5%gold while a nine carat gold item contains 37.5% gold.
The carat of the jewellery is rated on the hallmark. An 18 carat item of jewellery will be marked with a hallmark of 750. A nine carat item on the other hand, will be marked with a 375 hallmark.
White gold jewellery is created by mixing yellow gold with other metals to make it look white in colour. White gold jewellery is often coated with a top plate made from rhodium, a platinum metal. This helps to safeguard the gold and provides the jewellery with an attractive shiny finish, perfect for earrings, necklaces and rings.
Diamonds
Diamonds are admired for their beauty and rarity. This is due, in part, to their lustre and brilliance. When it comes to purchasing diamonds, it is essential to consider the following: the carat, the clarity, the colour and the cut.
The carat of a diamond refers to its weight and size. One carat is equal to 0.2 grams. The greater the size of the diamond, the greater the price tag associated with it. Large diamonds are also very rare. Carats may also be referred to by the fraction. On a "points" scale, one carat is equal to 100 points.
The clarity of a diamond refers to the quantity and position of "inclusions" within the diamond. Inclusions can be described as the unique fingerprints of a diamond and may appear akin to small spots within the diamond itself. High clarity is associated with fewer inclusions.
Diamonds come in a range of colours. Diamonds that are clear in colour are rare. The colour of a diamond is graded. Diamonds graded D, E or F are the colourless diamonds. Those at the opposite end of the scale are graded S, T, U, V, X, Y or Z: these are the tinted diamonds.
The cut of a diamond refers to its reflective qualities. Brilliant round cut diamonds possess 58 facets and reflect light from within: they sparkle like no other cut. Princess cut, emerald cut and marquise cut diamonds are also available.
Gemstones
Gemstones, also known as precious or semi-precious stones are minerals, which, in their cut and polished form, are used to enhance dazzling items of jewellery, such as earrings. Certain rock types and organic materials may also be classified as gemstones, regardless of the fact that they are not technically minerals.
Mineral gemstones include; diamond, emerald, jade, topaz, sapphire, amethyst, jade, garnet and tanzanite. These can be found in fashion jewellery, including rings and earrings.
Precious stones are; diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Semi-precious stones are simply those that do not fall into the "precious" category.
Both precious and semi-precious stones are classified by their translucency, hardness and colour. Precious stones are translucent and express fine colour in pure form. The diamond is an exception to this rule. Precious stones are very hard, rating between eight and ten on the Mohs scale.
Precious and semi-precious stones are also classified by group, species and variety. The gemstone ruby, for example, belongs to the species corundum. As the gemstone, ruby, is red in colour, it is said to be the red variety of this type.
Gemstones may be rated for clarity. The greater the number of inclusions or flaws within this item of jewellery, the less clarity the gemstone is said to have. Gemstones may also be categorised in terms of their "water" - a grading of the gemstone's lustre, transparency and brilliance. Highly transparent gemstones are considered to be "first water" while less transparent gemstones are considered "second" or "third water".
Cleaning
If you are going to spend money on a stunning piece of jewellery, earrings or otherwise, it is natural to want to keep your purchase looking like new. Whether you purchase a diamond ring or semi-precious stone earrings, the cleaner the piece of jewellery, the more likely it is to exude a dazzling shine.
Jewellery, including earrings, should not be cleaned with ordinary soaps as the chemicals in these products can dull an item. It is for this reason that it is recommended that you purchase special jewellery cleaners for your earrings and other jewellery.
Liquid jewellery cleaner is readily available. Jewellery cleaners of this kind should come with a dip tray so that small items of jewellery such as earrings and rings are not lost.
As tempting as it may be, never use abrasive cleaning solutions such as bleach to clean your jewellery as bleach can damage the setting of a diamond. You should take just as much care while cleaning your jewellery as you took to choose it.
It is possible to purchase ultra-soft polishing cloths and brushes to clean precious metals and jewellery. Cleaning cloths are typically made from cotton fibres that clean and remove tarnishes but do not scratch or damage the jewellery in any way.
Hands-free jewellery cleaning solutions are also available. These cleaning solutions are small in size and easy to store. Jewellery to be cleaned is hooked inside a machine before being bathed in solution for one to two minutes. Hands-free cleaning solutions are ideal for earrings.