When you shop for jewelry, you’ll undoubtedly encounter the terms “fashion jewelry” and “fine jewelry.” Fashion is not made of “real” or valuable materials, yet fine jewelry can be composed of both!
Whether a piece of jewelry is platinum or quartz, value fine craftsmanship; however, before making a purchase, you should know the caliber of the materials used to make the jewelry.
When jewelry may not live up to the description, some vendors are all too ready to characterize it as “fine.” When shopping for fine jewelry, be informed. Knowing the distinction between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry can help you make an informed decision that you can wear with pride.
Understanding Fine Jewelry
Rare metals like gold, platinum, or silver are combined with precious jewels like
- sapphires,
- diamonds,
- emeralds,
- rubies,
- and emeralds
to create fine jewelry. The value lies in the materials themselves, not in the jewelry. Fine jewelry is the ideal heritage since it is sturdy and easily repairable by a jeweler. Fine materials can sometimes be pricey to work with in jewelry.
The cut, color, clarity, and carat of the gemstone and the type of metal all affect the price. For instance, 18k and platinum are more expensive than sterling silver or 14k gold, but because the latter two are alloys with a greater proportion of other metals, they would be less costly.
Pros:
- Excellent Sturdiness
- Amazing heirloom
Cons:
- Frequently costly
Understanding Fashion Jewelry
Fashion jewelry can have imitation stones of
- plastic,
- glass,
- or crystal,
typically composed of essential metals (such as copper and brass), leather, or plastic. Jewellery plated in gold or silver on a base metal also falls under this category. Since it’s not composed of precious or semi-precious elements, it’s not called real jewelry.
A common practice in fashion jewelry creation is to imitate exquisite jewelry. It’s still appealing but less expensive. But the cheaper price means considerably worse quality. Fashion jewelry is prone to harm due to the metals used in its construction, which can cause skin discoloration or greening. Fashion jewelry is not meant to stay forever but is easily replaceable if it breaks or disappears.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- Superior quality
- Excellent for both formal and informal attire; large selection of gemstones
Cons:
Some diamonds are more delicate and prone to scratches.
Difference between Fine and Fashion Jewelry
You now know that fine jewelry is usually more expensive than other types of jewelry since it is generally composed of natural gemstones and precious metals. Contrarily, fashion jewelry serves a very different purpose than elegant, classic jewelry.
Fashion jewelry is the most economical way to add glitter to your jewelry box because it is constructed of less expensive, non-precious metals than natural, mass-produced diamonds. Although it can be crafted from plated gold or sterling silver, copper, brass, or aluminum are more frequently used to keep prices down.
Fashion jewelry, sometimes known as costume jewelry, is typically designed to capitalize on trends in the fashion industry rather than to last, hence the term. When mass-produced, chunky beads, necklaces, or earrings in a specific color can be created quickly. They are then swiftly delivered to astute, trend-following customers throughout the nation (or world!) to capitalize on rapidly emerging trends.
Fashion jewelry typically undergoes replacements as these trends change over time. Because they are not strong enough to endure very long without proper care, the non-precious metals and cheap, imitation gemstones will eventually tarnish and possibly even fall apart (and by then, the fad will have passed!).
Conclusion
When you go shopping, it’s critical to understand the distinctions between fashion and fine jewelry. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions and ensures you get the best value for your money.
Trustworthy jewelers like Rachel Fine Jewelry will ensure that customers understand exactly what they are buying. Check under the glass case for the materials in any jewelry you want and enquire about them. A trustworthy jeweler can assist you in locating the hallmarks and offer an authenticity certificate. This might help you ensure that the item’s pricing and quality match.
Even if fashion jewelry is very different from exquisite and high jewelry, all jewelry serves the same fundamental purpose for its wearers: to make them happy and to show off their individuality! Fashion jewelry is reasonably priced so you can buy more of it because of its low cost, but you’ll also have to replace it more frequently as fashion and your preferences change.
However, get jewelry insurance for any expensive or high-quality jewelry you invest in to protect against loss, theft, damage, and more! Policies for homeowners’ and renters’ insurance may cover jewelry.
But even a rider added to your homeowner’s policy specifically for jewelry has limitations, such as coverage limits and exclusions for certain types of damage. That coverage is typically insufficient to pay the entire cost. By getting a separate policy to insure your jewelry, you can shield your house insurance against the consequences of a claim.
