Jewelry Artisans - Jewelry 101| Jewelry Atlanta

Precious Metals	Gems are typically mounted in settings of gold or platinum. Gold may be yellow or white most commonly, and either 14- or 18-karat. New metals have become popular, especially for men's jewelry: titanium and tungsten.
Precious Gems	Gemologists typically classify diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds as precious stones. Other popular stones, like amethyst are considered semi-precious.
Diamond Quality	There are hundreds of resources describing how diamond quality is assigned. In simplest terms, the grade is determined by color, cut, clarity and carat. The Gemological Institute of America has an online tutorial on the 4 C's of diamonds.
Choosing an Engagement Ring	For the groom to be, who is anxious to choose wisely and well, but who is also worried about picking the right setting for his future bride, we say 'relax'. Focus on the diamond. Get exactly what you want to give her, and have it set in a simple 4-prong or 6-prong setting. After you surprise her -- and she says 'yes!' -- bring her back to the store so that she can choose the setting.
Necklace Lengths	To fit close to the neck, above the collar bone, choose a 16" length. To lie across the collarbone, choose 17 to 19" length. To reach the chest, choose 20 to 24" length.