Fine Jewelry or Costume Jewelry, What To Buy?

While there is no right or wrong when buying jewelry, take note that trendy, beautifully designed costume or fashion jewelry will not last forever. The good news is that it is incredibly cheap compared to the real thing. However, if you are looking for timeless jewelry that is not just fashionable and stylish but will last forever, consider buying high-quality precious metal fine jewelry.

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Fine Jewelry

When making fine jewelry precious metal (also called noble metals) are used, such as gold, silver, platinum, ruthenium, palladium and in many cases rhodium plating to make the piece stronger, brighter, and shiner.  Noble metals do not oxidize or corrode when exposed to moist air which makes them superior to fashion/costume jewelry, because precious metals possess stronger durability and can last indefinitely.

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Fine jewelry is strongly associated with the idea of quality, which uses high standard materials to produce a jewel piece.  There are hundreds of methods to create jewelry, regardless of the chosen method, the use of high quality gemstones and metals are essential.

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One aspect that needs attention is the fact that quality jewelry, including silver and gold, bear engravings indicating their respective metal purities. These engravings represent the level of purity of the precious metal, such as 10k, 14k, 18k for gold or .925 for sterling silver.

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Pros and Cons Wearing Fine Jewelry

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Pros

- Fine jewelry can be worn everyday

- Fine jewelry is water proof

- Fine jewelry is made from timeless metals

- Fine jewelry can be passed down

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Cons

- Fine jewelry has a higher cost

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Costume/Fashion Jewelry

Fashion jewelry is made using inexpensive, non-precious metals, such as steel, pewter, brass, nickel, and aluminum among others.  Another difference is that fashion jewelry for the most part incorporates synthetic or non-precious stones.  Unlike precious metals, mass produced costume/fashion jewelry lacks the superior quality necessary for engraving.

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When wearing imitation or fashion jewelry, it is important to remember that these pieces are not built to last.  They begin to lose their shine and may tarnish relatively quickly, indicating that they are good to wear as a short term-solution to looking glam.

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Pros and Cons Wearing Costume/Fashion Jewelry

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Pros

- Costume jewelry is affordable

- Costume jewelry makes a great impression which unfortunately does not last

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Cons

- Costume jewelry will sometimes look cheap

- Costume jewelry plating tends to lose its luster and shine quickly

- Costume jewelry tend to break easily

- Costume jewelry can sometimes turn your skin green

- Costume jewelry can give you a jewelry rash