Fact or Fiction? – The Jewellery Edition
We investigate 6 of the most popular jewellery myths out there!
There are many things to consider when buying jewellery. You must consider the look and style you like, the level of durability you need and of course, how much money you are willing to spend.
With so much information out there, it can feel overwhelming! We know it can be tricky sorting through the fact from the fiction, so we put together a list of some common myths we see floating around out there and let you know why they may not necessarily be true…
Diamonds are indestructible
It is common knowledge that diamonds are one of the strongest natural substances on Earth but that doesn’t mean they can’t chip or break!
While they can only be scratched by another diamond, there are some spots of weakness in a diamond known as ‘cleavage’.
If (by a rare chance) a diamond gets hit hard enough in the exact right spot and direction, it can split or maybe chip.
But don’t worry! A jeweller will set a diamond in a piece of jewellery just right to minimise the small chance of this happening even further.
For a long-lasting piece of gemstone jewellery that can last decades without much maintenance, diamonds are still the clear winner.
Gold comes in various colours
You will often hear that gold comes in three colour options; yellow gold, white gold or rose gold.
Occasionally, you may also hear about pink gold, however the only colour that genuine pure gold comes in is yellow!
White gold and rose gold are actually made by mixing yellow gold with other metals such as nickel and copper to create a different look.
But even yellow gold is not pure gold unless it is 24 carat! 24 carat gold is pure gold and is rich yellow in colour but is far too soft and malleable to be used in jewellery.
Hence, gold is mixed or alloyed with other metals to give it strength and durability.
Find out more about difference between the most popular precious metals used in jewellery here!
Opals are bad luck
This myth is based on old folklore. Throughout much of history, opals were actually considered good luck and magical gemstones because of their play of colours.
According to Aboriginal legend, a rainbow fell on the earth bringing with it their ancestor and leaving behind rainbow coloured rocks in Coober Pedy, which are now known as opals.
The Aboriginals called it the ‘rainbow serpent’ and praised its unique energy and beauty. The Romans also believed opal brought good luck to their owners.
95% of the world’s opals come from Australia and it is our national gemstone, and there is nothing bad about that!
The bigger the diamond the better
Weight is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a gemstone. People would generally assume that the bigger the better, and therefore more expensive.
However, with gemstones, it is not so black and white. When it comes to gemstones, they are valued by much more than just their size.
There are actually five things to consider when choosing a diamond and they are known as the five C’s.
These factors include cut, colour, clarity, carat and certificate and impact the quality and value of any gemstone.
Understanding these will allow you to gain a better understanding of the true value of the stone before deciding how much to bid for one.
Engagement rings can only be a solitaire white diamond
While colourless diamonds have always been popular for engagement rings, coloured diamonds are becoming more and more common as couples are turning towards unique and diverse ways of symbolising their love.
Trends have been showing that some couples these days are more environmentally conscious and opting for a created diamond, while some are looking for vintage or antique rings, and some are ditching the diamond completely and heading for coloured gemstones instead!
Pink diamonds, without question, are among the most popular of coloured diamonds for engagement rings. Perhaps because of what the colour symbolises in love, romance and its femininity.
Ben Affleck’s proposal to Jennifer Lopez with a pink gemstone in 2002 caused popularity of coloured engagement rings to rise significantly.
An engagement ring can be whatever you want it to be!
Fine jewellery is expensive
When it comes to special occasions like birthdays or other important life milestones, save up and buy yourself something to celebrate.
It’s a good way to pace yourself and in doing so, you will create a collection that has value, both financial and sentimental.
But investing in quality jewellery doesn’t have to mean spending your whole pay cheque (or more) on one single item.
It’s totally possible to find forever pieces for less than retail price through one of our auctions, particularly our online jewellery auctions!
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