Everything is not always as it seems! Some common mistakes are made throughout the jewelry industry, and many people have believed them for decades. We’re here to debunk common jewelry myths that have essentially become urban legends.

  1. Nothing Can Break A DiamondDiamond Shapes

Diamonds are the hardest substance on Moh’s Hardness Scale, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. Although very strong, diamonds do have some weak spots. A diamond can chip when hit against a hard surface in just the right place. No worries though! You can bring your diamond jewelry to James & Sons and we would be happy to take a look at it for you to get it fixed. 

  1. The Bigger the Gemstone, the More Expensive It IsDiamond 2

In some cases, this might be true, but the size of a gemstone (whether it’s a diamond, sapphire, tourmaline, or another) isn’t the only factor that affects its price. Let’s take diamonds for example. There are four main factors that can affect the price of a diamond, also known as the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat. The clarity of a diamond, how pure or flawed it is with blemishes and inclusions, can significantly impact the price of a diamond. If a larger weight of a diamond has a lower clarity grade than a smaller diamond, it can still cost less money than its counterpart. Lab grown diamonds can also be much less costly when compared to natural diamonds. A diamond of a larger size that is lab grown may still be less expensive than a smaller natural diamond. 

  1. Gold Comes In Different ColorsGold Mixture Colors

Yes, there is rose gold, white gold, and yellow gold jewelry. However, pure gold only comes in one color, and that is yellow gold. Other gold tones get their colors from different alloys of metals being mixed in with pure gold. For instance, rose gold contains a greater amount of copper and white gold holds more palladium and silver. This is why different metal karats come into play as well: 10, 14, and 18 karat gold hold different metal compositions to create these hues and make the pieces more durable. Pure gold, or 24 karat gold, will only occur in an orange-yellow hue. 

  1. All Sapphires Are BlueSapphire Colors

The September birthstone is most commonly known as a gem with a deep blue hue, but sapphires naturally occur in a wide range of colors. There are black sapphires, all the way to colorless with essentially the whole rainbow falling within the range of sapphire colors. However, many of these colors are very rare, and the most common colors for sapphires are blue and yellow.

  1. Silver Will Turn Your Skin GreenIppolita Sterling Silver Jewelry

Pure silver jewelry will not turn your skin green. The culprit is typically a substantial amount of copper mixed with silver. The copper causes a chemical reaction between the metal and your skin, causing it to turn green. Although harmless, it can be frustrating. We suggest opting for a piece of jewelry made from 925 sterling silver, like pieces from Ippolita.

Fine Jewelry At James & Sons

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet! Trust a local jeweler like James & Sons to debunk myths like these and find the perfect piece for you! Come see us at one of our four locations, or shop our collections online. We’re confident you’ll find something you love.