Jewelry & Gemstones

Pearl cotton is a mercerized, non-divisible cotton embroidery thread that differs from embroidery floss in structure, sizing, and use.

Glass filled rubies are low-quality rubies treated with lead or zinc glass to hide cracks, and they sell for only a few dollars per carat.

Coal does not turn into diamonds under pressure, because the two materials form under completely different depths, heat levels, and time scales.

Uncut diamonds look like dull, waxy pebbles in gray, brown, or yellow tones, with irregular crystal shapes and rough surfaces, not the polished stones sold in stores.

A diamond represents strength, eternal commitment, and enduring love, with color shifting the meaning toward romance, power, or unconventional individuality.

Fake diamonds are called diamond simulants, and cubic zirconia and moissanite are the two most common types sold in stores and online today.

The 45th wedding anniversary is the sapphire anniversary, with sapphire serving as both the traditional and modern gemstone gift.

Zircon is not a diamond: it is a natural gemstone often mistaken for cubic zirconia, and this guide compares hardness, color, and price.

Pawn shops, jewelry stores, estate buyers, and online specialty buyers all purchase pearls, but most sellers should expect only 20 to 30 percent of retail value.

Tokyo’s Ginza district, Ise-Shima, and Kobe are Japan’s best places to buy pearls, each suited to a different budget and shopping style.