Journal · 177 notes
Stones & grading
Written for buyers rather than for search engines: what a specification actually means, where an order usually goes wrong, and what to ask before you pay a deposit.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Gold Vermeil Over 925 Silver: Thickness, Wear, and the FTC Line
Minimum microns, sterling base, nickel underplate ban, and how the FTC Jewelry Guides define vermeil so buyers do not get sold gold-plated silver.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
How Gemstones Are Heat-Treated, and What It Means for Buyers
Heat treatment changes color and clarity in sapphire, ruby, tanzanite and more. Why it is done, which stones it stabilizes, and what disclosure requires.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Bulk Gold Jewelry Manufacturing: Karat, Alloy, Cost
Bulk gold jewelry manufacturing: 10k vs 14k vs 18k, alloy recipes, spot-price lock-in, weight tolerance and how to compare factory quotes.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Gemstone Setting Techniques Compared: Prong, Bezel, Channel, Pavé, and Tension
Each stone setting technique has a labor cost, a durability trade-off, and a stone-size range it suits. Here is how to choose.
Stones & grading · Jul 2026
How Gold Is Alloyed for Jewelry: Karat, Color, and Hardness Tradeoffs
Copper, silver, zinc, and palladium ratios change karat, color, and durability. What buyers should know before specifying an alloy.
Stones & grading · Jul 2026
Silver Ring Band Forming: Rolling Mill, Bending, and the Annealing Sequence
How 925 silver strip becomes a uniform ring band: gauge reduction, annealing passes, mandrel bending, and why thickness tolerance matters on shanks.
Stones & grading · Jul 2026
Wholesale Jewelry Material Sourcing: Metal & Gem Buying
How jewelry factories source 925 silver, 10k/14k gold and moissanite, the alloy certs buyers should demand, and why sourcing controls cost.
Stones & grading · Jul 2026
Moissanite vs Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamond: A 2025 Buyer's Guide
Compare moissanite, lab-grown and natural diamond on hardness, fire, optics, price per carat, durability and resale value for your engagement ring.
Stones & grading · Jul 2026
Gemstone Treatments Explained: Heat, Oil, Irradiation, and Diffusion
Which treatments are standard, which are disclose-only, and how treatment choice affects pricing, durability, and after-sales risk.
Stones & grading · Jun 2026
Moissanite vs Diamond Manufacturing: Setting and Production Differences
Different Mohs, different culet geometry, different mounting tolerances. How production changes when you swap stones.
Stones & grading · Jan 2026
Moissanite vs Lab-Grown Diamond for Wholesale Buyers
A plain-English comparison of hardness, fire, price and certification between moissanite and lab-grown diamond.
Stones & grading · Sep 2025
Ethical Sourcing in Gemstones: Lab-Grown vs Mined
Ethical considerations are increasingly important in jewelry. Compare the environmental and social impact of lab-grown stones versus mined gemstones.
