1) Diamonds are indestructible:
While diamonds are the hardest gemstone on the Mohs scale, hardness is only one aspect of a gemstone's durability. Diamonds are one of the most durable stones, but they are brittle and can crack or fracture, so they still need to be handled with some care.
2) Gold and platinum don't scratch:
Gold and platinum are strongest when mixed with other metals to create more durable alloys (i.e 14k gold), but none of these alloys are completely scratch-proof. However, both gold and platinum can be repolished to buff out scratches.
3) Gold & platinum don't tarnish:
Pure gold, as in 24k, is naturally tarnish-resistant, but once it becomes an alloy, like 14k gold, the other metals in the mix make it more vulnerable to tarnish, though it still has excellent tarnish resistance. Platinum, on the other hand, doesn't tarnish, but may still develop a patina over time due to surface wear. For both metals, cleaning your jewelry can remove surface blemishes and keep your jewelry looking shiny.
4) Opals are bad luck:
You may have heard the myth that unless it's your birthstone, you shouldn't wear opals or they'll bring you bad luck. There's a few theories on how this rumor started, but one claim is that an opal lost its color and shine after being worn by a victim of the Black Plague, proving its unluckiness considering the wearer's fate. The truth is, Opal is a pretty delicate stone, soft and porous, and can be susceptible to damage from water, oil, and sunlight. It likely lost its shine due to sweat and topical medieval medicines. Opals are gorgeous and unique, and can last lifetimes when taken care of properly, so we certainly always feel lucky when we wear them
5) Diamonds are the rarest gem:
Not only are diamonds NOT the rarest gem, they aren't even that rare! Major diamond companies (like De Beers) created a false rarity in diamonds by hoarding them. That's right, it's mostly a marketing campaign designed to make you spend more. Flawless diamonds ARE more rare, but included diamonds are abundant, with salt and pepper diamonds and black diamonds being the most common. There are quite a few gemstones more rare than diamond, including Tanzanite and Black Opal.
6) Birthstones are ancient:
This one is half true, the concept of a stone being associated with the month or time period of your birth has been around for a long time. Some of the earliest known mentions were found in 5th century Hindu texts. Trade merchants have always influenced which gems were considered birthstones based on what was available and what gems they wanted to sell (yes, it was all another good marketing tactic), with the list changing from region to region. A standard list was created in the 16th century, and the modern list we go by now was created in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers. This list is still growing, with Tanzanite being added to December's long roster of birthstones in 2002.
7) Your setting can make your diamond look shinier:
Nope! Surrounding the gem with a bezel setting, setting it higher or lower in the ring, or leaving the sides and bottom of your gem exposed does not change how sparkly your stone is. A diamond's ability to catch and refract light depends more on the quality of the stone and the cut than the setting. So choose which setting you like the most and protects your stone the best!
8) It's harder to make rings in larger and smaller sizes:
We are living proof that this is a myth. We create rings in 57 sizes from 2-16, and none of those sizes are easier or harder to create than the others. The jewelry industry, and the fashion industry as a whole, likes to control the range of sizes items come in as a way to attract a certain aesthetic of consumer. It's elitism, it's bias, and yes its also rooted in racism (check out Fearing The Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fatphobia by Sabrina Strings.) These are the only things preventing more jewelry and clothing brands from offering a wider range of sizing.
9) It is easier to resize rings smaller than bigger:
Sizing up and sizing down both come with their difficulties. Sizing up means adding metal, sizing down means possibly compromising the gem's setting and needing to make adjustments, and either could mean changing elements of the design. Whichever you need, our team will work with you on preserving the design as much as possible.
10) Higher gold karats are stronger:
The opposite of this one is true. Gold is a very soft and malleable metal, so 24k gold is actually very delicate, but adding other metals to it makes the jewelry stronger. We find 14k (or 58.5% gold) to be the perfect balance of strength and value.
11) White gold is silver:
White gold, silver, and platinum may all share a similar color pallette but they are VERY different metals. Visually, platinum is naturally bright white, silver is naturally a cool grey, and the color of white gold can vary depending on the formula. These three are different in every way, from color, cost, durability, and even in the way you need to care for them.
12) Gold comes in one color, yellow:
This is kind of true. Pure gold is naturally yellow, but when gold is mixed with other metals to create a stronger alloy, it can take on other colors like white, rose, and champagne, or even speciality colors like green, red, or blue.
13) Higher gold karats are better than lower gold karats:
Every type of karat gold jewelry (i.e 10k, 14k, 18k, 24k) have their positive and negative qualities. The higher the karat, the more monetary value it generally has, but the lower the karat, the more durable the piece is, etc. The word Better is relative in this case, it really depends on your preference.
14) Lab diamonds are fake diamonds:
This one is totally false. Genetically, lab and natural diamonds are the same. Diamonds are formed when carbon is exposed to immense heat and pressure, whether that takes place inside the earth or inside a lab, the end result is a strong, sparkly gem!
15) Gold filled means other metal outside, gold inside:
We kind of understand the confusion on this one, gold filled cetainly sounds like it would be filled with gold, but it's actually the opposite. Gold filled jewelry has a thick layer of gold on the outside of the piece, and the inside is usually a base metal like brass.
16) If your Gold jewelry leaves a mark on your skin it's fake.
In most cases, real gold jewelry won't leave a mark, but every human is different. Any karat of gold that isn't 24k is an alloy and it's possible the other metals in the alloy, like copper or nickel, can have a chemical reaction with your sweat, lotion, perfumes, or even your particular body chemistry. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to any metal in one of our formulas, the jewelry can cause redness or irritation. You can always reach out to our Custom department if you need a different metal than what is on our listings.
