Article · 9 min
Why is an engagement ring’s value often lower when you sell?
Why you may not get back what you paid If you bought your ring in a shop, it can feel fair to expect something…
The Ralph Jacobs journal
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Plain-English guides to how jewellery is made, chosen and cared for. Start with a subject, or browse the latest articles below.
Article · 9 min
Why doesn’t every matching wedding band sit flush?
Why your band and engagement ring may not meet You have an engagement ring you love, and you want a wedding band that sits…
Article · 11 min
Why can’t every ring be resized? How ring resizing works
Why it helps to know how ring resizing works Why read this before you hand over your ring? Resizing normally means cutting the ring…
Article · 10 min
Why some gemstones suit everyday rings and others don’t
Why a ring you wear every day needs a durable stone You want a ring you can wear every day without worrying about it.…
Article · 10 min
Why the Mohs scale is not the whole gemstone durability story
Why a hardness number can mislead you Did you see a gemstone’s Mohs number, assume it meant the stone was tough, and then watch…
Article · 9 min
Why gemstone treatment disclosure matters, and how it’s done
Why gemstone treatment disclosure protects you Why should you need to know about treatments at all? Because you may not be able to see…
Article · 8 min
Why are heat treated gemstones so common, and does it matter?
Why heat treated gemstones are so common Have you been told your stone is heated, and now wonder whether something is wrong with it?…
Article · 9 min
Why hue, tone and saturation matter in gemstones
Why colour matters so much in a coloured gemstone You have probably seen phrases like “medium-dark tone”, “vivid saturation” or “slightly violetish blue” in…
Article · 9 min
What makes one stone better? How to evaluate coloured gemstones
Why aren’t coloured gemstones graded like diamonds? Comparing coloured stones and unsure what makes one better than another? You are not alone. Knowing how…
Article · 10 min
Why salary rules don’t fit: how to set an engagement ring budget
Why salary rules don’t fit real life Why does setting a ring budget feel so hard? Often someone has told you to spend a…