How do you define fine jewelry?

[SweetCherries]

I see the term here used all the time. All my jewelry is sterling silver, or 14 or 18k gold. No plating, no fake stones. It is all semi=precious or precious stones.

Is it price range? Is it brand related? Or materials?

I have tiffany earrings that were 800 bucks but are in physical essence not really different from my 150 dollar pair from them. My links of london ring sells for 220 but is no different than my daniel one i got for 600.

As I don't like yellow gold i tend to opt for sterling silver and most of my jewelry is either by well known Israeli artists or are brand names such as links of London, Tiffany, Pandora etc. yet i don't consider myself to be in possession of any fine jewelry.

I will be heading to new york at the end of the month and plan on purchasing two Cartier rings both of which i consider fine jewelry. but one of them is only 925.00. so why is that fine jewelry when my frank gehry for Tiffany's earrings were within 100.00 of that?

please define the way you interpret the term!

Excellent question bluejinx I've always thought anything that is expensive in: gold,diamonds,pearls and gemstones are consider fine jewellery; especially branded ones....hmmm

 

[tulemar]

i also define fine jewelry based on materials, not by brand name. 14k golds and above and precious gemstones are fine jewelry to me.

ditto

 

[kashmira]

For me it is 18K gold (or higher) or platinum, with or without precious and semi-precious stones and also high-quality pearls. Also good craftsmanship is important. If the jewellery is not well-made, I don't think it is fine jewellery even if it is 18K gold.

 

[Roregirl]

I agree with kashmira. I have 18k piece that is in my travel jewelry bag, it isnt well made so I tend not to consider it fine jewelry.

 

[Bitten]

I don't know, I've never really thought about it. I agree with Haute Mama's definition though.

 

[Roregirl]

Haute Mama does have a better and detailed definition of fine jewelry.

 

[courty]

Generally speaking, stones are classified into precious and semi-precious categories. The most precious stones are diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Pearls are often classified as precious "stones" as well, although I don't consider many of the low-quality freshwater pearls used in casual jewelry to be precious or fine.

For me personally, I consider 14K and higher (18K, 22K, 24K) and platinum, with or without precious stones to be "fine" jewelry. I do not consider my sterling silver pieces to be fine jewelry, regardless of brand. Fine jewelry classification for me is defined solely by materials and not by brand.

Like I said, the definition of precious vs semi-precious stones is pretty universal. Classification of fine jewelry may differ from person to person, however, as some people may consider brand, price, etc.

i agree with this! i also consider things to be fine jewelry based on what they're made of. to me it has nothing to do with the cost or the brand.

 

[KathyB]

Generally speaking, stones are classified into precious and semi-precious categories. The most precious stones are diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Pearls are often classified as precious "stones" as well, although I don't consider many of the low-quality freshwater pearls used in casual jewelry to be precious or fine.

For me personally, I consider 14K and higher (18K, 22K, 24K) and platinum, with or without precious stones to be "fine" jewelry. I do not consider my sterling silver pieces to be fine jewelry, regardless of brand. Fine jewelry classification for me is defined solely by materials and not by brand.

Like I said, the definition of precious vs semi-precious stones is pretty universal. Classification of fine jewelry may differ from person to person, however, as some people may consider brand, price, etc.

^^ I agree with this, too. It is subjective, but I do consider precious and semi-precious stones set in 14k and up to be fine jewelry, as well as pearls. To me, costume is what you see displayed on the counters of department stores.

 

[bluejinx]

I always considered my Tiffany pieces to be fine jewelry. You have changed my mind people!

 

[gabz]

what about something in silver or 14k gold but has diamonds or saphies in it? is that still fine bc of the stones or costume bc of the metal?

 

[queennadine]

generally speaking, stones are classified into precious and semi-precious categories. The most precious stones are diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Pearls are often classified as precious "stones" as well, although i don't consider many of the low-quality freshwater pearls used in casual jewelry to be precious or fine.

for me personally, i consider 14k and higher (18k, 22k, 24k) and platinum, with or without precious stones to be "fine" jewelry. I do not consider my sterling silver pieces to be fine jewelry, regardless of brand. Fine jewelry classification for me is defined solely by materials and not by brand.

like i said, the definition of precious vs semi-precious stones is pretty universal. Classification of fine jewelry may differ from person to person, however, as some people may consider brand, price, etc.

ita!

 

[greygirl]

Generally speaking, stones are classified into precious and semi-precious categories. The most precious stones are diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Pearls are often classified as precious "stones" as well, although I don't consider many of the low-quality freshwater pearls used in casual jewelry to be precious or fine.

For me personally, I consider 14K and higher (18K, 22K, 24K) and platinum, with or without precious stones to be "fine" jewelry. I do not consider my sterling silver pieces to be fine jewelry, regardless of brand. Fine jewelry classification for me is defined solely by materials and not by brand.

Like I said, the definition of precious vs semi-precious stones is pretty universal. Classification of fine jewelry may differ from person to person, however, as some people may consider brand, price, etc.

I have a beeeeuuuutiful fred leighton diamond necklace (recently appraised for about 4k) that's diamonds set in antique looking sterling sliver. The jeweler who appraised it said, did you know this is sterling? I was surprised, I suppose I assumed it was wg because it has diamonds. . .but it is certainly "fine" even though it's silver. Just thought I'd throw that out there. . .(honestly it's a very delicate necklace. . .wg couldn't have been that much more. I'm still puzzling why sterling--maybe for the patina effect?)

 

[La Comtesse]

^^^Antique pieces from the Victorian and even into the early Edwardian period used sterling (usually applied over a gold base) to set diamonds. Platinum was not used in jewelry until the Edwardian Period (early 1900s)--and white gold later than that. So the Leighton piece is probably trying to reproduce the feel of a true antique (19th century) diamond piece.

And that is the reason why my opinion on the original question is--that fine jewelry is any jewelry made of precious metals--including sterling, and all karats of gold that are legal forms of "gold jewelry" in the country you are talking about (varies from around 9k-24k). Also any jewelry made up of combinations of precious metal and precious or semi-precious stones or of those stones alone (e.g., fine emerald bead necklace).

Like others have said, I don't think the term fine jewelry has anything at all to do with cost or brand. I just use the term to distinguish costume (base metal and/or fake stones) from precious metal and real stones, regardless of cost. But I also agree that there are different levels of "fine jewelry" within the general category.

 

[La Comtesse]

Depends on where you are.
In Europe, 14K would not be considered to be of good quality or be used in better jewelry and in Asia (China, India) it certainly would not be.
On the other hand, many would consider Tiffany silver jewelry to be fine jewelry and there are other kinds of silver jewelry, Georg Jensen or the museum quality pieces from mid-twentieth century Mexico that are more valuable that machine made 14K.
The line between 'precious' and 'semi-precious' stones has also become very blurred as sapphires, rubies etc can be poor quality, heat-treated or treated in other ways while some 'semi-precious' stones such as real alexandrite are very rare and expensive.
Not to say that there's not a definition or that there aren't real differences, but it takes some thought.

You make a very good point about semiprecious stones. Many of them are rarer and much more expensive than the precious stones. It is just a category reserved for sapphire, diamond, ruby and emerald.

 

[leechiyong]

I've found as I explore jewelry more, there seems to be a wide variety of options for both fine and fashion jewelry and also that blend the two, like diamonds set in brass, silver, or gold plated silver or CZ set in gold. I've heard a lot of people say they no longer where fashion or costume jewelry, but am curious what that really means to others.

Is it the materials that define fine jewelry for you? If so, what materials do you consider fine jewelry? Is it the price or design?