How do you define fine jewelry?

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#31
For me, fine jewellery is made with precious metals (platinum, gold and sterling silver) and precious to semi precious stones.
Fashion jewellery can be a mix of the above with non precious materials. Any plated gold or silver jewellery falls in this category. My Pandora bracelet falls in this category.
Price shouldn't matter as it is often inflated because of brand or its history. I buy fine jewellery because of the quality not because of brand name attached to it.
I'm not a big fan of fashion jewellery although I love looking at them on others especially Iris Apfel.
 
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#32
To me it means anything in platinum or yellow and rose gold 18kt and above, with semi precious or precious stones and 18kt white gold that contains palladium- no nickel.

I base this on what my skin can tolerate. I've had terrible reaction to 14kt in the past.
 
#33
Out of the jewellery I own, I consider my wedding set (diamond and platinum) to be fine jewellery, alongside white gold, pearl and diamond pieces, which I've received as gifts from DH, my parents and grandparents.

Beyond that my Tiffany Silver and Monica Vinader ring (diamonds set in sterling silver) get a ton of wear and are super special, but are my more every day pieces.
 
#34
I consider fine jewelry to be 18k+ gold and platinum and contain well cut diamonds and higher end precious gemstones (sapphires, rubies, emeralds and the occasional fine specimens of aquamarine, mostly).
 
#37
For mass-produced jewelry: 18k gold or platinum, diamond / emerald / sapphire / ruby.

There are one-of-a-kind jewelry where the workmanship is so exquisite that it almost doesn't matter what they're made of, they are considered fine jewelry. JAR pieces would be examples.
 
#38
apey_grapey said:
For mass-produced jewelry: 18k gold or platinum, diamond / emerald / sapphire / ruby.

There are one-of-a-kind jewelry where the workmanship is so exquisite that it almost doesn't matter what they're made of, they are considered fine jewelry. JAR pieces would be examples.
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Rosenthal's jewelry or JAR is some of the hardest jewelry to purchase retail also.
My mother has a piece and I think my sisters and I might be fighting over later in life. :p

Last time I saw his pieces up for auction were from Ellen Barkins collection.
 
#41
If we want to get really wild with it, we can say it's jewelry made with precious metals and stones and use the legal definitions for those. :p

I think it's kind of a sliding scale in real life. Fine jewelry at K-Mart, for example is a very different thing than fine jewelry at Bergdorf's or Bulgari. At the end of the day, it's whether you love it that counts.
 
#42
ame said:
I consider fine jewelry to be 18k+ gold and platinum and contain well cut diamonds and higher end precious gemstones (sapphires, rubies, emeralds and the occasional fine specimens of aquamarine, mostly).
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This is how I see it. Stones I would say diamonds + big threes and that's it.

But different end jewellers have their own definitions. :smile1:
 
#43
My interpretation is the industry considers fine jewelry to be gold content of 14k or higher and platinum, with natural semi precious or precious stones. Also, I'd consider certain pearls, like the Mikimoto full line to be fine. I personally though would break down the group of fine into fine, finer, finest. Because I feel the term contains a very wide range of items and there is a big difference in the materials.
 
#44
To me, "fine jewelry" really depends on the individual piece. I see a difference between the 14k gold items you purchase at Macy's and the 14k gold items at a jewelry store. I look more towards the weight of the item and the craftsmanship that went into creating it - not so much the brand name. Having said that, Tiffany's silver has a great weight to it. Much more so than what you would purchase in the mall. In my opinion, that (the weight and quality) would make Tiffany silver "fine jewelry" - not just the name associated with the piece.

I've always thought of "costume jewelry" more as something that is not intended to last more than one season.

Just my 2 cents 😀
 
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