Understanding fine jewelry
Everyone should know what to look for when investing in fine jewelry.
SILVER
The art of silver working dates back to ancient times, where silver was used to create household items, jewelry, and decorative ornamentation of all kinds. Coins were also crafted from fine silver. Newport Sterling pieces are made in our manufacturing facility in Rhode Island in the manner of the great New England silversmiths.
PURITY —
In its natural state, pure silver is very soft, so it is often alloyed with copper for strength. All of our sterling silver items are marked with the words “sterling silver” or “.925”. The number .925 means that the alloy is at least 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This quality stamp is your assurance of strength, beauty, and worth.
FINISH —
Silver is a highly reflective and bright metal, and over time silver jewelry develops a patina through frequent use. Different finishes bring out different characteristics and colors. We offer three different finishes on our products: high polished – a high gloss, shiny finish, matte – a soft, bushed look achieved by rubbing with an abrasive, and oxidized – chemically blackened to look aged.
CARE —
With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. Your sterling silver jewelry should be stored in a cool, dry place to avoid oxidation. Do not store your silver directly on wood, which often contains acids that can affect silver’s finish. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver.
Newport Sterling items are shipped in an anti-tarnish pouch that are perfect for storing your jewelry. This will protect the finish from scratches, and can even be used to polish the piece. Although wearing your silver jewelry often is the best way to prevent tarnish from building up, regular cleaning using a silver polish or a treated polishing cloth to return the piece to its original luster.
GOLD
Throughout history gold has been sought after for its beauty, radiance, and intrinsic worth - capturing the imagination of entire civilizations. Gold speaks to us in profound ways. Gold jewelry can be offered as a gift of love, or adorned as an expression of individual style. It can be given to celebrate an important event, or worn as a reminder of someone special. Gold is nearly indestructible. Therefore, virtually all of the gold ever mined is still above ground today in one form or another.
PURITY —
The purity of gold is measured in karats. Pure gold is 24 karat, while 18 karat gold is 75 percent gold and 25 percent alloy. The price of gold jewelry is dependent upon the purity of the gold used or karat weight, as well as the design and construction of the piece of jewelry.
When karat weight, or gold percentage, of jewelry is high, the yellow color of gold is brighter, raising the value of the jewelry. Newport Sterling uses 18 karat gold exclusively in its manufacturing to ensure you the most beautiful gold jewelry available.
COLOR —
Gold color is determined by the percentage of alloys that are included in the metal. When gold is alloyed with silver, copper, and zinc, the shade of color will vary. When gold is alloyed with nickel, copper, and zinc, it becomes white gold. Yellow gold and white gold have very similar strength and malleability.
CARE —
Keep your gold jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. This will reduce daily abrasions and prolong your gold's luster. To clean gold jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gold gently with a soft-bristled brush.
Newport Sterling items are shipped in fabric pouches that can be used to store the jewelry. This will protect the finish from scratches, and can be used as a polishing cloth.
PLATINUM
The most appealing characteristic of platinum is its durability. Its strength and its cool white sheen makes platinum the most popular metal of choice for precious stone settings, as it accentuates the sparkle and brilliance of a diamond or gemstone.
PURITY —
Most platinum jewelry is 95 percent pure platinum, and 5 percent iridium or palladium alloy. For guaranteed quality in platinum, look for the marks “950 Plat” or “Plat”.
CARE —
To clean platinum jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gently with a soft-bristled brush.
PEARLS
Because of the scarcity of natural pearls, most pearls today are cultured pearls. A tiny bead is implanted in an oyster, so that it is gradually coated in layers of a beautiful, pearlescent substance called nacre which build up to create a lustrous pearl. The quality and thickness of this nacre impact the beauty and pricing of cultured pearls.
Akoya pearls are the specialty of Japanese pearl farms. The first pearls to be cultured early in the 1920s, their white color and rosé overtone complement a fair complexion. Because Akoya pearls are a high-quality pearl, you’ll find them set with 18k gold posts and clasps, and you'll find they are well matched for size, shape, and color.
We offer some of the finest Akoya pearls available today. Our pearl buyers select their pearls from the finest five percent of an Akoya pearl harvest, assuring you the finest pearls available. The color, spotless surface, deep luster, and perfectly round shape are what set our Akoya pearls apart. These are heirloom quality pearls.