What Is the Difference Between Fine Jewelry and Costume Jewelry?

If they are constructed well, certain pieces of costume jewelry can be hard to differentiate from fine jewelry. The visual appearance of precious metal can be seen on the surface of costume jewelry in the form of plating, dipping, filling, and rolling in both gold and silver metals and other materials. However, when closely examining these pieces, coatings of precious metals can be easily scratched off, which reveals copper, nickel, or a number of other metals that do not fit into the category of precious metals.



Additionally, there are costume pieces that are referred to as gold or silver tone, which means the coatings on these pieces are equitable to a gold or silver paint and a more inexpensive option.

Fine Jewelry vs Costume Jewelry

The fine jewelry of the present era dates back to the 19th century, and it consists of gold, platinum, and gemstones. Predominant jewelry styles tend to conform to the artistic style of the times. Between 1910 and 1920, an artistic style known as Art Nouveau became popular. The style is characterized by abstractions, flowing lines, flowers, serpents, butterflies, and the depiction of women carved into the surfaces of many of this era's jewelry pieces, whether that be a brooch or a ring. It was at this time that enamel jewelry became popular.



Designers began using this technique to decorate metals that were less expensive. The technique helped to catapult costume jewelry's popularity among the people who liked the style, but they could not pay the high prices for precious metals. Although the style was the same, the pieces had a category of their own. They were not valuable because they were not considered to be fine jewelry.



The 1940s is known as the Retro period in jewelry. Pink gold, large brooches, lush styling, and an extravagant use of gemstones characterize this style. Much of the enameled costume pieces of the 1920s created a new market for costume styles that mimicked the Retro period's fine jewelry styles. During World War II, many women could not afford to buy jewelry made of precious metals. This gave rise to an even wider market for costume jewelry. If there was a budget for staying on top of fashion trends, many of the women bought costume jewelry to accessorize their clothing. Although it is too early to say how historians may describe the jewelry of today, jewelry experts predict that it may be known for its eclecticism. Today's designs, vintage to modern, reflect a broad range of influences. It borrows freely from all previous eras, and it reflects the individual tastes of both designers and clients. Costume jewelry is very much a part of today's styles, but there are still distinct differences between costume jewelry and fine jewelry, such as the materials and rhinestones they may use.



The fine jewelry of the present era dates back to the 19th century, and it consists of gold, platinum, and gemstones. Predominant jewelry styles tend to conform to the artistic style of the times. Between 1910 and 1920, an artistic style known as Art Nouveau became popular. The style is characterized by abstractions, flowing lines, flowers, serpents, butterflies, and the depiction of women carved into the surfaces of many of this era's jewelry pieces, whether that be a brooch or a ring. It was at this time that enamel jewelry became popular. Designers began using this technique to decorate metals that were less expensive. The technique helped to catapult costume jewelry's popularity among the people who liked the style, but they could not pay the high prices for precious metals. Although the style was the same, the pieces had a category of their own. They were not valuable because they were not considered to be fine jewelry.

White Gold Rings the Symbol of Love

White Gold Rings the promise of love and togetherness. The ring symbolizes love and the circle of life. It is the method chosen to propose to your loved one or tell her that you want to spend the rest of the life with her. The ring on the wedding finger is the symbol of marriage and love. It says that you are now a part of some one forever. The ring speaks the language of love the best. When you exchange rings at wedding ceremonies it is the sanction of togetherness in front of god. The ring is the most beautiful and treasured ornament in the jewel box of any woman. You may have innumerable rings but the value of your wedding rings remains the most precious.



White Gold Rings are a popular choice with the young women of today. White gold is an alloy of gold and one more white metal which can be nickel or palladium. Like gold white gold is also measured in karats. The quality of white gold depends on the metals and proportions used. The alloys of white gold can be used for different purposes. The nickel alloy is hard and strong therefore it is good for White Gold Rings.



Palladium is soft and is best suited for white gold gemstone settings. The best quality of white gold is at least 17 karat and is made up of gold and palladium. Specialized goldsmiths can trace levels of platinum for weight and durability. Higher-quality white gold alloys retain shine and luster. They are usually coated with a very thin layer of rhodium. Thus dull white gold has a natural shine comparable to platinum or silver. White Gold Rings require frequent cleaning or re-coating of rhodium at a later date.



White Gold Rings are popular gift items amongst couples. For men it is an ideal gift because with the latest fashion of steel finish watches White Gold Rings match the best. They can be worn casually to work and are popular choices for wedding rings also. For women, you can just keep them from jumping at the sight of the various designs and patterns of White Gold Rings.

Place around the Neck: White Gold Cross Pendants

Well before man first started placing golden objects on a chain, a chain that goes around the neck, artists and artisans alike seemed to harbor a fascination for the symbol formed by crossed bars. Consequently, the discovery of white gold eventually led to production of white gold cross pendants. Over the centuries that simple symbol has undergone numerous adaptations, some of which appear among the most recent white gold neck accessories.

An online shopper can view a few such adaptations by typing the phrase “apples of gold” into the proper space on a search engine. That clue should lead the shopper to two sets of white gold crosses. One set contains pendants meant for men; the other has similar items that were designed for women.



One of the items in the former set contains three white gold nails. In that piece, those three nails remain held together through use of white gold ties.  A variety of additional crosses fall under the category of “apples of gold” for men. They include a Celtic cross, one that clearly supports the ancient belief that the world ought to be viewed as divided into four sections.

In the latter set, women can discover the unusual cross named “harmony.” It features two separate curved bars. One appears to travel down and to the left; the other up and to the right.  A single diamond rests between those two bars.

Holly D’Lane Jewelry

As the ancient civilizations developed, the men in those ancient societies learned how to find and identify colored gemstones. They learned how to grade diamonds and to cut diamonds. Men acquired the skills needed for model making and metal fabrication. Men studied how to set precious stones in an array of different metal shapes...



Holly D’Lane has learned the skills introduced to society by the ancient jewelry makers. She has used her skills to develop a line of Holly D’Lane jewelry. Ms. D’Lane has also studied the art of gem enhancement. Almost every stone in the Holly D’Lane jewelry has been enhanced.

Holly D’Lane does not hide from buyers the nature of the enhancement process that has been used on any of the gemstones in her jewelry. Most of those enhancement processes are viewed as “standard procedure” among the community of gemologists. Some, such as heat treatment, have been used for thousands of years, in order to bring-out the natural beauty of gemstones.



The enhancement of a gemstone does not diminish the value of that stone. It simply adds to the attractiveness and durability of the enhanced gem. Holly D’Lane jewelry is both attractive and durable.

Some pieces of Holly D’Lane jewelry mirror the excitement of New Orleans during the time of the Mardi Gras. As a young girl growing-up in New Orleans, Holly D’Lane loved the annual appearance of the costumed Mardi Gras participants. One can say with a fair amount of certainty that a number of those costumed parade marchers wore jewelry.