Birthstones

Birthstones can vary, depending on where you are looking. This list is a fairly typical list of traditional and modern birthstones.

Sterling Silver

The chemical symbol for silver is Ag, which comes from the Latin name Argentum. Pure silver is very malleable and conducts both electricity and heat. Silver was first mined in the region now known as Turkey and evidence suggests that it was successfully extracted from other ores around 2500 BC. Currently, silver is mined all over the world, with large deposits being found in Mexico and Norway. In the United States, silver is found in Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.

High quality silver jewelry is typically alloyed with copper to enhance its durability and prevent damage to the metal. Sterling silver consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, which is why it is referred to as 925 sterling silver and stamped 925. Sterling silver jewelry may also be stamped "sterling."

Gold-filled

Gold-filled is a hollow tube of usually 14K gold that is filled with another metal (usually brass). The exterior of the gold-filled jewelry is solid karated gold and everything that can be seen or touched is a solid layer of karated gold.

The tube of karated gold is approximately 100 times thicker than gold plate. It is made by bonding with heat and pressure. With normal wear and tear, the karated gold will never tarnish, chip, or wear off. By law, this layer of karated gold has to be at least 1/20 of the total weight of the metal portion of the piece of jewelry.

Vermeil

Vermeil is sterling silver heavily electroplated with 24K gold. FTC standards dictate that the karated gold be at least 100 millionth of an inch of 24K gold layers over sterling silver. Vermeil is a French term for gold plate over sterling silver (as opposed to gold plate over base metal).