Darling, if you want diamonds ,  you simply must read our Diamond Buying Guide . It'll tell you all about the four Cs , and how to find what you like.

• Make sure you know the stats of your diamond and get it in writing.
• Diamonds are so highly regulated and evaluated that you will not get an incredibly cheap price on quality, anywhere . The smartest thing you can do is get exactly what you're looking for a haggled down price. Do not be baited and switched.

If you want to buy a gemstone ,  you're going to have to read our guide . It'll let you know what to look for and what the options are before you.

• Make sure you know whether stones have been treated for flaws or if they're totally natural. This will affect their price (and value) greatly.
• Just like with a diamond, make sure you have a certificate documenting everything about your gem's four Cs .

Gold   can come in so many varieties of quality, online and off.

• All gold should have a trademark certified by the government. Be suspicious of pieces that do not.
• Know your terminology:
• 24 karat   is totally pure but very soft. It won't make the most durable jewelry.
• 14 karat   is 14 parts gold mixed with 10 parts other metals.
• The same extends to 18 karat   gold.
• Solid gold   means the piece is not hollow. It could be any percentage pure, though.
• Gold plated   means that the jewelry has a layer of gold bonded onto its non-gold surface. This will wear away with time, depending on how thick the plate it.
• Gold overlay ,  rolled gold plate (RGP) ,  and gold-filled   jewelry have a gold plate of at least 10 karats.
• The piece should have the karats listed as well as the proportion of the piece that is gold, if under 1/20 of the weight. e.g.. -- 1/20 12K Gold Filled Necklace . 
• Gold electroplate   means that there's a layer of at least 10 karat gold at least .175 microns thick secured on a base plate.
• Gold flashed   and gold washed   jewelry have a layer less than .175 microns thick. This will wear away very quickly. Not a good purchase.
• If you only buy gold that meets your quality specifications, you won't be disappointed online.

Silver   jewelry is very popular for anything except engagement and wedding rings. (Many people have engagement/wedding rings that are silver, but they're not the same level of popularity.)

• Just like gold, your silver must have a trademark noting its purity.
• Something qualifies for the label "silver" if it's 92.5% pure. It may also be labeled 925 Silver.
• Silverplate   is a layer of silver that is bonded to another metal underneath. As with gold, you risk it rubbing off.

Platinum   is more precious than gold or silver.

• Its purity is measured in parts per thousand. e.g. -- If a piece is 850 Plat or Pt. it is 85% platinum and 15% other metals.
• It may also be marked with the parts per thousand of pure platinum and the parts of a platinum group metal (like iridium or palladium). This would look like 500 Plat 400 Irid, with 10% being other metals.

Pearls can be natural, cultivated, or imitation. Make sure you pay accordingly.

• Pearls may be impressive colors by nature or by dying them after-the-fact. While the former is rare and incredible, the latter is often regarded as tacky. Know which you're buying.
• Natural   pearls form inside of oysters from an irritation inside and are harvested in the wild. They are very rare, beautiful, soft, and flawed.
• Cultivated   pearls are formed when an irritant is purposely introduced into an oyster. They are also beautiful but not nearly as rare or valuable. They are measured by their size and lustre.
• Imitation   pearls are made of plastic, glass, or other materials and roughly resemble a pearl and size, shape, and color. They are no where near as valued or impressive.