Notes & stories
The School of Fine Jewelry
lessons in antique & vintage jewelry
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AUG 2026
· Buying & value
How Much Is My Gold Worth? The Honest Math
Curious what your gold jewelry is truly worth? I walk you through the honest math, so no buyer can outsmart you with a lowball offer.
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AUG 2026
· Bracelets
What Is a Charm Bracelet? A Life Told in Gold
Discover where charm bracelets began, what their little charms really mean, and how to choose or build one that will carry your own life's chapters...
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AUG 2026
· Gold & metals
What Is Filigree Jewelry? Lace Made of Gold
Discover how goldsmiths coax gold and silver wire into lace, why cannetille spirals belonged to the early 1800s, and how to tell handmade filigree from...
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AUG 2026
· Gold & metals
What Is Rose Gold? The Blushing Alloy Explained
Discover why rose gold never fades or fakes its blush, and why she is copper's oldest, warmest trick in the book, not a modern one.
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AUG 2026
· Gold & metals
White Gold vs Yellow Gold: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Choose?
Discover why white gold and yellow gold are really the same gold underneath, and learn how to choose the one that matches your skin, your...
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AUG 2026
· Care & cleaning
Why Does Jewelry Turn Your Skin Green (and How Do You Stop It)?
Find out why a ring or bracelet sometimes leaves a green mark on your skin, what it really means about the metal, and the honest...
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AUG 2026
· Gold & metals
What Does 925 Mean on Jewelry? Sterling Silver Explained
Learn what those tiny stamps on your silver truly mean, from sterling's 92.5% purity to spotting plate, patina, and the gold-colored 925 trick before you...
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AUG 2026
· Gold & metals
14K vs 18K Gold: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Choose?
Find out what really separates 14K from 18K gold, and let me help you decide which one deserves a place on your hand every day.
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JUL 2026
· Buying & value
How to Tell if Gold Is Real: The Tests That Work and the Ones That Do Not
Discover which simple checks, from marks to magnets to the feel of real weight, actually tell you if a piece is gold, and which ones...
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JUL 2026
· Buying & value
Is It Real Gold? How to Read Hallmarks on Antique Jewelry
Learn how to read hallmarks, spot gold-filled or plated pieces, and tell Swedish crowns from Danish towers so you never overpay for a piece she...
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FEB 2022
· Buying & value
Why Gold Jewelry Is A Great Investment
Discover why gold has held her value for thousands of years, and how she can protect your savings while looking beautiful around your neck or...
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