Jewelry Design Jewelry Business and Professional Practices

Question 1

What does karat (kt) measure in gold jewelry in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The purity of gold as a fraction of 24 parts

Answer

The weight of the gold piece

Answer

The hardness of the gold alloy

Answer

The market price of the gold

Question 2

Under US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, what is the minimum gold karat that can be legally sold as 'gold' without a karat qualifier?

Accepted Answer

10 karat

Answer

8 karat

Answer

14 karat

Answer

18 karat

Question 3

What is the term for the system of marks stamped on precious metal jewelry in many countries to certify metal purity?

Accepted Answer

Hallmarking

Answer

Branding

Answer

Certification

Answer

Assaying

Question 4

What is 'gold-filled' jewelry, and how does it differ from 'gold-plated'?

Accepted Answer

Gold-filled has a thick layer mechanically bonded to a base metal; gold-plating is electrodeposited and much thinner

Answer

Gold-filled has more karat gold than gold-plated; they are applied the same way

Answer

Gold-filled is solid gold inside; gold-plated has only a surface coating

Answer

There is no regulatory difference between the two terms

Question 5

What is the significance of the 'four Cs' in evaluating diamonds?

Accepted Answer

Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight — the universal grading criteria for diamond quality

Answer

Cost, Country, Certification, and Cut — commercial factors affecting price

Answer

Crystal, Core, Color, and Carat — geological properties of diamonds

Answer

Chemical purity, Clarity, Cut, and Circumference — technical measurements

Question 6

What is an 'appraisal' in the jewelry industry, and what is its primary legal purpose in the US?

Accepted Answer

A professional written valuation documenting a piece for insurance or estate purposes

Answer

A certificate proving a gem is natural

Answer

A government-issued certificate of metal purity

Answer

A grading report from a gemological laboratory