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

Karat measures gold purity as parts per 24; 24kt is pure gold, 18kt is 18/24 (75%) gold, and 14kt is 14/24 (58.3%) gold, with the remainder being alloy metals.

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

The FTC requires that jewelry sold as 'gold' in the US must be at least 10 karat (41.7% gold), the lowest quality legally sold without additional disclosure.

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

Hallmarking is the official system of stamping independently verified marks on precious metal items to certify their metal content, used extensively in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere.

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 jewelry has a thick layer of karat gold (at least 1/20 by weight) mechanically bonded to a base metal core, while gold-plated is a very thin electrodeposited layer that wears off more quickly.

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

The four Cs—Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight—are the universally adopted standard criteria developed by GIA for evaluating and communicating diamond quality.

Jewelry Design Practice Test

Jewelry Design Practice Test

Jewelry Design Jewelry Business and Professional Practices