For ages, jewelry has been a part of human culture and history. While each age has affected the way jewelry is created and appears; it has also given rise to a number of legends and myths around jewelry. Some are based on traditional folklore, while others are more recent. Some of them have even unintentionally affected the jewelry business and its customers. Let us examine some prevalent jewelry myths and throw some light on the truth behind them.
Gold Comes in a Variety of Colors
Gold is usually yellow when it is found naturally. Nonetheless, due to the availability of white, gold, rose gold, and other colors, many people assume that gold comes in a variety of colors. Yet, these are just gold alloys, which are created by combining pure gold with other metals such as iron, silver, or platinum. White gold, for example, is a combination of gold, nickel, and palladium, whereas rose gold is a combination of gold, silver, and copper.
The 12 Gemstones Were Obtained from the 12 Tribes of Israel
This myth’s origins are based on historical occurrences. The first Jewish Temple was erected by King Solomon, and the High Priest at the time wore a breastplate decorated with 12 jewels said to represent the twelve tribes of Jerusalem.
From then, the concept expanded to include birthstones for each month of the year. These stones were randomly assigned each month for no particular reason. The contemporary birthstone list as we know it now did not emerge until the early twentieth century.
Vinegar May Dissolve Pearls
This myth has some validity since pearls are permeable and the most fragile of all valuable jewels. As a result, these stones can dissolve in vinegar and hover; however, the process is gradual and takes many days.
The legend arose when Cleopatra decided to hold a spectacular dinner party and began tossing pearls into her wine. Although it is possible to degrade pearls fast by crushing them, this fact has been overstated throughout history.
Sapphires Only Come in Blue
While sapphires are well-known for their cerulean hue, it is a little-known truth that these valuable stones come in a variety of different colors than blue. The color of the stone fluctuates from blue to a lighter blue or occasionally to an entirely new color depending on the number of impurities discovered in it. Blue sapphire, for example, contains titanium and iron. Vanadium causes Sapphires to become purple, whereas iron causes them to turn yellow.
Diamonds Are the World’s Most Rare Gemstones
Diamonds are the world’s most valuable jewel. While they are so rare that their value exceeds that of other stones such as Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires, and so on. However, a few other stones such as Painite, Bixbyite, Jeremejevite, Serendibite, Musgravite, Benitoite, Taaffeite, and Garnierite are rarer.
Diamonds Are Unbreakable
This is one of the most common misconceptions about jewelry. Diamonds are among the most durable gemstones in the world, with a hardness rating of 10 on the Moh’s scale. A level 10 categorization, on the other hand, indicates it cannot be scratched. Yet, while diamonds survive the longest due to their composition, they can break when subjected to intense heat and pressure. As a result, it is crucial that you don’t fall victim to this myth and maintain your jewelry.
The Price Of A Stone Increases With Its Size
It could make sense to think that a gemstone’s cost and size are directly linked. This is far from the case, since the price of a stone is determined by the 4Cs – cut, color, carat, and clarity.
It is quite conceivable for a diamond with poor color and cut to be huge in size while yet costing less than a diamond with excellent cut and color but small in size. As a general rule, it is usually preferable to select diamonds based on their overall attributes rather than their size alone.
Conclusion
Purchasing jewelry and precious gemstones are always an investment, and myths and stories should not deter you. With the passage of time, more and more jewelry myths are destined to emerge. While some of them make great stories, understanding the difference between reality and fiction is always a good idea. Visit Gupta Ji, the best jewelry store in Haridwar, now to acquire stunning and authentic jewelry, or to learn more about our custom-made creations.