In Canada, ring size is measured by the inside circumference of the band in millimetres. The most common women's sizes run from 6 to 7 (about 51.9–54.4 mm) and men's from 9 to 11 (about...

Jewellery tarnishes when the metal reacts with sulfur, oxygen, sweat, perfume, lotion, or chlorine in the air or on your skin. Sterling silver tarnishes the fastest because the copper in the alloy oxidizes. 14K gold...

Warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft toothbrush will safely clean about 90% of fine jewellery at home. Soak for 10–15 minutes, brush gently around the setting, rinse, and dry with...

**Platinum lasts the longest.** It's the densest white metal, naturally hypoallergenic, and it doesn't wear away — it develops a patina. **White gold** is yellow gold mixed with a white alloy and then plated with...

A karat (K) measures how much pure gold is in your piece, out of 24 parts. 10K is 41.7% gold, 14K is 58.5%, 18K is 75%, and 22K is 91.7%. Higher karat means more pure...

Sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are the three most-used coloured gemstones in fine jewellery. Sapphire (Mohs 9) is the toughest and comes in nearly every colour, not just blue. Ruby (Mohs 9) is the red variety...

The 4Cs are Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat. **Cut matters most** because it controls how the diamond reflects light, and most buyers in Montréal underspend on it. Colour and clarity have wide ranges where the...

Here's how to actually pick an engagement ring without getting lost in jargon. Decide on three things in this order: **shape** (the diamond's outline), **setting** (how the metal holds it), and **carat** (the weight, which...

A diamond certificate is a lab report that grades a stone's 4Cs — carat, colour, clarity, and cut. The two reports we trust most at Bijouterie Jamil in Montréal are **GIA** (Gemological Institute of America)...