Fine Jewelry is defined not for its look or design, but primarily for its material content. Jewelry containing a precious metal, gem or quality stone is generally called "fine" jewelry vs. costume jewelry.

When shopping for fine jewelry, it helps if you can recognize the type and quality of materials used. Most precious metals are marked with their purity, but for gems and stones it takes much more research and a keen eye. You can find some helpful hints on our information pages.