Jewelry Education
the lazy girl's guide to smart luxury
How to buy jewelry that looks expensive, lasts, and never wastes your money
Because you deserve jewelry that feels expensive — without the confusion, the markup, or the allergic reactions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. seven Major Jewelry Red Flags
2. Best to Worst Metals (Ranked)
3. Real Jewelry Pricing — The Math
4. Moissanite Cheat Sheet
5. Stone Cuts Explained
6. The Lazy Girl’s Quality Checklist
7. Kampy Smart-Luxury Picks
1. The Big seven Jewelry Red Flags 🚩
(Avoid These = You Save Money)
🚩 # ONE
No metal stamp
If the jewelry has NO stamp → it’s not real.
Real sterling silver = “925”
Solid gold = “10k / 14k (585) / 18k” (750)
Stainless Steel = 316L or S.STEEL
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🚩 # TWO
Selling “solid gold” with no gold weight listed
If the brand won’t list the weight?
You cannot verify its value = NOT an investment.
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🚩 # THREE
Base metals like brass
Brass contains nickel, the #1 cause of:
— itchy skin, redness, bumps, black/green marks
If you have sensitive skin?
Nickel is your enemy.
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🚩 # FOUR
No metal listed/18K Gold plated but no base metal → automatic no
If the site won’t tell you the metal?
It’s cheap brass 99% of the time.
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🚩 # FIVE
No gemstone certification
No certificate = mystery stone + inflated price.
Every real stone should come with:
— cut grade, clarity, color, unique serial number
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🚩 # SIX
No return policy + no transparency
Real brands stand behind their quality.
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🚩 # SEVEN
No stone info (cut, clarity, color)
Cheap stones = no transparency.
2. METALS: Ranked From Best → Worst
This is the truth the industry rarely tells you.
001. Smartest Choice Overall
14k Gold on 925 Sterling Silver
This is the smart luxury category — the one the industry wishes women didn’t know about.
Why it’s the smartest choice:
✔ hypoallergenic + nickel-free
✔ won’t turn green
✔ durable
✔ looks + feels like fine jewelry
✔ pairs beautifully with gemstones
✔ real silver core = real value
✔ perfect for sensitive skin
✔ ages well
Pieces to start your smart luxury collection:
– Celestial Stack (signature)
– Seraphine Tennis Bracelet (Everyday durability)
– Solène Necklace (special occasions)
This is the MOST intelligent metal choice for women who want:
→ longevity
→ sparkle
→ no reactions
→ no tarnish
→ no crazy markup
002. Beautiful, But Not Always Practical
Solid Gold
The truth nobody tells you
Beautiful, durable, a true heirloom — but not always the smartest daily choice.
Quick truths:
✔ You’re paying heavy brand markup
✔ 14k = strongest for daily wear
✔ 18k = softer, scratches easier
✔ Weight must be listed to verify value
✔ Solid gold ≠ better stones or craftsmanship
If you want real fine jewelry:
– Catbird NYC
– Aurate
– Mejuri
These are amazing — but pricey.
003. Sounds Fancy… Until You Look Closer
Vermeil
overhyped & overpriced
Vermeil should mean:
2.5 microns of gold on sterling silver.
The reality:
Most vermeil online is regular plating disguised as vermeil — and for customers? There’s no reliable way to know without:
– micro XRF testing (not accessible)
– destructive acid testing (ruins the piece)
This is why vermeil is inconsistent and often not worth the premium.
004. Trendy & Affordable — Not Investment-Worthy
18k Gold on Stainless Steel
✔ hypoallergenic
✔ waterproof
✔ durable
But:
ㄨ not a precious metal
ㄨ cannot be resized
ㄨ slightly different color tone
ㄨ doesn’t pair with premium stones well
ㄨ no long-term value
Great for budgets — not for smart-luxury investment.
Examples of reputable stainless steel brands:
– Kampy Designs
– OXB Studio
– Hey Harper
Transparency builds trust — but your new era is higher tier.
005. If You Have Sensitive Skin, Run.
Brass / Unknown Base Metals
Cheap for a reason:
ㄨ Turns skin green.
ㄨ Tarnishes fast.
ㄨ Low lifespan.
ㄨ Zero value.
If you react?
It’s because of nickel.
Avoid forever.
3. The Real Math: What Jewelry ACTUALLY Costs
How much does a real 14k gold ring with a 1ct lab-grown diamond actually cost to make?
Gold (3g of 14k): about $109
1ct lab-grown diamond: $450–$900
Labor (making + setting the ring): $60–$120
Total real cost to produce:
👉 $600–$1,100
What you actually see online:
👉 $1,800–$4,000
Real markup:
✨ 3× to 6×
(And that’s only for lab-grown — mined diamond markups are even higher.)
What does a 14k gold on 925 silver ring with moissanite actually cost to make?
925 sterling silver:
$2–$4
Moissanite stone:
$20–$150
14k gold plating:
$5–$10
Labor (crafting + stone setting):
$30–$60
Total real cost to produce:
👉 $60–$180
Kampy retail price:
👉 $100–$400
This is why smart luxury beats traditional luxury.
You get the look, the sparkle, and the quality — without the insane markups.
4. Moissanite — The Stone Smart Girls Choose
✔ more fire than diamonds
✔ ethical
✔ no clouding
✔ durable (9.25 Mohs)
✔ looks identical to diamonds
✔ certified with serial numbers
✔ pairs beautifully with 14k on 925
Kampy uses ONLY D–F / VVS1 graded moissanite.
5. Stone Cuts Cheat Sheet
6. The Lazy Girl’s Quality Checklist (Print This)
You're buying GOOD jewelry when:
□ metal is 14k on 925 or solid gold
□ stone has clarity + cut + color listed
□ gemstone has a certificate
□ hypoallergenic (nickel-free)
□ solid gold weight included
□ real settings, not glued stones
□ no “mystery metals”
□ priced realistically
□ small batch, not mass-produced
□ brand is transparent
7. Kampy-Approved Picks
