QUESTION: What is the difference between Lab-Grown Diamonds and Natural (Earth-mined) Diamonds?

ANSWER: Simply put, Lab-Grown are man-made and take approximately 3 months to create using a machine that applies high pressure and high heat to a carbon “seed." Natural diamonds are mined out of the earth and take millions of years to form. Although chemically identical, certified natural diamonds will continue to hold their value while lab-grown (due to a drastic increase in production) may not hold their monetary value. Lab-Grown are fantastic for someone on a budget and give a big look for a fraction of the price. Whichever you choose, we offer both selections in-store and are certified through a third party.

 

QUESTION: What is the difference between gold karats?

ANSWER: The different karats of gold represent different purity levels. 24K gold is 99.9% pure meaning any other imperfections or substances have been removed and only gold is left. 24K gold is too soft to make jewelry out of, so other alloys are mixed in to make it more durable. 18K gold is 75% pure gold, 14K is 58.5% pure gold, and 10K is 41.7% pure gold.  At Tom Cook Jeweler, we offer both 14K and 18K white and yellow gold pieces.

 

QUESTION: I want to use these old gold pieces to create a new custom piece. Can you re-use my old gold?

ANSWER: While technically you can melt down old gold and reform it, most jewelers recommend not doing this. If you have multiple pieces you are melting down, the different alloys that bring down the purity level to different karat weights may not be the same from piece to piece. What this means, is that the new piece of jewelry will not be uniform in its chemical composition and will not be as durable as gold that has uniform composition.

 

QUESTION: Why is my white gold ring starting to look yellow?

ANSWER: Gold is yellow in its natural form. To create white gold, alloys like platinum and silver are added. A plating is used in the finishing process called rhodium (which is part of the platinum family) to give it that bright-white appearance. Over time, and especially if you wear your ring during activities like showering or swimming, that plating will wear down. To get it back to that bright shine, bring it in to have it rhodium plated and it will look just like new.

QUESTION: What is the difference between a quartz movement and an automatic movement in a timepiece?

ANSWER: A quartz movement runs off a battery whereas an automatic movement runs from either winding the crown or physical movement. An automatic movement will have many more moving parts and will need servicing to keep those parts in working order. A quartz movement will need the battery changed typically every 1-3 years and an automatic movement timepiece will need to be serviced every 5-10 years depending on the brand. We offer free estimates on any watch and fine timepiece servicing and can change batteries while you wait!  

TOM COOK JEWELER

150 S Beach Street

Daytona Beach

386-255-1468