Jewelry Essentials and Sales
What this domain tests
Jewelry Essentials and Sales tests metals and their markings, manufacturing and setting methods, care and repair limits, and ethical, customer-focused sales technique.
Core rules
- Gold purity: 24k = 100% gold; 18k = 75% (750); 14k = 58.3% (585); 10k = 41.7% (417). White gold is alloyed with white metals and usually rhodium-plated; rose gold uses copper. Platinum is commonly 950 or 900 and is denser and more scratch-resistant than gold; sterling silver is 925.
- Nickel in some white gold alloys can cause allergic reactions; disclose alternatives such as platinum or palladium.
- Settings: prong (maximum light, snag risk), bezel (protective), channel, pavé, flush, tension, and invisible. Choose for stone durability: emerald, opal, and pearl need protection from knocks and heat.
- Cleaning limits: ultrasonic and steam are unsafe for emerald, opal, pearl, turquoise, dyed or fracture-filled stones, and many treated gems. Use mild soap and a soft brush only when safe.
- Sales: ask open questions, translate features into benefits, handle jewelry carefully, present a limited selection, disclose treatments and lab-grown origin, explain care and return policy, and close with a clear next step.
Worked example
A customer wants an 18k white gold engagement ring set with an emerald. 18k white gold is 75% gold, softer than 14k, and needs rhodium replating over time; platinum would be more durable. Emerald is Type III and commonly fracture-filled, so it is brittle and heat-sensitive. A bezel or protective prong setting with a care plan is safer than a tension setting. The salesperson should disclose treatment, explain cleaning limits, and offer sizing and inspection.
Traps
Do not confuse karat with carat. Do not claim 18k is harder than 14k because it is higher. Do not recommend ultrasonic cleaning for emerald, opal, pearl, or treated stones. Do not promise a treatment is permanent. Do not skip disclosure or care instructions to close a sale.