With Valentine's Day coming up many men will find themselves panicking at the jewelry counter. You don't need to be one of them. If you don't know the difference between precious and semiprecious, gold-filled and gold-plated, or really understand what "Sterling Silver" is, make sure to check out our guide before you check out at the jewelry store.

By Arwa Jumkawala, founder of Gemkitty.com

It’s no secret that we ladies love our bling (and love the men who buy it for us even more). But just as a girl can be picky about the men she dates, she can be even pickier about the jewelry you bring her. So, to help you guys out, here’s a quick & dirty guide to becoming an Indiana Jones of jewelry and bagging the right treasure every time.

Gold and silver are still the most common metals you’ll find at the jewelry counter. Expect prices to vary widely depending on how much of the metal is actually used in a piece.

What?

Gold and silver jewelry is never made out of 100% pure gold or silver because both metals are too soft and malleable on their own.

Here are the ways metal content is categorized:

.925 (or Sterling) silver is 92.5% silver, and the rest is usually copper. Genuine sterling silver will always be marked/stamped with (.925), often on the clasp of the piece. If you’re purchasing silver, this is what you want to get.

k gold (or karat) indicates the percentage of gold, with 24k being equal to 100%. 14k (which equals 14/24 or 58.33% gold) is likely to be what you’ll most commonly see while shopping. Anything below 10k cannot legally be called gold in the United States. As with sterling silver, the karat should be marked/stamped on the piece.

Gold-filled is a metal topped with a gold layer, which is heat and pressure bonded to the underlying metal. This makes it very durable.

Gold or silver plated is a metal that is then coated with a thin layer of gold or silver. Unlike gold-filled, plated metal can bend, crack, or rub off.

Why You Should Care

The more gold or silver, the more you’ll pay. While gold-filled jewelry is a respectable choice, I don’t recommend plated jewelry even if your budget is tighter than Mariah Carey in spandex (Hint get her a thoughtful homemade gift instead).

Takeaway Tip

When in doubt about what size necklace or bracelet to get, extenders are your friends. An extender is a length of metal chain that allows a clasp to hook onto various points, and gives the wearer flexibility in setting the length of their jewelry. Especially with shorter necklaces or bigger babes, an extender ups the odds that your gift won’t choke her.

Gemstones being naturally occurring minerals, make up the heart of fine jewelry, and come in a rainbow of shades. If you’re looking to buy based on color, gemstones are a great way to go.

What?

Gemstones are often classified as precious or semiprecious, with precious considered the more prestigious of the two. The precious family includes diamonds, rubies, emeralds, an...

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