General Education

GENERAL
JEWELRY CARE
WATCH CARE
ARIZONA GEMS
DIAMONDS
GOLD
PLATINUM
SILVER
PEARLS

Is shopping at Sami Fine Jewelry online safe and secure?

Yes! Shopping on our website is secured through the highest level of SSL certificate.

What are the benefits of buying a diamond from Sami's?

  • We are a family business, locally owned, and with owners readily available at any time should you have any questions or concerns.
  • We have been in business since 1986.
  • We offer a lifetime trade-up on diamonds.
  • We offer free appraisal with your diamond purchase.
  • We carry quality lines, and are an authorized retailer of beautiful and exclusive Hearts On Fire, The World's Most Perfectly Cut Diamond!
  • We are an authorized Hearts On Fire Service Center.
  • We have an educated, customer service-oriented staff who provide skilled service.
  • We have our own jewelers available on-site who can assist with your needs.
  • Sami is a graduate gemologist and will skillfully and artfully work with you to create custom jewelry.
  • We offer interest-free financing and layaway.
  • We offer gift certificates.
  • We offer free giftwrapping.
  • We offer free inspections and cleanings of the jewelry.

What are the monthly birthstones?

January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Alexandrite Moonstone or Pearl
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Tourmaline or Opal
November - Topaz or Citrine
December - Blue Zircon, Turquoise or Blue Topaz

What are traditional gifts for anniversary milestones?

Year    Gemstone    Traditional    Modern
1    Amethyst    Paper    Clocks
2    Garnet    Cotton    China
3    Peridot    Leather    Crystal & Glass
4    Blue Topaz    Linen & Silk    Appliances
5    Rhodalite Garnet    Wood    Silverware
6    Lapis Lazuli    Iron    Wood
7    Zircon    Wool & Copper    Desk Sets & Pen
8    Pearl    Bronze    Linens & Lace
9    Andalusite    Pottery & China    Leather
10    Green Tourmaline    Tin & Aluminum    Diamond Jewelry
11    Turquoise    Steel    Fashion Jewelry
12    Tsavorite Garnet    Silk    Pearls & Colored Gems
13    Opal    Lace    Textiles
14    Kunzite    Ivory    Gold Jewelry
15    Blue Sapphire    Crystal    Watches
20    Emerald    China    Platinum
25    Imperial Jade    Silver    Sterling Silver Jubilee
30    Fancy Sapphire    Pearl    Diamond
35    Catseye Chrysoberyl    Coral    Jade
40    Ruby    Ruby    Ruby
45    Emerald    Sapphire    Sapphire
50    Golden Sapphire    Gold    Golden Jubilee
55    Alexandrite    Emerald    Emerald
60    Diamond    Diamond    Diamond Jubilee

How should I care for and clean my jewelry?

  • Do not wear jewelry when doing rough work (such as gardening, house cleaning with chemicals).
  • Always handle a ring by its edges or shank - do not pull a ring off your hand by its prongs.
  • Do not subject stones to excessive heat (only diamonds, rubies and sapphires can withstand high temperatures).
  • Put on jewelry AFTER using hairspray, perfume and cologne - they may dull your gemstones.
  • At home, clean your jewelry with a polishing cloth or ultrasonic.

Will Sami Fine Jewelry inspect my jewelry?

This is a complimentary service we offer to you. It is very important that this is done consistently to ensure the security of your mountings. Nothing else you buy will last as long, with such little maintenance, as jewelry, but to keep it in good condition and potentially pass it from generation to generation, we recommend having your jewelry inspected, cleaned, and the prongs checked at least every six months.

Does Sami Fine Jewelry offer watch battery replacement or repairs?

Yes we do!

How do I care for my Arizona Gemstone?

  • As with all gemstones, you should clean them frequently.
  • Put on jewelry after you apply makeup, perfume or cologne.
  • Remove jewelry before heavy yard work, home cleaning chores, working on heavy equipment or relaxing in a pool or spa (especially if you are in chlorine regularly).
  • After removing jewelry at night, wipe it gently with a soft cloth to remove residues of the day. Store items in a jewelry case or soft cloth so that they do not touch each other - this avoids the potential of harder gemstones scratching softer ones.

Where are the Arizona Gemstones mined?

The Arizona Four Peaks Amethyst is mined in the rugged desert terrain of the Matatzal Mountains; the Arizona "Anthill" Garnet is mined in the Four Corners by ants; the Arizona Peridot is mined on the San Carlos Indian Reservation near Globe, AZ.

What makes the Arizona Four Peaks Amethyst different from other amethyst?

The Arizona Four Peaks Amethyst is set apart by its deep royal purple with a magenta flash. The purple color that enhances the quartz is caused by the presence of manganese during its development. The more valuable darker colors of amethyst reflect higher manganese content. According to the reference book "Mineralogy in Arizona", "Superb gem-quality amethyst of a rich, red-violet color was produced from the Four Peaks mine and rivals the best Siberian material which is the standard of the gem trade."

What are the definitions of commonly used diamond terms?

  • Brilliance - The amount of white light reflected from a diamond's crown.
  • Dispersion (Fire) - The reflection of spectral colors from the diamond.
  • Durability - The hardness, stability and toughness of a diamond which determines its high resistance to wear or damage. Hardness refers to the stone's resistance to scratching. Stability refers to the stone's resistance to heat, chemicals or light. Toughness refers to the stone's resistance to breaking or chipping.
  • Luster - The amount and appearance of light which reflects off the surface of the diamond.
  • Scintillation (Sparkle) - The combination of brilliance, dispersion and luster when the diamond or light source moves.

What are the 4C's of a diamond?

They are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. 

  • Cut - The human element of a diamond; the shape of a polished stone.
  • Color - Diamonds are graded for color by measuring the degree to which a diamond is colorless. The GIA scale lists the highest color grade as D and gradually moves through the alphabet to Z (the lowest color grade). A diamond's position on the scale is determined by how closely it approaches colorlessness.
  • Clarity - The internal and external identifying features; GIA classifies clarity as FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, or I3. Inclusions are internal identifying features and include feathers, cleavage, fractures, grain lines, knots, included crystals, pinpoints, bruises or chips.
  • Carat - A carat is the standard unit of measurement of a diamond's weight.

How do I care for gold jewelry?

Gold is tarnished by exposure to chlorine. Protect your investment by keeping your gold jewelry away from chlorinated cleaning products, swimming pools, and bleach, as well as hairspray, cosmetics, perfume and cologne.
Take chains off at night and lay them flat to prevent kinking or breaking.
Polish jewelry with a soft cloth after wearing.
Sami Fine Jewelry can repolish your wedding bands and other gold pieces to look as brilliant as the day you bought them, so bring them in!

What is the difference between white gold and yellow gold?

Yellow gold is a mixture of gold, silver and copper. White gold is a mixture of gold, platinum or palladium, zinc, copper, and sometimes nickel.
What does it mean if a piece of jewelry discolors my skin?

Gold sometimes discolors skin or clothing due to the alloy's reaction to perspiration or abrasion caused by cosmetics which contain compounds harder than the jewelry. To solve the problem, clean your jewelry frequently and remove all jewelry before using soaps, detergents or cosmetics. Some may find they need to move to a higher karat gold or platinum.

How do I care for platinum jewelry?

Platinum jewelry can be scratched by other platinum pieces, so store/wear separately. Bring in to be repolished as necessary.

How is platinum different from white gold?

Platinum is one of the finest precious metals, as well as one of the heaviest, and is perfect for everyday wear because of its durability. Platinum is an excellent choice as setting material for your diamond jewelry because of its strength.

How do I care for sterling silver jewelry?

Clean sterling silver with a silver polishing cloth only - paper towels and tissues can cause scratches. Sterling silver should be stored in an airtight place to prevent tarnish, or stored with anti-tarnish cloth or acid-free paper.

How do I care for pearl jewelry?

  • After wearing, clean the pearls with a soft piece of cloth. Cultured pearls can be scratched; do not use gold cleaner, or other chemicals not specifically designed for pearls.
  • Protect pearls from hair spray, cosmetics and perfumes which can weaken the silk string or discolor the pearls.
  • Have pearls restrung once a year or so. Ordinary wear can weaken the thread on which the pearls are strung.
  • Make sure the pearl strand is knotted between each pearl. This serves to keep the pearls from rubbing against one another and scattering should the strand break.

How is a pearl formed?

  • Cultured Pearl - Formed from an oyster, made of many layers of nacre deposited around an irritant introduced by a man.
  • Natural Pearl - Nacre forms around an irritant which lodges within the body of the oyster - a naturally occurring event.
  • How to tell if a pearl is genuine? Sometimes you can tell by taking a look at the nacre and blemishes, or looking closely at where the hole is drilled.

How is the value of a cultured pearl determined?

A pearl's value is determined by its nacre, orient, size, shape, surface perfection and rarity.

Education

General Education


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