LUMI?
Lumi has something interesting to share with you. Before that, a warm welcome for visiting our store! Read on, and I guarantee you will see facts that no other jeweler will tell you.
As the founder, GIA gemologist, and product quality manager, I would like to forgo the formality and speak honestly to all the jewelry enthusiasts here. Whether you love jewelry or simply just shopping for a meaningful and affordable gift for your special someone, you would benefit from learning a little bit about jewelry first.
Have you ever felt like you don’t know what you are buying when it comes to jewelry? That is because when you buy electronics, food, or clothing, you will always know what you are buying. By that, I mean you see the spec and everything is clear to you. Jewelry, on the other hand, might be a little more confusing, not because it doesn’t come with a tag.
To understand jewelry, I’ve broken it down to 3 simple parts:
1. Plating / Coating
You can understand this as the skin of the jewelry.
Silver and gold both require a layer of plating to enhance the appearance of their finish, because its original color isn’t attractive and shiny enough. Our plating is 10 times thicker than other typically purchased silver jewelry. This dedicated plating process is what makes our silver and gold jewelry robust and long-lasting. If you adore quality and craftsmanship, our products are sure to bring you delight and satisfaction.
The silver jewelry that is around $10 USD is typically for 1 time use and up to 7days until it turns black and unwearable, despite where it’s made. It only sounds better hearing it is made in a country with a rich jewelry history.
Lumi’s silver and gold jewelry will last longer, even if you wear it consecutively without taking it off. The main reasons why plating comes off are abrasion and chemicals (lotion, sulfide in onsen, body detergent). Our silver product will last you a month. By lasting a month, I mean the plating will start to come off and show its shiny silver base metal. It is still wearable, but it will have a weathering look. This also depends on what jewelry, rings, and bracelets are more likely to lose their plating due to it coming in contact more easily compared to necklaces and earrings. Just to debunk a myth, jewelry that labels sweat-resistant, water-resistant, and shower compatible are just a selling gimmick. Sweat and water don't harm your jewelry in any way to begin with.
The re-plating cost is about $40 USD; usually, users will only re-plate gold-based jewelry.
Both gold and silver jewelry need maintenance; silver will require you to wipe it every day, and gold will require a monthly cleaning. Still, you will the plating will be scratched and come off eventually.
*Platinum is rarely plated with any material, so it will not need to be re-plated, but it will still have abrasion to wear down its shininess. You will still need to send it back to a jeweler to repolish it, if you want to regain its shininess.
2. Gemstones
This is the soul of the jewelry, and yes, just like us humans, not everyone has a soul.
This could easily be the hardest part of all jewelry. While there are over 300 types of gemstones around the world, only about 15 are known and sold in jewelry stores. Just to name a few, amethyst, garnet, tanzanite, tourmaline, turquoise, and pearl.
Our gemologist likes to separate them into 2 simple categories:
Natural or Lab-grown. One is grown by nature, and one is grown by scientists. Both have their pros and cons. I will dig deeper into this in the future.
For now, the only lab-grown gemstone I suggest that is worth buying is diamond, because they look exactly the same even to the eye of a trained gemologist, and it’s a lot more affordable. Now you have extra money to spend elsewhere.
We recommend that if your purchase is significant in price, let’s say around $1,000USD, you can ask for the gem to be graded first. Every gemstone that is graded by a reputable gemstone laboratory, for example, GIA, IGI, Gübelin Gem Lab, GRS, will have an inscription number on its girdle (the number will not affect the look of the gemstone in any way) to match its grading report. This way you ensure your product is authentic. The purchase of a diamond or other gemstone for monetary reasons isn’t recommended. Jewelry is a luxury item that brings you joy and for moment of celebration. Honestly, say again, it’s very hard for you to resell and gain a profit on a jewelry piece.
*All of Lumi’s diamond comes with a grading report already, so you don’t have to pay extra.
3. Precious metal
This is the body of a jewelry piece.
Both gold (Au) and silver (Ag) are considered precious metals. There are many more precious metals, but gold and silver are used mostly in jewelry due to their malleability and durability. A good piece of gold jewelry can be passed on as an heirloom because it will last for generations. When you make a purchase, you should consider how long you want it to last, if it’s a once in a life time moment that you wish the jewelry piece to be with you for a long time, it’s wise to use gold or platinum (Pt) to accommodate your needs.
For the concern of authenticity on Lumi’s precious metal, we have hallmarks on all of our pieces to ensure your pieces are made from the metal stated on our store. A hallmark is a stamp that states what metal and the percentages of its purity. This concludes our breakdown..
I hope my information will make your life easier when you shop for jewelry from now on. There are much more that we can discuss when it comes to jewelry. Lumi does not want to become a store that only flashes our product to you with live videos to show how sparkly it is, and provides nothing nutritious to you. We love jewelry here. I personally love diamonds (natural and lab-grown), I love wearing them, and this is why I built Lumi. To share knowledge and joy with those who are also as enthusiastic as me.
Wish you the very best in every aspect of life.
Simon
GIA GD
Director of Lumi
Feel free to contact us through Discord or Instagram.
Discord: #luminyc
Instagram: @lumi.asia