18KT: Karat (abbreviated kt or K) is a unit that indicates the purity of gold in the metal. 18kt is 75% gold. In Europe, 18K yellow gold is most favored and used in jewelry.

YELLOW GOLD: Gold is a precious metal with a natural yellow color. It is quite soft and often alloyed with other metals to increase its strength. The purity of the metal is indicated by a unit called a "karat," with 24kt having the highest percentage of natural gold.

STERLING SILVER: Also known as "Standard Silver," sterling silver is silver alloyed with other metals to increase the hardness and durability. Generally, sterling is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Some sterling silver jewelry is plated with 14kt-18kt gold and referred to as "vermeil," or "gold over sterling."

CUBIC ZIRCONIA: once called the poor cousin to the diamond, CZs have since become a fashion statement in their own right. Perfect for travel and a little extra bling, CZ Jewelry is one of man's flawless creations.

MARQUISE: An elliptical shape that comes to a point at the top and bottom. Sometimes referred to as a "navette."

PRINCESS: A multifaceted gemstone cut that has a square or rectangular shape with a facet arrangement that yields a similar level of brilliance to the round brilliant-cut. The princess-cut is known for the distinct "x" shape it renders while looking through the table.

BRILLIANT: A gemstone cut to enhance brilliance without sacrificing much carat weight. Typically has 58 facets.