Topic hub
Care & Repair
Keeping a piece alive: what can be resized, what can be replated, what heat will destroy, and which hallmarks and assay marks tell you what you actually own. The unglamorous half of a purchase, and the half that decides its lifespan.
Where to start
Comparisons
Glossary terms
- Hallmark
- A stamped mark recording metal fineness — compulsory in some countries, not in the US.
- Assay
- The test that determines how much precious metal an item actually contains.
- Resizing Tolerance
- How far a ring can be resized before the design is compromised.
- Treated Stone
- A stone altered after cutting — clarity-enhanced, irradiated or HPHT-processed.
- Vermeil
- Sterling silver plated with gold to a regulated minimum thickness.
- Grosgrain
- A ribbed woven ribbon used for hatbands, waistbands and bag trim.
The short list
Three entries from the ledger — the full ranking lives on the best-of pages.
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Pre-owned Hermès Birkin on eBay
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Pre-owned Louis Vuitton Neverfull on eBay
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Pre-owned Cartier Love bracelet on eBay
35 pieces published
13 brands tracked