Vanhess Olha New Collection: What Is in It

Both. Some pieces use natural diamonds, some use lab-grown diamonds, and each product page says which one in the details list. Most of the 18K pieces, such as the halo studs, the flower necklaces and the thin bands, use natural diamonds. Most of the 10K pieces, such as the lab-grown stud earrings, the tennis bracelet and the bangle, use lab-grown diamonds. Two rings mix both: the Wide Emerald-Cut Lab Diamond Ring and the twisted band engagement ring have a lab-grown centre stone and small natural diamonds on the band. GIA says lab-grown diamonds have essentially the same chemical makeup and physical properties as natural ones, so the choice comes down to price, how much the origin matters to you, and the look you want. If you want to compare two pieces side by side, call the store and ask which ones are in Coquitlam that week.

The collection uses 10K, 14K and 18K gold. Most necklaces with lab-grown diamonds are 10K yellow gold. The emerald-cut pendant and two engagement rings are 14K. The flower pieces, the clover studs, the halo earrings and the thin bands are 18K. In Canada, 10K, 14K and 18K gold may be stamped .417, .583 and .750, which are the shares of pure gold in the metal. Lower karat gold has more of the harder metals mixed in, so it resists scratches and dents better. Higher karat gold has a deeper colour. For a ring you wear every day, 14K is a good balance. For earrings and necklaces, which take fewer knocks, 18K is a fine choice. The karat and the gold weight in grams are listed on every product page.

Yes. The product pages for the Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire Clover Stud Earrings list each stone as a natural emerald, ruby or sapphire, with the weight in carats. Two pairs of huggie earrings in the collection are different: they use a lab-grown sapphire and a lab-grown ruby, and their pages say so. A lab-grown ruby or sapphire is the same mineral as the natural stone. It is grown in a lab instead of mined. Both kinds have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, so they wear the same way. If you are buying a coloured stone as a birthstone gift, either kind gives the right colour for the month. If the origin matters to you, check the details list on the page before you buy, or ask us in the store and we will show you the stone under a loupe.

Pieces with diamonds, rubies or sapphires, held by a bezel or set low, are the best for every day. Diamond is 10 on the Mohs scale and ruby and sapphire are 9, so they resist scratches from dust and daily contact. The Oval Diamond Bezel Ring has a rim of metal around the stone that protects its edge. The thin diamond bands sit low on the finger and do not catch on clothing. Stud earrings of any kind are a safe choice because earrings take few knocks. Emeralds and pearls are softer, so save emerald rings and pearl earrings for days when your hands are not busy. Take every ring off before you go to the gym, garden, clean with chemicals or swim. Those are the moments when most damage happens to fine jewellery, whatever the stone.

No. GIA says ultrasonic and steam cleaners are risky for emeralds, because most emeralds are treated to improve their look and the vibration and heat can damage the treatment. GIA also says never to clean pearls with an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, and to wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear. For emeralds, use warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush, then dry the piece with a soft cloth. For pearls, wipe them gently with a soft, damp cloth and let them dry flat. Keep both away from perfume, hairspray and lotion, and put them on last when you get dressed. If an emerald piece looks dull or a stone seems loose, bring it in and we will check the setting before anyone cleans it. Our jewellery care guide lists the safe method for each stone.

Every ring in the Olha New Collection is listed in sizes 4 to 8.5, in half sizes. You choose the size on the product page before you add the ring to your cart. If you do not know your size, our ring size guide shows how to measure a finger at home with a strip of paper, and how to check the size of a ring you already own. Fingers are often larger in the evening and in warm weather, so measure more than once. Bands with stones all the way around, and rings with a twisted band, are harder to resize later, so take extra care to get the size right on those. If you are near Coquitlam, the easiest way is to come into the store and we will size your finger with proper ring gauges in a few minutes.

Our FAQ page says you can return a product bought online within 30 days. You can also exchange it within 30 days of purchase. Custom-made and personalized pieces, such as items made in a special size, a different colour, or with a name or engraving, cannot be returned or exchanged. If a piece has a defect, we pay the shipping cost. If you return or exchange it for another reason, you pay the shipping. Returned pieces go through a check that takes at least one week after they reach us, and the refund goes back to the same payment method. Keep the box and papers until you are sure about the piece. Vanhess products also come with a lifetime repair and maintenance guarantee, so you can send a piece in for care at any time.

In our opinion, a pair of clover studs or a small flower necklace is the easiest first gift from this collection. Stud earrings and necklaces do not need a ring size, so there is no guessing. A coloured stone also gives you a reason behind the gift: emerald is the birthstone for May, ruby for July and sapphire for September, according to GIA. The ruby and sapphire pieces are the hardest wearing of the coloured stones, which suits someone who will wear the gift every day. For someone who prefers plain diamonds, the small halo cluster studs or a thin diamond band are simple and go with everything. If you are not sure of the person's taste, look at what they already wear: yellow or white metal, and small or bold pieces. Then pick the Olha piece that matches.