The Maison Piet Guide
Fine jewelry, clearly understood.
Discover what your jewelry is made from, how quality is evaluated, and why we choose solid gold and laboratory-grown diamonds for lasting beauty and substance.
01 — Gold & Its Value
Beauty above the surface. Substance beneath it.
Not all gold-colored jewelry contains meaningful gold. Maison Piet pieces are crafted in solid 14K gold: the gold alloy continues throughout the piece rather than existing only as a surface coating.
Because a diamond deserves a setting strong enough to protect it. Pure 24K gold is beautiful, but it is also soft. In diamond jewelry, that softness can allow delicate prongs to bend and settings to loosen over time. By combining pure gold with carefully selected strengthening metals, 14K gold creates a more secure foundation for the stones, helping the setting withstand regular wear and reducing the risk of a diamond being lost. It is not a compromise in luxury; it is the craftsmanship behind jewelry designed to be worn, loved, and kept.
A solid 14K gold piece contains a measurable amount of precious metal. Its underlying material value is connected to the weight and purity of the gold it contains, even after years of wear. It can also be professionally polished, maintained, and repaired without revealing an inexpensive base metal beneath its surface.
Intrinsic gold content
The value is not merely decorative. Gold alloy is present throughout the piece.
Repairable and refinishable
Solid gold can be professionally polished, serviced, and repaired over time.
Jewelry is not guaranteed to appreciate or retain its full retail price. Gold prices fluctuate, and resale value depends on weight, condition, craftsmanship, gemstones, and the market.
02 — Know What You Are Buying
Gold throughout—or gold only on the surface?
The terms may sound similar, but they describe materially different products. These simplified cross-sections show what sits beneath the surface.
Illustrations are not to scale.
Solid 14K Gold
Gold alloy forms the body of the piece. There is no inexpensive core waiting beneath a gold-colored exterior.
Gold Vermeil
Sterling silver covered with gold of at least 10K fineness and, in the United States, a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns.
Gold-Plated
A thin layer of gold is applied over another metal. With friction and wear, that surface layer may fade or expose the metal beneath.
Gold-Filled
A mechanically bonded gold layer over another metal. It contains more gold than conventional plating, but it is not gold alloy throughout.
Terminology reflects the FTC Jewelry Guides.
03 — Laboratory-Grown Diamonds
Real diamonds. A modern origin.
Laboratory-grown diamonds are diamonds—not cubic zirconia, moissanite, or imitation stones. They consist essentially of crystallized carbon and share the essential chemical, physical, and optical properties that give natural diamonds their brilliance and exceptional hardness.
The difference is origin: natural diamonds form within the earth, while laboratory-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments that reproduce the conditions needed for diamond crystal growth. Specialized gemological equipment can identify that origin.
Why Maison Piet chooses laboratory-grown
We believe exceptional beauty and responsible intention belong together. Laboratory-grown diamonds allow us to create pieces of extraordinary brilliance, clarity, and presence through a controlled production process that does not require diamond mining.
Our choice reflects a commitment to thoughtful luxury: honoring the people who bring each piece to life, seeking greater visibility throughout our supply chain, and continually pursuing responsible production practices that care for the natural world. Because energy source matters, we seek partners who share our commitment to reducing environmental impact and protecting the earth we all share.
Learn more from the Gemological Institute of America.
04 — Diamond Quality
The Four Cs
A diamond is evaluated through four interconnected qualities. Carat describes weight—not beauty by itself. The most compelling diamond balances all four.
Cut
The precision of a diamond’s proportions and facets. Cut governs how effectively light returns to the eye and is central to brilliance and sparkle.
Color
For colorless diamonds, grading considers the absence of visible body color. Grades closer to D appear especially bright and icy.
Clarity
Clarity evaluates internal features and surface characteristics under magnification. Many high-quality inclusions are invisible without magnification.
Carat
Carat measures a diamond’s weight. Its visible dimensions also depend on shape, cut proportions, and how the weight is distributed.
05 — IGI Certification
Confidence, documented.
An IGI report is an independent gemological record of a diamond’s identity and quality. Rather than asking you to rely only on a seller’s description, the International Gemological Institute examines the diamond and documents what makes it exceptional.
What it confirms
For a loose laboratory-grown diamond, an IGI report identifies its laboratory-grown origin and records its shape, measurements, carat weight, color, clarity, and cut information where applicable.
Why it matters
Independent grading gives you a consistent reference for understanding exactly what you are purchasing. The report number can also be checked directly through IGI’s online verification system.
When Maison Piet uses it
We provide or reference IGI documentation whenever a Maison Piet piece is specifically described as IGI certified, including select center stones and finished diamond jewelry.
Why not every tiny diamond?
Very small accent and pavé diamonds are typically evaluated and matched as groups rather than submitted one by one for individual reports. Their quality remains part of our selection standard.
A report, not an appraisal.
An IGI grading report documents gemological characteristics and origin; it is not a retail valuation, warranty, or promise of future resale value. Verify an IGI report directly with IGI.
06 — The Maison Piet Standard
Luxury should be honest.
We believe a fine-jewelry purchase should begin with clear materials, thoughtful construction, and no ambiguity about what you are receiving.
Solid 14K gold
Chosen for its balance of precious-gold content, durability, and everyday wearability.
Clearly disclosed origin
Our laboratory-grown diamonds are always identified as laboratory-grown.
Exceptional diamond quality
We select for bright color, strong clarity, and the lively light performance that makes a diamond compelling.
Certification where stated
When a product is described as certified, its grading documentation accompanies or corresponds to the piece.
“The star is set in stone—and the standard is set in substance.”
07 — Jewelry Care
Made to last. Cared for accordingly.
Fine jewelry is durable, but it is not indestructible. Thoughtful care preserves its finish, settings, and brilliance.
- Store pieces separately to reduce scratching and tangling.
- Remove jewelry before heavy exercise, swimming, or working with chemicals.
- Keep lotions, fragrance, and household cleaners away from your jewelry when possible.
- Clean gently with warm water, mild soap, and a very soft brush.
- Have frequently worn prongs, clasps, and settings professionally inspected.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners or at-home polishing compounds on delicate finishes.