Jewelry, precious metals, and loose beads policy

To list an item in the Fine Jewelry category, please follow these guidelines. If any part of the item is fine, including the gemstone(s) or the setting, the item should be listed in the Fine Jewelry category.

Allowed

• Fine metal setting, such as gold of 10 karats or higher (yellow, rose, white), silver of 925 parts per 1000 pure silver or above, platinum group metals of 850 parts per 1000 pure platinum or above
  • You must identify the type of metal and purity of the metal in the title, item specifics and description.
  • For the full list of fine metals, please see the "Precious metals" section of this page.
  • Includes fine metal setting with lab-created, simulated or fashion gemstones

And/or

• Natural fine gemstone (or fine gemstone with the optical, physical, and chemical properties of natural fine gemstones)
  • Natural diamonds
  • Pearls, naturally formed or cultured
  • For the full list of fine gemstones, please see the "Gemstones and loose beads" section of this page.
  • Includes fine gemstone with fashion metal setting or lab-created, simulated or fashion gemstone accent(s)

Not allowed

Fashion metal

• Settings not accompanied by a fine gemstone
• Lab-created, simulated or fashion gemstone not accompanied by a fine metal setting

To list an item in the Fashion Jewelry category, please follow these guidelines: If no part of the item is considered fine, the item should be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category.

Allowed

• Fashion metal setting, such as brass, cobalt, copper, iron pyrite, stainless steel, titanium, and tungsten, OR fine metal plated over fashion metal unless with a fine gemstone.
  • If your item is plated or filled, it must be clearly identified as such in your title, item specifics and description.
• Any item made using materials such as enamel, epoxy, glass, horn, leather, plastic, resin, rhinestone, rubber, shell, and wood.
• Any fashion gemstone unless on a fine metal setting.
  • For a full list of fashion stones, please see the "Gemstones and loose beads" section of this page.
• Any lab-created, simulated or unknown gemstone unless on a fine metal setting.

Not allowed

• Fine metal setting
• Fine gemstone even where accompanied by fashion metal setting
• Fine gemstone even where accompanied by lab-created, simulated or fashion gemstone accents
• Fine gemstone accent(s) even where accompanied by fashion gemstone or fashion metal setting
• Natural diamonds
• Pearls, naturally formed or cultured

Fine metals

• Gold of 10 karats or higher (yellow, rose, white), silver of 925 parts per 1000 pure silver or above, platinum group metals of 850 parts per 1000 pure platinum or above, black rhodium-plated silver, bonded gold and silver (if gold-plated sterling silver), brass-plated gold (greater than 10k gold), chocolate gold, gold-plated silver, green gold, palladium, platinum, platinum-flashed silver, platinum plated (if platinum-plated sterling silver), platinum-plated silver, rhodium-flashed silver, rhodium-plated gold, rhodium-plated gold and silver, rhodium-plated silver, rhodium-plated white gold, rhodium-plated yellow gold, rose gold-flashed silver, sterling silver, tri-color gold, vermeil, white gold-plated silver, yellow gold-flashed silver, yellow gold-plated silver

Fashion metals

• Fashion jewelry includes jewelry made with an underlying base metal in this list and plated with a precious metal: alloy base, brass, brass plated gold (less than 10K gold), bronze, cobalt, copper, enamel, epoxy, glass, gold filled, gold foiled, gold-plated base, gold-plated copper, horn, iron pyrite, leather, nickel, pewter, plastic, resin, rhinestone, rhodium-plated base metal, rhodium-plated brass, rhodium-plated bronze, rose gold-plated base, rubber, shell, silver-plated base, silver-plated bronze, stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, wood, yellow gold-plated bronze

If your item does not qualify as solid metal, be sure to follow these guidelines:

• List your item in the Plate/Fill category that matches your product, or choose the Plated or Filled option when you describe your item;
• If you are listing a fine metal plated or filled with another fine metal, it must be listed in the Fine Jewelry category;
• If you are listing a fine metal plated or filled with a fashion metal, it must be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category unless it is accompanied by a fine gemstone;

• You must clearly describe the nature of the metal throughout your listing. You can, for example, use the word "gold-plated" as long as the alloy used for the plating is 10-karat gold or higher. You also have to include the qualifying word, such as "plated" or "filled," in every mention of the word "gold" in your title, item specifics, and description.

  Note: You can use abbreviations (such as "gf" for gold-filled, "gp" for gold-plated, or "gep" for gold-electroplated) in your listing title.

Platinum, gold, and silver products must meet applicable laws for stamping. For more information about stamping (including trademark stamping requirements), please see the National Gold and Silver Stamping Act of 1906 - opens in new window or tab

Examples of stamps:

• Gold stamps: 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K
• Silver stamps: Sterling Silver, .925, .999
• Platinum stamps: Plat, Pt, 950Plat, 900Pt

Fine gemstones

• Alexandrite, almandite-garnet, amber, amethyst, ametrine, ammolite, andalusite, aquamarine, beryl, black diamond, black opal, blue diamond, blue opal, blue sapphire, blue topaz, blue zircon, boulder opal, brown diamond, cats eye, champagne diamond, chrome diopside, chrysoberyl, chrysoprase, citrine, corundum, demantoid garnet, diamond, emerald, fire opal, garnet, golden topaz, green garnet, green quartz, green sapphire, green tourmaline, grossular garnet, heliodor, hessonite, hiddenite, honey amber, imperial topaz, indicolite, indicolite tourmaline, iolite, jade, jadeite, jet, kunzite, kyanite, labradorite, lapis lazuli, lemon quartz, London blue topaz, madeira citrine, malachite, mandarin garnet, mint tourmaline, moissanite, moldovite, moonstone, morganite, opal, padparadscha, paraiba, Paraiba tourmaline, peridot, pink diamond, pink quartz, pink sapphire, pink topaz, pink tourmaline, prasiolite quartz, purple jade, purple spinel, pyrope garnet, quartz, red diamond, rhodolite garnet, rose quartz, rubelite, rubellite tourmaline, ruby, smoky quartz, spessartite garnet, sphene, white sapphire, yellow topaz

Fashion gemstones

• Agate, amazonite, amblygonite, apatite, aventurine, azurite, bloodstone, blue amber, blue chalcedony, brazanite, butterscotch amber, calcite, caribbean amber, carnelian, celestite, chalcedony, charoite, cherry amber, cinnabar, cubic zirconia, danburite, diaspore, diopside, drusy quartz, dumortierite, dyed howlite, fluorite, fuschite, gaspeite, goldstone, goshenite, green amber, green chalcedony, green gold, hauyne, hematite, hermatine, hickoryite, howlite, iron pyrite, jasper, larimar, lavender chalcedony, magnasite, marcasite, medusa quartz, multi-color amber, mystic topaz, obsidian, onyx, orange chalcedony, ouro verde quartz, petalite, pezzottaite, pink chalcedony, prehnite, quartzite, quartzofe, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rutilated quartz, sardonyx, scapolite, sea blue chalcedony, serpentine, shanseres, simulated alexandrite, simulated amethyst, simulated aquamarine, simulated blue sapphire, simulated emerald, simulated garnet, simulated opal, simulated padparadscha, simulated peridot, simulated pink sapphire, simulated quartz, simulated ruby, simulated sapphire, simulated topaz, simulated white sapphire, simulated yellow sapphire, sodalite, sphalerite, stabilized turquoise, strontium titanate, sunstone feldspar, swedish slag, synthetic turquoise, tashmarine diopside, white topaz, yellow scapolite, yttrium aluminium garnet, zandrite

Gemstone creation and treatment

When listing a gemstone, you must include information about what type of gemstone you are listing, as well as the gemstone creation method, in the title, item specifics and description:

• Natural: Choose this option only if you have an unenhanced, untreated, natural gemstone.
• Treated: If you are listing a natural gemstone that has been treated (for example, it has been dyed to enhance the colour), you are required to specify the treatment in the item specifics and description. You must also clearly specify the following in the item description:
  • The treatment is not permanent and loses its effect over time.
  • The treatment creates special care requirements for the gemstone to retain the benefits.
  • The treatment has a significant effect on the gemstone's value.
• Lab-created: Select this option only if you are listing a lab-created gemstone that has the same mineral composition as a natural gemstone. Do not list a lab-created gemstone in the Fine Jewelry category unless it is accompanied by a fine metal setting or other fine gemstone. You are required to identify the gemstone as "lab-created" in the title, item specifics and description immediately preceding the name of the lab-created gemstone. All lab-created gemstones not mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a fine gemstone should be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category.
• Simulated: Select this option if you are listing a simulated gemstone that has the same appearance but not the same mineral composition as a natural gemstone. A simulated gemstone should only be listed in the fashion Jewelry category unless it is mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a fine gemstone, in which case it should be listed in the Other or Simulated categories. If the mineral composition of the gemstone is different from the natural gemstone, you are required to identify the gemstone as "simulated" in the title, items specifics and description immediately preceding the name of the simulated gemstone, for example "simulated ruby". All simulated gemstones not mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a fine gemstone should be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category.
• Unknown: If you do not know if the gemstone has been enhanced or treated, or if it is lab-created or simulated, you should consider having the gemstone certified. All unknown gemstones should be listed in the fashion Jewelry category unless mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a fine gemstone.

Loose Beads

You can list these items only in the Loose Beads category.

Natural diamonds (natural and enhanced – see below) should be listed in the Fine Jewelry category.

A diamond is a mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon, crystallised in the isometric system with a:

• Hardness of 10
• Specific gravity of approximately 3.52
• Refractive index of 2.42

Diamond creation and enhancement

When listing a diamond, you must include information about what type of diamond you are listing, as well as the gemstone creation method of the diamond, in the title, item specifics and description.

• Natural, Not Enhanced: Choose this option only if you have an unenhanced, natural diamond.
• Enhanced: If you are listing a natural diamond that has been enhanced (for example, "clarity-enhanced" to reduce flaws, dyed, etc.), you are required to include the word "enhanced" in the title and to specify the enhancement in the item specifics and description.
• Lab-created: Select this option only if you are listing a lab-created diamond that has the same mineral composition as a natural diamond. Do not list a lab-created diamond in the Fine Jewelry category unless it is accompanied by a fine metal setting or other fine gemstone. You are required to identify the diamond as "lab-created" in the title, item specifics and description immediately preceding the name of the lab-created diamond. All lab-created diamonds not mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a fine gemstone should be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category.
• Simulated: Select this option if you are listing a simulated diamond that has the same appearance but not the same mineral composition as a natural diamond. A simulated diamond should only be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category unless it is mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a fine gemstone, in which case it should be listed in the Other or Simulated categories. If the mineral composition of the diamond is different from the natural diamond, you are required to identify the diamond as "simulated" in the title, items specifics and description immediately preceding the name of the simulated diamond. All simulated diamonds not mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a Fine Gemstone should be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category.
• Unknown: If you do not know if the diamond has been enhanced, or if it is lab-created or simulated, you should consider having the diamond certified. All unknown diamonds should be listed in the Fashion Jewelry category unless mounted on a fine metal setting or accompanied by a fine gemstone.

Gemstones not meeting the definition of a diamond:

If the gemstone does not meet the above definition for a diamond, you cannot list your item in the Diamond or Fine Jewelry categories. If the mineral composition of the gemstone is different from the natural gemstone, you must clearly identify the item as such in all areas of your listing. For example, use words such as "simulated" immediately preceding the use of diamond. You must also clearly describe the actual material the gemstone is made of in the item specifics and description, such as:

• Briolite
• Cubic zirconium
• Diamonique
• Glass
• Moissanite
• Plastic
• Quartz
• Rhinestone
• Strontium titanate

Restrictions

For information on Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), visit the US Department of State - opens in new window or tab site.

• eBay prohibits the sale of diamonds, other gemstones and metals that are sourced from countries with civil conflict or that do not comply with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). When listing jewelry on eBay, you agree that any item you are listing is not associated with civil conflict, terrorism or other criminal activity and complies with KPCS.
• Rough diamonds: All rough diamonds must be listed in the Loose Diamonds & Gemstones > Diamonds (Rough Natural) category and must comply with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). All listings for rough diamonds on eBay must state that the seller complies with the Kimberley Process and that the diamond is accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate.

Due to concerns from buyers about jewelry that they have received, we may not allow certain certification companies to be used on eBay.

An example of a certification organization that you may choose to consult with is GIA (Gemological Institute of America, Inc).

The state of Hawaii regulates the sale and advertisement of jewelry made from the rare shells that come from the Hawaiian island of Niihau. If you'd like to sell an item made from these shells, be sure to follow these guidelines:

• You can use the word "Niihau" or any variation of it, such as "Ni'ihau" or "Niihaun," as long as you can certify in your listing that the item was made in Hawaii with 100 percent genuine Niihau shells. If you use those words, make sure you comply with Hawaiian law, specifically Hawaii Revised Statute § 486-118.5 - opens in new window or tab.
• To describe that a piece has Niihau shells, it has to consist of at least 80% Niihau shells and be made in Hawaii. In your listing, you need to specify the exact percentage of Niihau shells that actually came from the island of Niihau, its waters, or its beaches.