Keystone

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi everybody - In the past few weeks of lurking about in this forum, I
have run across the term “Keystone” several times. I gather that refers to
a costing /pricing system, but I don’t understand what exactly it means or
how it works. Can someone please enlighten me? Thanks - Steve

P.S. Special thanks to everyone who offered their knowledge about
fabrication of a hollow bracelet. I believe I have a game plan now.

Kreimes & Associates
PO Box 938
Santa Margarita, CA 93453
PH: (805) 438-5232
@mkreimes

2

Keystone is double the price you paid, for example you bought at
$100 and sold for $200. If you get a price list that states its
prices are triple key divide by three to get your cost.

3

Hi folks,

Regarding the word ‘keystone,’ I think I can shed some light on this.
When I worked at Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone, I was told the term
was actually coined by the magazine many, many years ago, to
discreetly indicate that the retail (keystone) price being quoted is
double the wholesale price. So $200 keystone means $100 wholesale.
There is also triple keystone: $300 triple keystone is $100
wholesale.

The word ‘keystone’ comes from Pennsylvania, the home base of JC-K;
Pennsylvania is the ‘keystone state.’

Ettagale Blauer

4

Carol - “keystone” is simply retail jewejers’ code for a 100% markup

  • i.e. if their wholesaler sells them a piece for $50, the retailer
    sells it for $100. Many times the suppliers will provide catalogs and
    flyers that a retailer can use with his customers marked at “Keystone"
    or even “Triple Keystone” (cost = $50, retail = $150) which gives the
    retailer some flexibility in working with his customer. I have even
    seen Quad Key catalogs - a 400% markup - for those retailers who offer
    "60% Off.”

Hope this helps
Mike Biscay

5

To keep the math straight. Doubling the price is a 100% markup
(called keystone) Tripling the price is a 200% markup (triple-key)
quadrupling the price is a 300% markup and on from there.

6

Dear Carol, The term Keystone simply means markup at 100%. It’s the
term a jeweler and supplier use when a consumer is present. If you
sit with a customer and discuss price with a wholesaler, you would
ask for the keystone price and would be told, for example $1000. You
than know your true cost is $500. Sometimes you’ll see catalogues of
jewelry from manufacturers with a note at the bottom of the page that
all prices shown are at triple key (keystone). You therefore know to
divide the prices shown by 3 for your cost. I hope this answers your
question. Good Luck, Sandy Ray Pres. www.belgem.com

7 
To keep the math straight.  Doubling the price is a 100% markup
(called keystone) Tripling the price is a 200% markup (triple-key)
quadrupling the price is a 300% markup and on from there.

I think I see the root of some of the confusion. There are two ways
to express what keystone is and both are correct, though they sound
contradictory. One is to define keystone as twice wholesale or 200%.
The other is to define it as a 100% markup over wholesale, which is
the same thing. This may even help explain why there is no such thing
as “double keystone” even though “triple keystone” is perfectly
legitimate.

Beth

8

I know what a “keystone” means as it applies to stone masonry, but
can’t figure out what it means when applied to pricing of jewelry.
Even the trade magazine JCK (Jewelers’ Circular Keystone) gives no
definition. What does priced at keystone or triple keystone mean?
Thanks for your help. Nancy www.psi-design.com