Jewelry is just art you can wear.

For thousands of years, the beauty of gems and jewelry have driven people mad with lust. It’s not surprising that some enterprising, if not unscrupulous, people have tried to capitalize on these desires — either by thieving away real pieces or creating new, fake ones. The scholar Charles Truman recently reported that out of 49 pieces in the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a whopping 34 are fakes.

These ten infographics won’t help you spot any counterfeits, but they will give you some data to ponder while you save up for your next treasure.

The Most Expensive Jewelry Ever Sold at Auction: Gems that are flawless or have historical value have unimaginably high prices.

The World’s Biggest Heists: Even seemingly impenetrable vaults can be vulnerable.

Gold Rush: Gold is valuable, but Peyton Manning more so.

Blood Diamonds on the High Street: Ask where your diamond was mined to ensure that it comes from a conflict-free area.

History of the Modern Treasure Hunter: If you’re a scuba diver, sunken ships are a great source of lost treasure.

Global Gold Mines: Where is the gold?

Counterfeit Currency: It’s much easier to counterfeit goods than it is to fake currency.

History of a Diamond: Ancient Romans believed that diamonds were splinters from falling stars.

Cracking Fort Knox: If you’re planning an attempt on the most secure vault in the world…don’t.

The Gold Tree: Nearly 51% of gold mined today is used in jewelry.

Image: metalriot

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