Jewelry Buying Tips
 A
piece of jewelry made with precious metals and
gemstones is an instant heirloom, whether it's
a gift or purchased for one's self. The recent
explosion of e-commerce means that jewelry buyers
are confronted with more options - and pitfalls
- than ever before. Shoppers should know that the
laws that apply to shopping in a bricks-and-mortar
retail store also apply to the Internet.
Consumers who fortify themselves with information
and who take common sense precautions will find
the jewelry shopping experience to be an enjoyable
one. The key to buying fine jewelry is where one
shops. Trust in the jeweler and/or the venue is
vital. Following are some tips:
Buy from someone you trust
Shop from a well-established professional jeweler.
Ask a friend for a recommendation just as you
would for a doctor, or check with the Chamber
of Commerce or Better Business Bureau. Look for
a jeweler who is affiliated with a professional
trade association, such as Jewelers of America
(JA), that requires high ethical standards of
its members and provides them with ongoing education.
Look for a sticker on the door or a certificate
on the wall. If you don't see one, ask. Get an
itemized receipt and the return policy in writing.
Buying on the Web
First, only shop on Web sites that list a phone
number, address and/or "Contact Us" e-mail
option. For on-line purchases, always use a credit
card rather than a debit card. This way, if anything
does go wrong, no money has actually left your
account, and you have a greater chance of having
recourse. Look for a liberal return policy with
a full refund. Be sure to note the window of
time in which the jewelry may be returned! This
can sometimes be hidden in tiny print. Ask for
the original packaging and an itemized receipt.
When buying diamonds, ask for a grading report
from an independent gemological laboratory. With
regard to buying watches on-line, be aware that
some manufacturers' warrantees won't be considered
valid if the watch was not purchased at an authorized
dealer. It's a good idea to check out the watch
manufacturer's site first, which will direct
you to authorized e-commerce sites.
Don't be dazzled by discounts
If a venue is routinely offering unbelievable discounts
of 50% or more, the sale is probably just that--unbelievable.
Savvy shoppers may find that the "drastic
discount" price is actually the normal retail
price elsewhere.
Ask about the quality mark and registered
trademark
With gold jewelry, the karat mark or quality mark
indicates the purity of the piece: "14K" means
58.3% pure gold; "18K," 75% pure. In
other words, in a piece of 14k gold jewelry, 14
of its 24 parts are pure gold; the other 10 are
alloy, which could be any number of different metals,
added for strength and sometimes to change the
color (to rose gold, white gold, etc.) Platinum
- the hardest and most rare metal - is most often
marked "PLAT" or "950 PLAT." Sterling
silver pieces are usually stamped "925." For
pieces manufactured in the U.S., if the quality
mark appears, the piece is required by federal
law to also be stamped with the manufacturer's
trademark, which ensures that the manufacturer
stands behind the authenticity of the piece.
When buying gemstones, find out if the stone has
been treated in any way to improve its beauty Gem
treatments such as oiling and heating are accepted
industry practices. However, FTC guidelines require
that these treatments be disclosed to the buyer
because they may affect the care and cleaning of
the stone. Exercise your rights and be informed.
When buying diamonds, look for the 4 C's
They are cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
Cut is arguably the most important, because a
skillful cut is what will unleash the fire and
brilliance in a diamond. Cut, which refers to
the faceting, is not to be confused with shape
- such as marquise, oval, princess (square),
etc. With regard to color, grading begins at
D; the deeper into the alphabet one goes, the
poorer the color. In a store, ask to see loose
diamonds on a sheet of pure white paper and note
any contrast, which of course is undesirable.
Clarity refers to the presence of - or lack of
- imperfections such as bubbles, spots or lines
called inclusions. Clarity is graded on a scale
ranging from flawless (FL or IF) to imperfect
(I).
Cultured pearls
Look for surface cleanliness: an absence of any
scarring or pitting. Also important is the pearls'
lustre: they should be glowing with iridescence,
not chalky or dull. When purchasing a strand
of cultured pearls, be sure there is a knot between
each pearl. This insures that if the strand breaks,
the pearls won't skitter across the floor. In
addition, the knots keep the pearls from rubbing
against each other. Before you purchase, check
to see that the pearls are well matched in color
and lustre, and that they graduate gracefully
in size, growing smaller toward the clasp. Roll
the strand of pearls on a flat counter top to
be sure they don't wobble; this will tell you
that the pearls have been drilled exactly through
their centers and that they will lay beautifully
around one's neck. Fine jewelry is unlike any
other purchase. Jewelry that is wisely bought
and well cared for will be treasured for generations
to come. |
