Tips

Diamond Guide - Diamond Buying Tips

Diamond is purely made of carbon, which is one of the Earth's most common elements. The diamond is the hardest known substance in the world that is uniquely resistant to damage by heat or scratching, and can be cut or polished only by another diamond.

You buy diamonds or diamond jewelry either for yourself or for your loved ones and usually your decision of buying a diamond is based on some emotions. Buying a diamond or diamond jewelry is certainly an expensive purchase and it is advisable to you to get some knowledge about diamonds and their characteristics. You can get detailed information on each and every aspect of diamond in our diamond guide.

Diamond Buying Tips

These below mentioned diamond buying tips will certainly help you in finding the most suitable diamond, you are looking for.

When you go out to buy a sparkling diamond, you must consider 4Cs of diamonds – Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight, as a base for your decision. These 4Cs will help you to choose the best diamonds on the same criteria on which jewelers use to select them.

Diamond Cut

Diamond cut is the most important attribute which increases diamond’s beauty because a well cut diamond reflects light to maximize the stone's brilliance.

When we talk about diamond cut by depth, ideal cut is considered the best cut as it reflects most or all of the light that enters in the diamond back to the eyes. Whereas diamond cut by Shape describes the outline of the stone and pattern of the facet arrangement. You can find a diamond in various Shapes like Round, Princess, Heart, Oval, Pear etc. Polish and symmetry are also important for a well cut diamond. The diamond polish expresses the smoothness of the diamond's facets whereas the symmetry refers to alignment of the facets.

Buying Tips for Diamond Cut

1. You should always go for the ideal cut diamond with the desired shape. You should also ensure that diamond is properly polished and is with perfect symmetry.
2. Diamond shape is a matter of personal choice. Brilliant round shaped diamond is one of the most desirable shapes and offers maximum brilliance.

Diamond Color

Diamond color is also a vital factor to look for as diamonds are found in almost all the colors. Most diamonds appear white to the naked eye, but they all include trace amounts of yellow or brown color. Slight difference in diamond color can make a substantial difference in value. A truly colorless diamond is extremely rare and considered the most valuable. It allows most light to pass through the stone and create the most brilliance.

The diamond color scale goes from D to Z, with D being the most white and Z being the most yellow.

Diamonds are also found in various intense colors like pink, greens, brown, red, orange, blue etc. These intensely colored diamonds, known as fancy colored, are very rare, attractive and desirable. A deeply colored diamond can cost more than its colorless counterpart.

In fancy colored diamonds, Z+ grade is used for color grading.

Fluorescence up to some extent is common in majority of diamonds but it remains unnoticed by human eyes in ordinary light. Fluorescence is a form of illumination that is created when a diamond is exposed to low or high wave ultraviolet radiation.

Buying Tips for Diamond Color

1. The best way to see the true color of a diamond is by looking at it against a white surface.
2. Even though stones in the D-F color grades are the most valuable, you can still obtain great value and save substantial money with diamonds grades G-J and K-M, since no color is visible to the untrained eye. Even stones in the N-R range have a very light hint of yellow, which is visible to the untrained eye, can appear colorless in the right jewelry setting.
3. Usually yellow metal (gold) hides traces of color in a colorless diamond, while white metal (white gold, platinum, silver) enhances it.
4. While buying a fancy colored diamond, you should look into basic hue and intensity of the color.
5. Faint or medium fluorescence will rarely affect a diamond's appearance.

Diamond Clarity

Clarity is a term used to describe the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a diamond.

When flaws occur internally, they are called inclusions and the most common types of inclusions include crystals, needles, knots, chips, cavities, cleavage, feathers etc. On the contrary, when these flaws occur on the surface, they are known as blemishes and the most common types of blemishes include polish lines, naturals, scratches, nicks, pits, extra facet etc.

Diamond’s clarity is based on the number, size, nature and location of imperfections on the finished stone. Clarity of a diamond affects the beauty and value of the diamond.

Diamond with higher clarity is more valuable in comparison to diamond that contains numerous inclusions because it is less brilliant due to inclusions interfering with light passing through it.

Buying Tips for Diamond Clarity

• While buying a diamond, you can compromise a bit on clarity aspect as most diamonds contain imperfections which are not visible to the naked eye. Choose a diamond with its imperfections hidden deep in the stone or hidden by prongs or bezels.
• You can use jeweler’s 10X magnifying glass or microscope to examine diamond’s imperfections.
• F (flawless) and IF (internally flawless) are rare and beautiful diamonds and exceptionally high price. Diamond, with clarity grades VVS1-VVS2, is always an excellent quality diamond. Whereas you can also buy diamonds with clarity grades VS1-VS2 and SI1-SI2 as imperfections in these grades are not visible to naked eye and you can save huge money.
• Diamond Carat Weight
• The term "Carat" refers to the weight of a diamond and 1 carat equals 0.2 grams or 1/142 of an ounce.
• A carat may also be displayed in points and 1 carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, ¼ carat diamond is considered as 25 points and ½ carat diamond is considered as 50 points and so on.
• The price of a diamond rises exponentially with its size. So, a 2 carat diamond of a given quality is always worth much more than two 1 carat diamonds of the equal quality.

Buying Tips for Diamond Carat Weight

The carat weight of a diamond will always depend on your budget.

You must buy an average sized diamond with good cut, color and clarity instead of buying a larger diamond with not so good cut, color and clarity.

This term ‘Carat’ is different from the term ‘Karat’ which is used to describe gold's fineness or purity.

Diamond Certificate

A Diamond Certificate or Diamond Grading Report is a statement, issued by an independent Gemological Laboratory, that at the time of evaluation, the Diamond in question has been examined, measured, and scrutinized by experienced Diamond Graders, using various gemological instruments, and determined to contain the characteristics as stated in the Certificate or Report.

There are many reputed laboratories available for diamond certification, which are known for their consistency and unbiased diamond grading systems. For example, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL).

Buying Tips for Diamond Certificate

• When you buy a diamond, you should always ask for a diamond certificate. It may cost you little more money but it will provide you a much-needed peace of mind knowing that you are getting your money’s worth.
• A diamond certificate gives you the exact details of the stone and on the basis of this information you will be able to do some comparison-shopping before doing the actual purchase.
• A diamond certificate allows you to pay the money on basis of stone’s characteristics. Your jeweler won’t be able to charge you more and there are very good chances to get the best deals.
• On re-sale of diamond along with its certificate, you will get better price for the diamond.
• To get insurance for your diamond, you also need to produce diamond certificate.

General Buying Tips

1. You must set your budget for buying a diamond and then explore all your options. By this way, you'll find a wide range of diamonds with different carat weights and qualities in your price range.
2. Always buy a diamond which fulfills the basic criteria of 4Cs and suitable to your budget.
3. You should give priority to diamond cut, color and carat weight over diamond clarity. Imperfections are almost always so small that they have no measurable effect on the diamond's brilliance. Brilliance is almost entirely the result of the cut and proportions of the diamond.
4. When you are buying a diamond for your loved ones, always keep their personality and preferences in mind.
5. You should ask your jeweler to give more information about the origin of diamonds available with him so you don't end up buying a conflict diamond.
6. You should also ask your jeweler, if the diamond you are considering buying is treated to enhance color or cover flaws. A treated diamond should cost less than a natural diamond.
7. Always buy a diamond from a reputed and known jeweler. If you don’t know any good jeweler then you should ask your family members or friends for their recommendations.
8. Beware of jewelry store lighting which usually consists of quartz or halogen bulbs. These can deceive as they blast high-intensity streams of light into goods to make them look like the crown jewels.
9. While buying a diamond, you should not be in a hurry or in pressure. You should buy it at your convenience and at your own pace. Now you can go ahead to buy a diamond with more confidence and always remember that ‘Diamonds are forever’. They won't depreciate or wear out like a car or a computer in few years. So enjoy buying the world’s most exceptional item by keeping the above mentioned buying tips in mind.

Gemstone Guide - Gemstone Buying Tips

A gemstone is a mineral or rock, which can be used in jewelry after cutting or faceting and polishing. Gemstones are diverse in their beauty and many gems are available in a stunning variety of colors.

Gemstones are used in jewelry since ancient times. The diamond is one of the most preferred gemstones but there are some other gemstones also which look very good in jewelry as well as cost very less as compared to diamonds. Gemstones are available in many varieties and buying a gemstone or gemstone jewelry is not an easy task. It is advisable to you to get some knowledge, about gemstones and their characteristics, before buying. You can get detailed information on each and every aspects of gemstone in our gemstone guide.

Gemstone Buying Tips

1. These below mentioned gemstone buying tips will certainly help you in finding the most suitable color stone, you are looking for.
2. Usually most people consider 4Cs - color, clarity, cut and carat, are applicable in case of diamonds but the same 4Cs also apply to colored gemstones, though the grading is not nearly as uniform. These 4Cs will help you to choose the best gemstones on the same criteria on which jewelers use to select them.

Gemstone Color

Color is the most important factor in determining the value of colored gemstones and most dealers assess the color component of a stone at between 50 – 70% of its value.

Gemstones are found in all the colors, one can imagine and color of a gemstone depends on following three characteristics: hue, saturation, and tone. H

Hue - Hue is the basic color of the gemstone that can be described as a shade or tint of a color. While almost all gemstones have some shades of other colors, the most valuable gemstones are those that exhibit a pure color and only ‘slight’ hues of other colors in addition to their primary color.

Saturation - Saturation is a measure of the intensity or purity of a gemstone's hue or color. A gemstone, which is free of gray or brown hues, is considered strongly saturated and is more valuable than a gemstone with lower saturation. Saturation often decides the cut of a gemstone.

Tone - Tone represents the depth of a gemstone color that is relatively light or dark of a Hue. It is described as ‘light’, ‘medium-light’, ‘medium’, ‘medium-dark’, and ‘dark’ where medium-light to medium-dark tone is considered as most valuable range.

All the above three characteristics are associated with each other and plays very crucial role in determining the gemstone’s color. The more intense the color, more value it has. This does not mean darker, but intense.

Buying Tips for Gemstone Color

• When you buy a colored stone, you should give a close attention to the color of the gemstone. Gemstone should not be too dark or too light. Usually a gemstone with bright, rich, intense, pure, and vivid color is always best.
• The best way to see the true color of a gemstone is by looking at it against a white surface.
• When you buy gemstones, you should check them under different light conditions. If gemstones contain color change characteristics then these should display a strong change in color between alternative exposure to daylight and incandescent light sources.

Gemstone Clarity

Clarity is a term used to describe the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a gemstone. Clarity is also an important factor in determining quality and the value of a gemstone.

A flawless gemstone is rare and usually expensively priced. Most gemstones contain inclusions, or tiny mineral flaws, that can be seen under magnification or by the careful eye. But if these imperfections do not affect the durability of colored gems then the value of the gems except diamond will not affect much.

Colored stones have different habits of clarity, so that they are classified into three ‘Types’, which are defined as under:

Type I - Type I colored stones include stones with very little or no inclusions. This category can include Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Zircon, Morganite, Tanzanite, etc.

Type II - Type II colored stones include stones that often have a few inclusions. This category can include Corundum, Garnets, Iolite, Peridot, Quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, Ametrine), Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, etc.

Type III - Type III colored stones include stones that usually always have inclusions. This category can include Emeralds, Tourmaline, etc.

Buying Tips for Gemstone Clarity

1. Usually colored gemstones are examined from the top or face up position. So when you buy a gemstone, you should examine it from the top and if an inclusion or flaw doesn't show in the face up position, then it won't affect the value and beauty much. In the same manner, if the gemstone setting hides an inclusion, then also it won't affect the value and beauty much.
2. You can use jeweler’s 10X magnifying glass or a microscope to examine gemstone’s imperfections.
3. When you buy a gemstone, you should give more importance to its color instead of its clarity.

Gemstone Cut

A gemstone's cut refers to its proportions and symmetry. Quality of the cutting is very important factor influencing the overall beauty of the gemstone.

A well-cut faceted gemstone reflects light back evenly across its surface area when held face up. If the stone is too deep and narrow, surface area will be dark and if it is too shallow and wide, parts of the stone will be washed out and lifeless.

To cut a gemstone, its color is also taken into account for optical efficiency. If a stone's color is highly saturated, a shallow cut will allow it to pass more light, while a deeper cut may increase the vividness of a less saturated gem.

You can find a gemstone in various cuts like Cabochon, Table, Rose, Brilliant, Square, Triangular, Step, Emerald etc.

The process of cutting and polishing gems is called gem cutting or lapidary. Few gemstones such as pearls and coral (usually referred to organic minerals) are not cut at all and many times left in their natural state. However, it is customary to polish these gemstones.

The gemstone cutter tries to maximize the yield and produce the largest stones from the available material. Since gemstones are sold by weight, larger stones are usually worth more than smaller stones.

Buying Tips for Gemstone Cut

1. When you buy a gemstone, you should always go for the ideal cut gemstone with the desired shape. A good cut is something that may not cost more but can add or subtract a lot of gemstone beauty.
2. You should always ensure that gemstone is properly polished and with perfect symmetry. The stone should be symmetrical in all dimensions so that it will appear balanced.
3. When you buy a gemstone, you should give preference to wearer’s personal choice regarding the gemstone cut and shape.

Gemstone Carat Weight

A gemstone's weight is measured in carats and 1 carat equals 0.2 grams or 1/142 of an ounce.

A carat may also be displayed in points and 1 carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, 1/4 carat gemstone is considered as 25 points and ½ carat gemstone is considered as 50 points and so on.

Gemstones are usually sold by weight and not by size. Some gemstones are denser than others so the same carat weight stones may come in different sizes.

The price of a gemstone rises exponentially with its size. So, a 2 carat ruby stone of a given color and quality is always worth much more than two 1 carat ruby stones of the equal color and quality.

Buying Tips for Gemstone Carat Weight

The carat weight of a gemstone will always depend on your budget.

You must buy an average sized gemstone with good color, cut and clarity instead of buying a larger gemstone with not so good color, cut and clarity.

This term ‘Carat’ is different from the term ‘Karat’ which is used to describe gold's fineness or purity.

Gemstone Enhancement / Treatment

Gemstone Enhancement is a treatment process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (color / clarity), durability of a gemstone.

There are many ways to enhance the appearance and durability of gemstones. For example, heating, oiling, irradiation, waxing, dying, bleaching etc. Some of these treatments or enhancements, are permanent where as others are temporary.

Gemstone enhancement has become very common as well as accepted practice and vast majority of stones are treated in some way. Most gemstone enhancements greatly improve the appearance and hence the value of a stone.

Buying Tips for Enhanced / Treated Gemstone

1. When you buy a gemstone, you must ensure that whether gemstone is natural or treated and if it is treated or enhanced then what method of treatment was used.
2. Treated or enhanced gemstones are generally available in less price as compared to natural or non-treated gemstones.
3. When you buy a treated or enhanced gemstone then you must ask the jeweler that whether the treatment is permanent or temporary and whether the stone requires any special care.

Gemstone Certificate

A Gemstone Certificate or Gemstone Grading Report is a statement, issued by an independent Gemological Laboratory, that at the time of evaluation, the gemstone in question has been examined, measured, and scrutinized by experienced stone graders, using various gemological instruments, and determined to contain the characteristics as stated in the Certificate or Report.

There are many reputed laboratories available for gemstone certification, which are known for their consistency and unbiased gemstone grading systems. For example, The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and The American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL).

Buying Tips for Gemstone Certificate

• When you buy a costly gemstone, you should always ask for a gemstone certificate. It may cost you little more money but it will provide you a much-needed peace of mind knowing that you are getting your money’s worth.
• A gemstone certificate gives you the exact details of the stone and on the basis of this information you will be able to do some comparison-shopping before doing the actual purchase.
• A gemstone certificate allows you to pay the money on basis of stone’s characteristics. Your jeweler won’t be able to charge you more and there are very good chances to get the best deals.
• On re-sale of gemstone along with its certificate, you will get better price for the stone.
• To get insurance for your gemstone, you also need to produce gemstone certificate.

General Buying Tips

1. You must set your budget for buying a gemstone and then explore all options. In this way, you'll find a wide range of gemstones with different carat weights and qualities in your price range.
2. Always buy a gemstone which fulfills the basic criteria of 4Cs and suitable to your budget.
3. You should give priority to gemstone color over cut, clarity and carat weight.
4. When you are buying a gemstone for your loved ones, always keep their personality and preferences in mind.
5. You should also ask your jeweler, if the gemstone you are considering buying is treated to enhance color or cover flaws. A treated gemstone should cost less than a natural gemstone.
6. Always buy a gemstone from a reputed and a known jeweler. If you don’t know any good jeweler, you should ask your family members or friends for their recommendations.
7. Beware of jewelry store lighting which usually consists of quartz or halogen bulbs. These can deceive as they blast high-intensity streams of light into goods to make them look like the crown jewels.
8. While buying a gemstone, you should not be in hurry or in pressure. You should buy it at your convenience and at your own pace. Now after reading these above mentioned gemstone buying tips, you can go ahead to buy a gemstone with more confidence.

Precious Metal Guide - Precious Metal Buying Tips

A precious metal is a metal with rare metallic chemical element and due to that is of high economic value. Precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high luster, and have higher melting points than other metals.

Before buying precious metal jewelry, it is advisable to get some knowledge, about various precious metals and their characteristics. You can get detailed information on each and every aspect of all the three precious metals in our precious metal guide.

Precious Metal Buying Tips

1. These below mentioned precious metal buying tips will certainly help you in finding the most suitable precious metal for your jewelry, you are looking for.
2. Gold, platinum and silver metals are widely traded and considered as precious metals due to their rarity and beauty.
3. When you go out to buy precious metal jewelry, you must consider certain facts, about these metals, such as karat, color, design, craftsmanship etc.

Precious Metal - Gold

Gold is an extraordinary and rare precious metal. Gold is a soft, highly malleable and most non-reactive of all metals and it does not rust or tarnish under ordinary conditions.

Gold's purity is measured in karats and 24 karat (24K) is 100 % pure gold. Pure gold is very soft and pliable as well as it is more expensive and less durable than gold that is alloyed with other metals.

To give strength and durability, gold is alloyed with metals like silver, copper, nickel and zinc. Usually in jewelry, alloyed gold of lesser karats (22K-10K) are used instead of 24K pure gold. Gold jewelry with 14K and 18K gold are highly recommended and most popular.

Naturally gold comes in deep yellow color with metallic luster but when it is alloyed with certain metals then it creates various color hues like white, pink/ rose, green and the seldom found blue, purple and black.

Raw, un-worked gold pricing is based on the karat ratio and the gold weight. But in finished jewelry or decorative item, gold pricing is based on a number of factors, including karat ratio, gram weight, design and craftsmanship.

Buying Tips for Gold

1. When buying gold jewelry, it is advisable to go for either 14 karat or 18 karat gold jewelry. You should never buy 24 karat gold jewelry because it is too soft, less durable and more expensive. You should also avoid buying less than 10 karat gold jewelry, as it appears dull. In USA, no jewelry item can be marked or sold as gold jewelry that contains less than 10 karat gold.
2. When you buy gold jewelry, you should always look for the karat mark that appears on the back of the piece. Other than this karat mark, every gold piece should also be stamped with a hallmark or trademark of its manufacturer and sometimes its country of origin. This description will assure you about the authenticity of the gold jewelry.
3. When buying gold jewelry, you should determine the best suitable gold color.
4. When you buy gold-filled jewelry, you must ensure that jewelry should have a layer of at least 10-karat gold as well as gold must be at least 1/10 of the total weight of metal.
5. In the same manner, when you buy gold plated jewelry, you must ensure that jewelry should have a layer of at least 10-karat gold as well as gold must be at least 1/20 of the total weight of metal.
6. You should not be confused between ‘solid gold’ and ‘pure gold’. Solid gold refers to a piece that isn’t hollow whereas pure gold refers to a piece that contains 24 karat pure gold.

Precious Metal - Platinum

Platinum is an extremely rare metal, even rarer than gold and due to its rarity, it is also an expensive metal.

Platinum is a strong and dense metal that comes into its beautiful grayish white to silver gray luster.

Platinum’s purity is expressed differently than gold. Instead of expressing purity in ratios of 24 parts, platinum standards are expressed as units of a 1,000 parts.

In fine jewelry, platinum is used with purity level 90% to 95% because it is largely hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant. Only for the remaining 5% to 10 %, it is alloyed with copper and titanium to increase the beauty of metal.

Platinum jewelry maintains its color, brilliance and weight even when scratched, while other metals may lose their luster or become blemished or discolored.

Platinum is normally not used in the full range of jewelry products due to its higher price. It is mainly used in ladies engagement rings, ladies wedding rings and men's wedding bands.

Raw, un-worked platinum pricing is based on its purity and weight. But in finished jewelry, platinum pricing is based on a number of factors, including purity, weight, design and craftsmanship.

Buying Tips for Platinum

1. When you buy platinum jewelry, you should always look for the purity description that appears on the back of the piece.
2. Metal piece that contains at least 950 out of 1000 parts of pure platinum can be marked or stamped simply platinum or pt. or plat.
3. Metal piece that contains at least 850 out of 1000 parts of pure platinum can be marked or stamped with actual parts of pure platinum along with the word platinum or an abbreviation. For example, 950 platinum, 900 Plat. or 850 Pt.
4. Metal piece that contains less than 850 out of 1000 parts of pure platinum, but it has a total of 950 out of 1000 parts of platinum group metals (of which at least 500 parts is pure platinum), can be marked with both, the actual parts of pure platinum and the actual parts of the other platinum group metals in the piece. For example, the marking ‘650 Plat. 300 Irid.’ means that the piece has 650 out of 1000 parts platinum (65%), and 300 out of 1000 parts iridium (30%), totaling 950 out of 1000 parts of platinum group metals, and 50 out of 1000 parts of other alloyed metals (5%).
5. When you buy platinum jewelry, you should always remember that platinum is a very tough and strong metal and resizing is difficult for platinum items.
6. If you want to buy platinum jewelry that is out of your budget then you can consider palladium, a platinum group metal. This metal has many qualities similar to platinum at a much lower cost.
7. If you want to buy 14K white gold jewelry then also Palladium is an excellent choice for you. It is rarer, more durable and more precious than white gold that comes into a similar price tag of white gold.

Precious Metal - Silver

Pure silver is very soft metal with its lustrous white color. It is the second brightest reflector metal after liquid mercury and can be polished to a high sheen that even platinum can't achieve. It is normally stable in pure air and water but tarnishes when exposed to ozone, hydrogen sulfide or sulfur.

The price of silver metal is very low and affordable as compared to other precious metals. Silver is currently about 1/50th the price of gold by mass.

Instead of expressing purity in ratios of 24 parts like gold, purity of silver is expressed, like platinum, as units of a 1,000 parts. Silver with 999 parts (99.9%) purity is considered as pure or fine silver.

Pure silver is too soft to be used in jewelry that it is normally alloyed with copper to give it strength and durability. A mixture of 92.5% of pure silver and 7.5% of copper is known as Sterling Silver. Whereas a mixture of 90% pure silver and 10% metal alloy is known as Coin Silver. Silver from south of the border is sometimes marked as Mexican silver, which consists purity ranges from 90% to 99%.

Buying Tips for Silver

• When you buy silver jewelry, you should always look for the purity description. You will usually find constant purity in silver items and you should not worry much about purity aspect of silver.
• Metal piece that contains at least 925 out of 1000 parts (92.5%) of pure silver can be marked or stamped simply silver or sterling silver on the back of that metal piece. According to the law, quality marked silver or sterling silver must also contain the name or a U.S. registered trademark of the company or person that will stand behind the mark.
• When you buy a jewelry item or silver item, which is marked with silver-plated or silver-coated, you must ensure that it is coated or plated a layer of pure silver by process of electroplating on a base metal.
• When an item of sterling silver metal is coated or plated with gold by process of electroplating then that item or piece will be marked as vermeil.
• Usually most jewelers can easily resize a non-gemstone silver piece, plus or minus two sizes. But resizing a silver piece with a gemstone can be difficult due to silver's properties when heated.
• When you buy sterling silver, you should always remember that it might tarnish and discolor very easily because silver and copper both react readily with sulfur to form sulfides.

General Buying Tips

1. When you buy a jewelry piece, you must ensure that there are no visible blemishes or imperfections on the metal. You should also check to make certain that fasteners, clasps and catches work properly and are secure.
2. When buying jewelry, you should look for craftsmanship and design. Your decision should be based on its symmetry, overall appearance and finishing.
3. When you are buying jewelry for your loved ones, always keep their personality and preferences in mind.
4. Always buy precious metal jewelry from a reputed and a known jeweler. If you don’t know any good jeweler, you should ask your family members or friends for their recommendations.
5. Beware of jewelry store lighting that usually consists of quartz or halogen bulbs. These can deceive as they blast high-intensity streams of light into goods to make them look different.
6. While buying precious metal jewelry, you should not be in hurry or in pressure. You should buy it at your convenience and at your own pace. Now you can go ahead to buy precious metal jewelry with more confidence. So enjoy buying the best suitable precious metal jewelry by keeping the above mentioned buying tips in mind.

Jewelry Guide - Jewelry Buying Tips

Jewelry is a personal ornament, such as a ring, bracelet, necklace or any other item made from jewels, precious metals or any other material. Jewelry has fascinated, thrilled and impressed the world for thousands of years and played an important role in growth of human civilization. Jewelry is in use long before clothing developed into fashion and jewelry items are a cherished symbol of prestige and beauty.

Buying a perfect jewelry for yourself or for your loved ones is not an easy task and it requires knowledge on many aspects. You can get detailed information on each and every aspect of jewelry in our education section. Once you go through this education section, you will be able to get the best quality jewelry for your money.

Jewelry Buying Tips

1. These below mentioned jewelry buying tips will certainly help you in finding the most suitable jewelry, you are looking for.
2. You must set your budget for buying jewelry and then explore all your options. By this way, you'll find a wide range of jewelry in your price range.
3. Whenever you buy jewelry for your loved ones, always keep their personality and preferences in mind.
4. Always buy jewelry from a reputed and a known jeweler. If you are not familiar with any good jeweler then you should ask your family members or friends for their recommendations.
5. Beware of jewelry store lighting which usually consists of quartz or halogen bulbs. These can deceive as they blast high-intensity streams of light into jewelry to make them look like the crown jewelry.
6. When buying jewelry, you should ensure about the jeweler’s policy on refunds, exchanges, repair or replacement.
7. When you decide to buy diamond or gemstone jewelry then you should always evaluate stones on 4Cs criteria.
8. When you buy diamond or gemstone jewelry, you should always ask for the stone certificate as well as receipt of payment. Stone certificate may cost you little more money but it will provide you a much-needed peace of mind knowing that you are getting your money’s worth. All information from the jeweler that influenced your decision to buy should be written directly on your sales receipt.
9. You should ensure that stones of your jewelry are properly polished and with perfect symmetry.
10. When you decide to buy gemstone jewelry then you should buy an average sized gemstone with good cut, color and clarity instead of buying a larger gemstone with not so good cut, color and clarity.
11. When you buy diamond jewelry you should give more importance to its cut whereas when you buy colored stone jewelry you should give more importance to its color.
12. When you buy gemstones, you should check them under different light conditions. If gemstones contain color change characteristics then these should display a strong change in color between alternative exposure to daylight and incandescent light sources.
13. When you buy gemstone jewelry, you must ensure that whether gemstone is natural or treated and if it is treated or enhanced then what method of treatment is used. Treated or enhanced gemstones are generally available in less price as compared to natural or non-treated gemstones.
14. You must also ensure about the appropriate markings on precious metal jewelry.
15. When buying gold jewelry, it is advisable to go for either 14 karat or 18 karat gold jewelry. You should never buy 24 karat gold jewelry because it is too soft, less durable and more expensive. You should also avoid buying less than 10 karat gold jewelry, as it appears dull.
16. When you buy a jewelry piece, you must ensure that there are no visible blemishes or imperfections on the metal. You should also check to make certain that fasteners, clasps and catches work properly and are secure.
17. When buying jewelry, you should look for craftsmanship and design. Your decision should be based on its symmetry, overall appearance and finishing.
18. You should not get confused between two terms, carat and karat. Carat is used for stone weight whereas karat is used to describe gold's fineness or purity.
19. While buying jewelry, you should not be in hurry or in pressure. You should buy it at your convenience and at your own pace. These jewelry buying tips will certainly help you to buy jewelry with more confidence.