Tips for Buying Jewelry

As you shop for diamond jewelry you need to be armed with knowledge. You should be able to see down inside a diamond. If the diamond looks milky, blotchy, or peppered with black spots they are of poor clarity and will not sparkle well. Watch for bad color also. Chocolate is a fancy term for brown.

Always ask the clerk for the grade when considering a diamond jewelry purchase, try to understand a little about clarity & color of diamonds before embarking on a diamond shopping trip, and be sure to compare apples to apples as you shop for the cheapest price.

With the recent increases in the price of gold some manufacturers and retailers are cutting corners on quality to maintain profitability. Look at the quality of the stones and how heavy the item is. We have been seeing brand new gold rings in for repair that are so hollowed out and thin that they are bound to break again and again. Turn the ring over and examine carefully. If you are shopping for the cheapest price be sure that you are comparing apples to apples and avoid buying a lemon.

If you are shopping for gold chains make sure you know what you are buying. You can find what looks like an amazing chain for a cheap price. Ask before you buy. "Is this chain solid or hollow". There are a lot of hollow chains being sold. They've got the look, they've got the cheap price, but they break very easily so they are good job security for the jewelers who repair them. Unfortunately, some manufacturers seem to keep figuring out how to make an even lighter hollow chain.

Some Jewelry Stores that offer repairs will not work on silver jewelry. While silver jewelry is a little trickier to work with than gold, most silver jewelry can be successfully repaired. Bring it in to the experts at Independent Goldsmiths for a free estimate.