What Can Make You a Smart Jewelry Shopper?

At Kingston Fine Jewelry, the cliche "An educated consumer is our best customer," holds very true. We stand behind every piece of jewelry we sell and always strive to give you, our customer, the best product for the money. We know that there may be a time when you purchase an item of jewelry at a shop other than ours, although we may wish you wouldn’t. However, in view of that possibility, and to further educate you, we present the following advice from jewelry expert Elizabeth Florence, Director of the Jewelry Information Center, a nonprofit trade association based in New York City.

1. Ms. Florence categorically states that "The key to buying fine jewelry is where one shops. Trust in the jeweler and/or the venue is vital." Make your purchases from someone you trust. Shop only in a store that has “history” and only from a professional jeweler. Ask for recommendations, much as you would when looking for any professional. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau. Ask the jeweler if he or she is affiliated with a professional trade association, such as Jewelers of America, because such organizations require high ethical standards and provides continuing education. When making a purchase, get an itemized receipt and make certain that you know and understand the return policy, which you should have in writing.

2. Ms. Florence says that “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.

   When buying on the Web, shop only on sites that include a phone number, address and/or "Contact Us" Email option. Use a credit rather than a debit card, so should something go wrong, you have recourse. Check the return policy and make sure it includes and option for a full refund. Ask for the original packaging and an itemized receipt. When buying diamonds, make certain you ask for and receive a grading report from an independent gemological laboratory. When purchasing a watch, understand that some manufacturers' warrantees are invalid for a watch not purchased at an authorized dealer. You may wish to first check the watch manufacturer's site, and then be “directed” to authorized e-commerce sites.
   
   

3. Be wary of discounts.
   In a word, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is! Really smart shoppers know that what a site advertises as a “drastic discount" is quite possibly the normal retail price somewhere else.
   
   

4. Check into quality marks and registered trademark.
   Every piece of gold jewelry carries a karat or quality mark indicating its degree of purity: "14K" means 58.3% pure gold. "18K" means 75% pure gold. In other words, with 14k gold jewelry, 14 of its 24 parts are pure gold and the other 10 parts are a metal alloy. Platinum, the hardest and rarest metal is most often marked "PLAT" or "950 PLAT." Sterling silver is 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.
   

5. Ask if the gemstone you are buying has been “enhanced” (i.e., treated in any way to improve its beauty).

   There are a variety of treatments (e.g., oiling, heating) that are used and accepted in the jewelry industry. The Federal Trade Commission law requires that treatments be disclosed to the buyer, because the care and cleaning of the stone may be affected. Be-ware and be informed.
   
   

6. Ask about the four 4 C's when buying a diamond.
   The four C’s are cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Cut is arguably the most important, because a skillful cutting is what creates the sparkle that is so prized in a diamond. Cut refers to faceting. It differs from shape, such as marquise, oval, and princess. Color grading starts at “D.” The further down in the alphabet, the poorer the color quality. Ask to see loose diamonds on a high-white paper background, so you can more clearly see variations in color. Clarity refers to imperfections which may exist in the stone. Some examples are such bubbles, spots and lines. These are called inclusions. Clarity grading goes from flawless (FL or IF) to imperfect (I).
   
   

7. Cultured pearls are in a class all their own.
   Check the surface of the pearl to see that it is clean and free of scarring or pitting. Roll them on a flat surface to make certain they don’t wobble and will lie “flat” on your wrist or neck. Check the luster or life of the pearl to see that it “glows” with an iridescence and is free of a chalky or dull shine. Make sure that the pearls in a strand of cultured pearls are knotted individually. This protects the pearls should the strand break and keeps them from rubbing up against one another. Finally, when purchasing a strand (necklace or bracelet or two earrings), check that the pearls are matched in color and luster, and if graduated, evenly increasing and/or decrease in size.

Like any other expenditure, jewelry purchases are best made from a position of knowledge and from a professional with a really excellent reputation.