8 Things Your Jeweler Doesn't Want You To Know About Buying Jewelry

If you don't know what a treated emerald is, the color of a Tanzanite stone, or what it means when a diamond certification has the word "laser path" written in the comments section, than you need to learn a few things before buying your next piece of jewelry! Jewelers are in the business to simply make a buck, or in most cases a lot of bucks! Knowing the "8 things only an honest jeweler will tell you" can keep you from making a BIG Jewelry mistake. The old adage goes something like this:

"If you don't know your jewels, than you better know your jeweler!"

Find an Honest Jeweler | Source

Please don't miss understand my cause here, I am not saying that jewelers are dishonest, the majority of jewelry salespeople are going to do the right thing. But as a consumer, you are ultimately responsible for the fiduciary well being of your own jewelry transactions. It is better to ask a few worthy questions than to end up buying a cow that won't give milk.

When you set out to purchase a diamond, ruby, or an emerald you need to have a few facts in place and some know-how in mind. Blindly buying any gemstone no matter how fancy or expensive, is just what the dishonest jeweler is hoping you will do. The 8 things that an honest jeweler will tell you may not bring world peace, but they will certainly provide you with a more fulfilling jewelry buying experience; and better quality jewelry for the price.

WHAT ARE ASSCHER CUT DIAMONDS?

• Asscher Cut Diamonds - What Makes Them So Special
  No better fashion statement exists than the Asscher cut diamond. Square cut with the ability to bring you deep into the diamond seeing its clarity fully. Buy the dramatic Asscher cut diamond for your special someone and say "I Do" with style.

• #1. If you Don't Have Jewelry Know-how, Than You Better Get to Know Your Jeweler.

  • If you are a first time jewelry buyer, I suggest you go shopping with a jewelry-savvy friend. Let this friend know what it is you are looking for and how much you can responsibly spend. Then, just sit back and learn. Remember the questions your friend is asking, the request your friend makes, and above all the manner in which an experienced jewelry consumer operates. You may even note that the jeweler and the individual seem to have a relationship of sorts; which is not to be underestimated by any means. Knowing your jeweler can be a significant tactic when buying or investing in good quality jewelry. He is more likely to protect your interest than that of someone he knows he won't bump into down the road or at a community mixer.
  • Ask your jeweler if you can have a few of his business cards. This is telling him you may be referring customers to his jewelry shop. You're building the relationship one step deeper, making him feel an obligation to you as more than just an individual jewelry purchaser. Inviting him to your monthly poker game can't hurt either; you might just win a few of your jewelry dollars back in the long run!

  

  American Gem Society Logo | Source

  #2. Only Work With Jewelers That Are Credentialed

  • Jewelry is a business that requires great skill, talent, and knowledge. However, on occasion, it only takes a little thing called nepotism. Not that nepotism is a bad thing, but it can be what takes you down a fourth generation jeweled back-alley. The only way to know your jeweler is on the up-and-up is to make sure he is credentialed by the American Gem Society. This is a group of high level jewelers that demand a much higher code of ethics and operate by a significantly higher group of standards. Go ahead and ask to see your jewelers credentials next time you are shopping for nice jewelry; he should be proud to show you just how much he cares about keeping your jewelry business relationship. If he appears offended, you need to find another jeweler!

  • #3. Do Not Buy Expensive Jewelry Cleaner From Your Jeweler

    • When your jeweler takes your dirty ring to that secret backroom to clean it for you (complimentary of course) he is using a top quality jewelry cleaner, right? Not really. What he is most likely using is warm water, gentle detergent, and a soft toothbrush. When he wants to put a supper shine on that diamond ring of yours, he is spritzing a little Windex over it and wiping it dry. So save yourself those extra bucks for jewelry polish and clean your jewelry with these very affective methods.

    (Do Not use Windex on any fracture filled diamonds or stones, it will damage the repaired area.)

    The Cut of A Fine Stone Makes or Breaks the Brilliance

    

    Light reflects brilliantly whe a diamond is cut properly. The cut is as important as the stone when it comes to quality fine jewelry. | Source

  • #4. Jewelers May Accidentally Lie About Emeralds

    • Just about every emerald today has some form of treatment. What this means is that an oil has been applied to the emerald to enhance the stones clarity. Cedar oil is an acceptable oil as it has no "color revising" qualities about it, it simply dresses up the already good-quality of the emerald. Other oils will apply a green-tinted color to the stone's and are not acceptable, as per the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. These colored-oils are masking flaws and improving the limited enhancements of the emerald, thus masking a low quality stones' bad points, while the minimal good points appear to be a higher grade of gemstone. So, when a jeweler tells you his emeralds are not treated in any way, he is either accidentally lying to you, or he is a very dishonest jeweler.

    • #5. Forget About Jewelry Extended Warranties

      • If throwing away good money is your thing, than by all means buy an extended jewelry warranty. The truth is that this type of warranty is simply a waste of your good money. If you have a rider on your homeowner policy for your jewelry, anything that gets stolen, lost, or damaged will generally be covered by your home policy. Checking with your insurance broker is always best, but don't think for a minute that you need that jewelry shop extended warranty to keep your investment safe. This low-cost method is probably already in place for you to utilize.

      

      Preciouse Blue Stones, High Quality Blue Jewelry | Source

      #6. Looking For a Blue Stone? A Sapphire is Not Your Only Choice

      • When you begin your quest to find a beautiful blue stone, you are most likely thinking of buying a Sapphire. After all, not too many nice stones of quality sport such cobalt colored style. But, the honest jeweler will let you in on a little secret, a few other stones come in your favorite shade of blue! Tanzanite, Tourmaline, and Spinel are all blue stones, and might just be a little less expensive than a sapphire; surely just as brilliant.
      • The advice here is this, if blue is your beloved's request, be sure you ask your jeweler to show you all of the "blue stones" he carries, not just the priciest sapphire in the shop. Even as these other blue gem stones are brilliantly beautiful, and will dazzle your loved one, they have not received the same grand reviews of the sapphire. Many heavy hitting celebrities have been seen stepping out onto the red-carpet wearing blue stones that are anything but sapphire, yet are truly spectacular! When it's all said-and-done, You may find you have enough left in your budget to buy a matching bracelet for your sweetie; the bonus romance points would seem to be a big motivation for this!

      
      

      #7. When Buying a Diamond on a Budget, Don't Get Too Freaked out Over The Clarity Grading

      • When people speak of diamonds, clarity grading always comes up. However, when you want to buy your sweetie a nice diamond ring or earrings while on a budget, grading is something you can relax about. Go ahead and come down a couple of clarity grades, no one can see any difference when viewing your diamond with their naked eye. Once you have the diamond mounted into a setting, no one will ever know the difference at all.
      • When diamonds are being graded for clarity they are placed under a special 10x magnification gem scope. The diamond is then viewed by a certified gemologist who really knows what to look for and generally grades every tiny flaw. After all, this is his craft and he is a master of it. Trust me, De Beers—the family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors— wants to know what every fine flaw within a diamond is and in which diamond it was found. The balance of the worldwide diamond market depends on this knowledge.

      However; when away from magnification, only your gemologist knows for sure.

      Every Month Has its Own Birthstone (Click to see chart full size)

      

      Birthstone Chart | Source

      

      Laser Beam Sign

      #8. Why Don't You Want to See the Word 'Laser' or 'laser path' on Your Diamond Certificate?

      • The most important investment concern when buying a diamond has to do with the certification. A diamond certification is like fingerprinting, it details the stones identity and value. It doesn't assign a monetary value like an appraisal, and is only applied to loose diamonds, but it does provide a mapping so you know what quality of diamond you have on your hands. Knowing how to interpret this certification can keep you from paying far too much for an 'altered' diamond grade.
      • When you read your diamond certification, if you see in the comment section the word "laser" or "laser path" this is telling you that you have an altered diamond. A laser has been applied to the stone. In other words; the diamond has undergone a laser procedure to remove a flaw. This single application can reduce a diamonds true value as much as 40%.
      • Now that you know what the term "laser" is indicating to a diamond buyer, you gain the advantage of knowing how to make a good investment on an altered stone, instead of over paying by 40% like the guy who has no clue about laser diamond procedures.

      How to Protect Your Jewelry from Jewelers

      • Asscher Cut Diamonds
        No better fashion statement exists than the Asscher cut diamond. Square cut with the ability to bring you deep into the diamond to linger its clarity. A dramatic Asscher cut diamond says I love you with class!
      • How to Prevent Your Diamond From Being Switched
        Would You know if your diamond gemstone had been switched during a routine cleaning at the jewelers?