Purchasing jewelry is not like purchasing anything else, even expensive items such as a vehicle or a major home appliance. Precious stones such as diamonds and other fine stones come with their own language. It all involves style, quality as well as the manner in which they are marketed and sold. It is nearly impossible for the average person to fully know the quality of a certain gem.
Additionally, most people engage into fine jewelry purchase a few times in their lives, but they are moments that are full of emotional significance. A fine gem does last a lifetime. Whether it is for engagement, birthday or graduation, and so, it is imperative that you look for the perfect piece. However, you cannot get the perfect piece from a lackluster jewelry store. Jewelers are not one size fits all. They usually specialize based on the demands of their clients which may or may not match what you are looking for. Do not leave the purchase of a lifetime to luck. Here are some of the questions you should ask when picking a jeweler and a jewelry store.
The Relationship is Key
When looking for the perfect piece, be it for engagement, wedding or any other purpose, you should start with the relationship, or rather, the jeweler. In order to make this topic simpler, we are going to use engagement rings as an example, but the concept should apply on any other kind of jewelry.
Does the Jeweler Listen to Your Needs?
Excellent Jewelers should:
-Listen to you- red flags in this regard including focusing on one aspect such as price, or promoting their own agenda.
-Focus on the bride- it is all about her, and so, the jeweler should take note of her needs, style, and desires.
-Show you a range of different pieces and also guide you in narrowing your options. The last thing you want is to walk away feeling overwhelmed.
Does The Jeweler Provide an Array of Services?
A leading jewelry store will provide a wide range of services in order to help you pick a piece and with needs that are likely to come up along the road. That said, here are a few things to be the on lookout for:
– A gemologist in the store who is trained in the features of precious and semi-precious gems and can help you find the right piece for your style as well as budget.
-A bench jeweler who can assist when it comes to resizing or repairing pieces.
-Some jewelry stores ideally have professionals who can design custom pieces. If this is what you need, do not hesitate to inquire.
Are They Well-Established?
You should pick a jeweler that you can develop a long-lasting relationship with. Take note of how long the store has been in business and research their reputation. An established store is more likely to have excellent references and be around for ring maintenance, not to mention in 9 years when you are looking for a special anniversary gift.
Are They Knowledgeable?
When you pick a well established jewel store, everyone employed there should be able to answer your questions with ease and confidence or rather be able to refer you to someone in-house who can. Picking a store that specializes in fine jewelry and loose diamonds and ascertaining there’s a trained gemologist makes this more likely to occur. Do not hesitate to walk out if the salesperson fails to answer your questions. Everything you ask at this point really matters.
The Real Issue at Hand- Engagement Ring
When picking a jewelry store, of course, you will want to ask a lot of questions regarding the piece. The following questions are centered around the gem, assuming a diamond.
Do They Teach You How To Evaluate Diamonds? Including the 4Cs?
You may not know how to see the 4Cs of a diamond, but a reputable jeweler ought to guide you through the process and even give you the tools to help you assess the real beauty of what you are about to buy. When viewing gems, ensure you ask the following.
-Do they have a complete spectrum light for diamond color grading?
-Can you see the diamond’s cut through a gemologist microscope?
-Is there a set of color grading gems or diamonds to compare the color of your piece?
How do They Mark the Integrity of The Precious Stone in the Ring?
You will quickly discover that most jewelry stores focus on the quality of the diamond, but the metal on the ring matters as well. As such, you should ask to see a stamp that verifies the content of the precious metal such as PLT for platinum and 10K and 14K for gold. An excellent jeweler will not hesitate to show you.
How do They Handle Diamond Appraisal and Certification?
Taking the jeweler’s word for it would be a mistake. So, ask for a diamond certificate from a well-known independent gem lab like the International Gemological Institute, Gemological Institute of America, American Gem Society or Gemological Science International. Such certifications prove that the gem is natural and also describes any treatments done to the stone. Additionally, it documents the carat, color as well as the diamond’s quality.
What Are Their Policies Regarding Returns and Warranties?
The basics of any other significant purchase ideally apply to jewelry. Can the jewelry store give you the piece you want in the timeframe you want? Also, to cover all possible bases, ensure you go through and understand their return policy as well as the warranty.
All In All, Can You Trust Them?
This might seem obvious, but it is worth mentioning. Before you make any significant purchase, it is important to ask yourself whether you can trust the jeweler. A sense of trust can originate from an array of places including the referral of a family member or a friend, reputation in your community or you having done your homework and asking all the relevant questions.
Armed with these questions to ask yourself as well as the jeweler, you will be ready to shop for an engagement ring or any other precious piece with a little less hurdle. You will be putting yourself in a position to establish a long-lasting relationship with a jewelry store that you can trust.
