Six Things You Must Know When Jewelry Shopping
Jewelry shopping can be very time consuming and difficult, finding the perfect piece within a budget is hard even when your shopping for yourself, let alone for someone else. Here are a few simple rules you should follow every time you venture into a jewelry store.
The displayed piece of jewelry is often the best quality one the store has, when you choose a piece make them give you the piece that was on display. Not all jewelry is made equal and big stores often have a large supply of the same item. The display piece is the highest quality the store has, take it home and you know you don't have an inferior product which happens a lot with handmade jewelry
If you can, buy your jewelry from stores who are credited by the American Gem Society (AGS). The American Gem Society is a non profit group who have a strict set of guidelines in regard to pricing and quality to certify a store. There are several other companies that offer accreditation to jewelry stores such as "Everything Girls Love" and the "International Gemological Institute", these other creditors are not nearly as reputable as AGS. Other companies apart from AGS make money by "crediting" jewelry stores. Color and clarity grades given by AGS are usually at least one grade lower than EGL and IGI report.
Avoid moissanite and other high priced diamond substitutes. You cannot tell the difference from cubic zirconias and they are far cheaper.
Don't be afraid to try and barter. Nearly all jewelry stores, even big chain stores will lower their price if you ask for a deal, and a lot will lower it again if you keep bartering. Keep in mind that there is a large markup on jewelry so stores don't mind giving a discount.
Do not pay extra for extended or lifetime warranties. Nearly all pieces of jewelry come with lifetime warranties from the manufacturer and most jewelry stores will honor the warranty and repair manufacturer defects free of charge.
About the Author
Have a look at your towns local jewelry stores. They may not have the jewelry range of large stores but they need the sales a lot more and they work to build relationships with their customers. For more articles visit http://luluhewitt.hubpages.com
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