February 1, 2018

5 Tips for Getting the Best Deal on Jewelry

When you’re shopping for jewelry, it can be hard to know if you are getting the right deal. There are so many choices out there, and so many jewelers have what seems like ridiculous sales, it is hard to know what something is really worth. 

However, there are ways you can determine if you are getting the best deal on jewelry. Here are five of them.

Know Your Stuff

One rule of shopping for high ticket items like jewelry is to know the product before you even start looking. This means you need to do some research ahead of time. You’ll need to know about several things when it comes to jewelry:

  • The Four C’s: If you are looking at gems, specifically diamonds, you will need to know the definition of cut, clarity, color, and carat weight and what each of these means.
  • Materials: Do you want gold, silver, platinum, or a more exotic metal? Also, what is the difference between 14K gold and 22K Gold?
  • Settings: There are different styles of settings, and some are more complex than others which makes them more expensive.
  • Craftsmanship: Whether something is made by a machine on a production line or handmade makes a difference in both cost and quality.

The more knowledgeable you are, the more aware you will be of what really comprises a good price and a good deal. Cheapest is not always the best, especially when it comes to jewelry.

Avoid Prestigious Names

Unless you have a specific reason for choosing a prestigious name when it comes to jewelry design, avoid them. These pieces are generally much more expensive, and they are not significantly different from jewelry that is custom created by another designer.

Custom created jewelry is fine, and is often the best way to get exactly what you want, but just like designer labels are on clothing are unnecessary most of the time.

Consider Alternatives

Silver is in. Pearls are making a huge comeback. Gemstones other than diamonds are quite popular. In fact, due in part to the questions surrounding the ethics of the diamond industry, many women are choosing alternative stones to enhance their look.

Also, synthetic gems are making an appearance as well. These are not imitation stones, but ones grown in a lab instead of naturally. Since almost all stones, including those found in nature, are usually enhanced in some way to make them appear more beautiful, this is not a bad thing, and synthetics allow you to avoid the ethical side of gemstone mining.

Sometimes an alternative material or gemstone can get you a great deal on jewelry.

Shop Online Stores

No matter what kind of jewelry you are looking for, the likelihood is you can find it in an online store just as easily as you can in a brick and mortar store. The difference is that online jewelry stores do not have some of the overhead of physical stores, meaning that usually you save money.

Online stores are not always the best deal though. Be sure you do some comparison shopping first to see what something typically costs. However, free shipping, satisfaction guarantees, and warranties are sometimes better online than they are in stores as well.

Be sure to look at reviews of the site and the items they sell to make sure they are both secure and reputable before you make a buying decision.

Buyer Beware

Remember, when it comes to jewelry, the old adage applies that if a deal seems to good to be true, it probably is. There is a huge difference between synthetic gems grown in labs and imitation gems, which are typically colored pieces of glass or plastic.

While some gems cost less than others, be sure you are comparing like to like products before determining if you are getting the best deal. Cheap materials, lower carat stones, and inexpensive settings are all red flags: prices that seem to low indicate that something is probably wrong with the product you are looking at.

Use these five tips to be sure you are getting the best deal on jewelry, online or in person.