Artisan jewelry is not always one-of-a-kind.

The best type of artisan jewelry is the handcrafted kind. Although some of these may be produced using a single design, it is unlikely that they will be exactly the same. In fact, artisan jewelry can be custom-made to fit a person’s preferred design.

However, some companies prefer to mass produce their artisan jewelry, with some pieces becoming part of a limited edition. This helps ensure that their quality is superior. Limited edition jewelry is easier to inspect for defects.

Check artisan jewelry for quality and craftsmanship.

Every piece of jewelry is made up of several components. The value and quality of any artisan jewelry is determined by how good these pieces are on their own and how well they are put together. No material is truly perfect but you should go for artisan jewelry that has high quality materials.

Check the stones or beads used, along with the design and how good and stable the setting is. Remember that the more flaws you find, the lower the quality of the jewelry.

Buy it in person.

When buying artisan jewelry, it’s always a good idea to see the pieces for yourself. Magazines and computer monitors don’t always bring out the true colors of the gems and metals. Plus, you can also inspect the jewelry up close.

If you’re buying online, make sure you check out the retailer’s background first. You should also confirm their return policy in case you’re unsatisfied.

Check the designer or source of the artisan jewelry.

Artisan jewelry can be quite expensive, particularly if it is created by a known artist. You might also want to watch out for artisan jewelry created by budding talents.

Some areas and groups of people may also produce their own artisan jewelry. Certain groups of American Indians create unique and stunningly beautiful artisan jewelry. The Navajos, for example, are known artisans of jewelry made with turquoise. The Saraguros of Ecuador also make intricate beaded jewelry, with designs that are characteristic to the region.

Don’t limit your choices to what is currently available. Keep your options open for other pieces. If you’re buying artisan jewelry, it should be the kind that will reflect your personality and taste.

There are so many jewelry stores and almost every store has the same pieces of jewelry. It’s almost impossible for an amateur buyer to determine if the store sells authentic jewelry or not. Some stores trick their buyers into buying fake jewelry, so here are some helpful tips in spotting an authentic jewelry store.

Watch for the papers

Authentic jewelry comes with a price for a reason. They are genuine and some are even rare. So if you were to buy a real diamond ring, don’t buy it without the essential papers. These authentic pieces of jewelry come with a product registration card and signed certificate of authenticity. Carefully read the papers given to you and look for signs that they are the real thing. Things to watch out for are the signature, stamp, and the quality of the papers given to you.

If the store fails to give you these papers, they might be selling fake or imitation jewelry.

Beware of online stores or eBay

Don’t be fooled by the sweet words given to you by online stores or eBay sellers. What they say may be what you might not get. Sure, there really are honest sellers on the Internet, but its tough to take on the risk by buying something you’re not sure of. Talking to someone who has bought off the Internet would be a good gauge to finding out if the seller or online store is honest.

Be observant

The appearance of a jewelry store tells a lot about what it has inside. Observation is the key. Look for a security guard in front of the store if it’s not inside a mall. The personnel should be well-trained and know what they’re talking about. Then look at the pieces of jewelry with a critical eye.

Also determine if the shop is associated with any well-respected organization in the area.

Price relative to the make

Not all pieces of jewelry fetch a high price. Of course, it depends on what its make is or how many carats the diamond has. So if a store is selling a 1-carat diamond for a low price, be suspicious.

Finding authentic jewelry stores may be a big challenge for an amateur, so asking around or consulting a professional jewelry maker will help a lot. There are a lot of shady tactics and strategies in selling someone fake jewelry, so watch out. Don’t be lured by words or sweet-nothings, but certainly watch out for these tips in finding an authentic jewelry store.

Pros and Cons of Online Wholesale Jewelry Purchasing

If you think about it, this way of purchasing jewelry is actually a good bargain. You will get a nice deal on that opal ring or the pearl necklace you have been eyeing. There are tons of Web sites out there that specialize in jewelry, which make shopping very fast and easy for you. You don’t have to worry about those pushy and rude salespeople. To add icing on the cake, you can buy wholesale through online shopping. The price is so affordable and you can have that jewelry in your fingertips.

But there’s a catch. When you’re buying your jewelry over the web, you can’t touch nor see first-hand what you are purchasing. This is very important because a picture you see on the site isn’t enough to determine the value of the jewelry. You have to see it right in front of you in order to see if there are cracks, chips or scratches.

When buying jewelry in person, you can do the checking by using loupes or a magnifying glass. Online shopping for jewelry may be easy and you can do it wholesale but the disadvantage is that you aren’t really sure whether the item you’re buying is scratch, crack and chip free.

That’s just not the problem

Jewelry experts also claim that other problems include misrepresentation of quality. Some unethical jewelers say that the item is of better quality than they really are. The buyer must also concern themselves with slightly inflated weights (those small differences in weight that can slightly change the stones value) and fraudulent repairs and appraisals. The buyer must also check the documentation from the Gemological Institute of America or GIA reports before actually buying the jewelry.

To respond to this problem, eBay has come up with guidelines when it comes to selling jewelry online. However, consumers should still have common sense on how they can protect themselves from these fraudulent practices.

How do you buy jewelry online and at wholesale prices safely?

1. Customers must be informed of what exactly they are buying? There are various sites that don’t provide the buyers the complete and accurate information they need when buying jewelry wholesale. Also, most jewelers aren’t experts or gemologists (those who specialize or have been trained in identifying and rating the condition and quality of gemstones) so they may not be able to properly describe the stones.

2. The customer must try shopping at retail jewelers and visit gemologist organization sites in order to be well-informed about jewelry, stones and how to know the authentic from the fake purchases. It also helps to check out the FTC guidelines which can be found on this site: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/jewel-gd.pdf.

3. When shopping on eBay, the customer must read the terms and conditions. He should also check the fine print. The sellers that are of power Seller status should still be criticized like the rest of the sellers.

4. Before bidding on an online item, the customer must find out as much as he or she can about the item that they are bidding for. Also, the Federal Trade Commission suggests that the procedures regarding complaints should be practiced; even when the transaction is done online.

Sure-fire way for the customer to avoid fraud

In order to avoid online fraud, the customer must see whether the seller is willing to take the necessary steps of appraisal before actually receiving the money as payment for the purchased jewelry. Therefore, the payment can be held in tow through a third party for a minimal fee which the jeweler is paid as long as these conditions are met.

It also helps to have a gemologist around, better yet a gemologist who is also an appraiser because they will be able to confirm the quality, condition and identity of the stones that are being bought, plus the true value.

Buying jewelry as a wholesale and online may sound pleasing but it takes as much work as buying it first-hand from a store.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/buying-wholesale-jewelry.html/feed 1 http://knowingjewelry.com/tips-when-aiming-to-buy-rough-diamonds.html http://knowingjewelry.com/tips-when-aiming-to-buy-rough-diamonds.html#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:16:57 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=135 Diamonds are women’s best friends. The most important jewelry and accessories almost always have diamonds as gemstones. Diamonds are known as the hardest substance on the planet. They can’t always be cut and broken down easily. Diamonds are used to cut other diamonds.

Aside from that property, diamonds are considered as among the most important elegant substances on earth. The substance isn’t an element because it isn’t pure, but it is known to be a product of the pressure applied to carbon. Diamonds aren’t easily found in mines and it is very rare that explorers and miners are fortunate enough to find diamond mines.

Rough diamonds are diamonds in their unaltered state. Rough diamonds are literally rough because they aren’t yet cut and smoothed for jewelry purposes. Jewelers and designers strive to secure and acquire diamonds in their rough state. That is because they will cut the substance according to their design plan. They then shape the rough diamond according to the design and fit the stone to the jewelry they choose.

Jewelers aren’t the only people who regular buy rough diamonds. You could also strive to attempt to acquire such items. If you are aiming to customize your diamond jewelry according to your designs and preferred shapes, then, it is high time you buy rough diamonds. Here are some practical tips that will help you when buying rough diamonds on the market.

- Make sure to do transactions with accredited and popular sellers. Rough diamonds are still expensive even if they aren’t yet cut and shaped. Thus, expect to shoulder a significant investment on the purchase transaction. You should stay away from suspicious and unreliable sources because you might end up buying fake diamonds.

- Secure experts’ advice. If you can take an expert with you while doing the transaction, the better. Experts can easily tell whether the product is genuine or whether the price tag is practical and appropriate.

- Make the legal and necessary actions to ensure that your rough diamond won’t be replaced or altered when you bring it to a jeweler for customization.

Rough diamonds aren’t yet shaped and smoothed but they have the potential to be pricey. Rough diamonds are good buys because they are cheaper and are more practical. You can do whatever you like with these diamonds.

External factors affect the value and the quality of jewelry, especially diamonds. For an average person, a gem looks like just any other gem. But to the experienced eye, he knows the differences between a rare stone to one that is not-so-rare.

Therefore, we strongly recommend jewelry enthusiasts to have a keen eye on what is authentic to what is fraud. They should also be on their toes when it comes to the fraudulent practices involving jewelry. They should know the facts of the stones and verify it with the experts.

Jewelry enthusiasts don’t have to be gemologists. Neither do they have to be fearful when buying jewelry. They just have to be aware of the fraud exchanges and gem misrepresentation in jewelry markets.

Switching the Stones

Stone switching often occurs and this is very disturbing for the buyer because the jewelry loses its value. It is also hard to make accusations because the jeweler can deny easily deny the allegations if the buyer doesn’t have proof.

There are jewelers who take advantage of naive customers who don’t pay close attention to the gems they are buying. The normal customer purchases the highest quality regardless of the need for it to be repaired or appraised. Sometimes, it may be the highest-valued gem there but it is in need of these two procedures. Therefore its value degenerates but the buyer doesn’t notice this because she is enamored by its sparkle.

Mounting is important because this can make or break the deal. An unethical jeweler merely switches the stones and replaces them with something similar for the untrained eye. This is usually a stone with lesser quality. This tactic generates the jeweler thousands of dollars and its tax free. Just imagine the gold earrings and the watch batteries they must sell in order to come up with the same price. No wonder they do it with jewelry.

In order for you to prevent this from happening, take note of these suggestions:

1. You have to know your gems. Note their colors, girdles and clarity (if they have chips or scratches, their natural appearance, etc.) You have to remember the locations of the following as if they were their birth marks. You can observe these by using loupes. You can also document these for future reference.

2. It is best to write these down. Record the characteristics of the stone on the receipt the jeweler gives you in the store. Do this before you leave. Sometimes, stores don’t have enough time to give the accurate clarity and color grades but they should still note the visible characteristics. This documentation serves as evidence, just in case switching takes place. It also prevents it from happening.

3. If the buyer has a diagram or the photograph of the gemstone, he must ask the jeweler is this can serve as a good enough representation of the product.

4. Clean the gem before it is repaired or appraised. By examining the stone and remembering the condition that it is in, you will be able to recognize it after it is given back to you.

5. Be very wary of jewelers whose repair services are of low prices. If its too good to be true, it probably is. Maybe this jeweler has no experience. Then again, give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he is just honest.

6. If possible, establish an ethical relationship with your jeweler so that he will be more trustworthy. This can also lessen the chances of switching.

A Gem with Laser Inscriptions

If you are lucky to get gem stones that have laser inscription, then this can be a feature which will help you be aware whether the stone has been switched. Whenever you take the stone to any repair shop or store, tell the person there that the gem has a laser inscription. You can also ask them to examine it under the microscope so that you and the person both agree.

Therefore, when the stone is returned to you, you can examine the stone and check whether the inscription is still there. In that case, you will now that the stone is yours. You have to do these things right away to ensure that you aren’t cheated.

Rough gemstones basically look like they are freshly extracted from mine deposits. As a matter of fact, they are freshly sculpted from mines. Thus, the texture is rough and the overall appearance is still unaltered. If you are wanting to buy rough gemstones, you can easily do so.

There are special wholesalers who sell them. You’d also be surprised that such items aren’t as pricey as the designed and smoothed gemstones, although the quality and composition are the same.

Jewelers and stone designers are the usual clients and buyers of rough gemstones. They then cut and shape them based on how they will be used and integrated into jewelry. You could opt to buy rough gemstones, turn them over to a jeweler or designer and have your jewelry or accessory customized.

Here are some tips that will help you make a good purchase transaction for rough gemstones.

- Buy only from regulated and accredited sellers of rough gemstones. This will help ensure that your purchase is legal and the items you buy are genuine. Authorities also advise buying from such sellers.

- Look for bargains when buying. You can always bargain for lower prices when buying rough gemstones. If you can make the purchase at lower rates, it’s better. You can’t lose trying.

- Try searching for online sellers of rough stones. There are numerous rough gemstones sellers across the Internet so you can’t miss the best deals and discounted prices. Be observant and explorative when looking for online rough gemstones.

- Prepare a significant amount of money for the transaction. Buying rough gemstones can be an important and pertinent deal so expect that prices will be high.

Many experts recommend buying rough gemstones. It is far more advisable to have your jewelry and accessories custom made. So when you want to customize your items, you have the power to choose the gemstones you like. By buying rough gemstones, you will be able to secure and come up with good and more elegantly looking jewelry.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/buying-rough-gemstones.html/feed 3 http://knowingjewelry.com/buying-jewelry-with-a-history.html http://knowingjewelry.com/buying-jewelry-with-a-history.html#comments Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:41:00 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=62

Buying antique jewelry? If you don’t mind the usually high price, you should get yours from antique jewelry stores. Antique jewelry stores follow strict standards when it comes to selling this type of jewelry and they also keep the quality high by ensuring that the jewelry has been inspected and repaired properly.

Antique is old is vintage

When it comes to checking out pieces in an antique jewelry store, it can be a bit confusing for inexperienced buyers, especially when they encounter certain terms. Is it an antique or is it vintage? And what’s antique style jewelry anyway?

Time is relative, so antique jewelry today may have been considered vintage about 50 years ago. Truly antique jewelry, by the way, belong to a museum. If you truly want antique jewelry and have money to burn, ask your antique jewelry store to show you pieces worn in the Georgian or Victorian years.

Victorian-age antique jewelries are often favored because of the sophistication and technical perfection they have achieved. The Victorian years were also the time when diamond mines in Africa began to produce gems of excellent quality.

Art Deco and Art Nouveau-style antique jewelry are also bestsellers in antique jewelry stores, primarily because of their distinctive look and design. This was the time when the Industrial Revolution shaped the sentiments of many jewelry wearers, particularly women.

As for antique style jewelry, many antique jewelry stores also carry these along with authentically old pieces. These are jewelries that are not necessarily old; they just look old. They are crafted to imitate the old or antique design that was prevalent during a certain era. It is quite easy to buy some baroque-style jewelry that was made just a few years before and not hundreds of years ago.

Buying from antique jewelry stores

Always check out the background and record of an antique jewelry store before buying. You want a reputable antique jeweler retailer to deal with, somebody who will not sell you a cleverly designed imitation. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and if possible, read on the jewelry styles of the era you’re aiming for.

It’s better to visit the antique jewelry store in person so you can view, inspect, touch and try on the pieces yourself. Ask the salesperson about the history of the jewelry, whether it has undergone any repairs or if it is the original setting or design. If the setting is intact, you can also ask if the stones used in the current piece are originals or replacements.

You can also check out some antique jewelry stores online. Try www.antique-jewelry.com by Edith Weber, www.foreverjewelers.com, www.faycullen.com and www.hillarysantiques.com.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/buying-jewelry-with-a-history.html/feed 0 http://knowingjewelry.com/different-kinds-of-gems-in-mens-gemstone-jewelry.html http://knowingjewelry.com/different-kinds-of-gems-in-mens-gemstone-jewelry.html#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:38:15 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=60 While it is a more common practice for women to wear jewelry and gemstones, there are certain jewelry designs that are suitable for men and have been worn by men over the years. Most of the more common men’s gemstone jewelry that you find are rings and cuff links but there are a few other kinds that seem to be becoming more popular with the younger generation of males these days.

The Diamond

The most common gemstone that you can find in men’s gemstone jewelry is the diamond. Due to its versatility and classy appearance, diamonds have always been seen on rings for men and for women as well. This kind of a gem, one of the most expensive gems that can be used in jewelry, can be found in men’s rings and cuff links and are usually cut in the classic round shape. Of course, as versatile as the diamond is, it can also be found combined with other gemstones in certain designs that are somewhat masculine or manly to the eyes.

Precious and Semi-Precious

Other gemstones that can be found in these kinds of jewelry are other precious and semi-precious stones that have been cut in either a square, oval or round shape to give the gemstone a more manly appeal. The gemstones used in men’s gemstone jewelry is also in chunkier and bigger sizes than those usually seen on women’s jewelry to help exude that same masculine air.

This kind of a logic in jewelry cuts and designs has long been in use in jewelry and you can see those big precious and semi precious stones on the fingers and cuffs of a lot of men. Among the precious and semi precious gems that are often seen on men’s gemstone jewelry pieces, you can easily find the red ruby, amethysts, opals, quartz and emeralds.

Big Jewelry for Men

Most men’s gemstone jewelry designs are chunky bracelets, necklaces and stick pins as well. This kind of a trend in men’s jewelry design has been around for quite a while and there are men’s gemstone jewelry that do have thinner components on certain designs, the overall assembly still ends up being a bit on the bigger side as compared to women’s jewelry.

Men can easily find gemstone jewelry at a lot of jewelry stores and online shops everywhere. Finding the right kind of composition and design for their choices will solely depend on the individual taste of each man who buys them.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/different-kinds-of-gems-in-mens-gemstone-jewelry.html/feed 1 http://knowingjewelry.com/a-guide-to-buying-jewelry.html http://knowingjewelry.com/a-guide-to-buying-jewelry.html#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:34:32 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=31 Even the most affordable pieces of jewelry are still costlier than most of the everyday things we purchase. Furthermore, its easy for people with untrained eyes to be fooled into paying a lot for fake jewelry. Use the tips below to ensure you’re making the smart and the right investment when buying jewelry pieces.

How to Buy Gold Jewelry

Gold is one of the most commonly used materials for jewelry. And as gold jewelry doesn’t discolor like silver does, they are ideal for people with allergy concerns. Because of its malleability, gold is mixed with other metals to improve its durability and structure. That’s why even 24K gold isn’t really made purely of gold.

Gold jewelry is measured by its karat or the amount of gold it contains. 24K gold is the highest karat amount you can look for. The next would be 18K, 14K, 12K, and 10K. Any gold jewelry with a rating lower than 10K is no longer considered gold jewelry. In Europe, the karat rating is shown in percentage. 18K would be .750 because it contains 75% gold. 14K would be .583, 12K would be .500.

How to Buy Jewelry Made of Silver, Platinum, and Other Metals

Other metals beside gold are also used to make jewelry. Platinum is one good example and today’s market prices it even more expensively than gold. Platinum jewelry is also rated according to its platinum content.

92.5% is the highest rating provided for silver or sterling silver jewelry pieces; it signifies the amount of silver used in the jewelries. Other metals commonly used for jewelry are pewter and vermeil.

How to Buy Gemstone Jewelry

There are two primary types of gemstones: natural and artificial. Natural gemstones are more expensive. Artificial, company-created, or synthetic gemstones are made in the laboratory.

The size and weight are important when buying gemstones. A 1-carat gemstone will weigh 50 points or 1/5th of a gram. At times, gemstones are subjected to certain treatments to change or improve their durability or appearance. The laws require jewelry makers to label their items clearly if they had been treated in any way. In most cases, treated jewelry pieces are less costly than untreated ones.

Commonly used treatments today include bleaching, dyeing, diffusion, fracture filling, impregnating, irradiation, and heating. Bleaching is used to whiten pearls, jades, and other similar stones. Dyeing, diffusion, heating, and irradiation mostly have to do with improving the color of gemstones. Impregnating and fracture filling, on the other hand, make flaws of gemstones less visible.

Gemstones are also appraised according to the same 4C’s used for appraising diamonds, and they are cut, color, clarity, and, which has been previously discussed, carat weight.

Darker gemstones aren’t always better. Sapphire that’s too dark could have its bluish shade ending up appearing black, and this is considered undesirable by many. Its best to view the color of gemstones at all light levels to judge it more accurately. Ultimately, look for vividness and brightness in colored gemstones.

Clarity refers to the absence of flaws in a gemstone. Imperfections, or inclusions as they’re called, are sometimes used to as birthmarks because they indicate the gemstones origins. Other times, they actually increase the value of the gemstone, such as it is in the case of stars in star rubies and sapphires.

Cut doesn’t necessarily make a gemstone more expensive, but it could enhance or detract from its appearance.

Gemstones can be classified into several categories. Traditional gemstones are made up of emerald, blue sapphire, and ruby. They were originally called precious gemstones and with the rest merely delegated to semi-precious category. Most of the time, rubies and emeralds are more expensive than sapphires because of their rarity.

New classics refer to currently fashionable gemstones, those on the rise in the industry like aquamarine and tourmaline. Connoisseur gemstones refer to those that are hard to find like alexandrite, a rare pinkish stone, sapphires that have other colors than blue, and black opal.

Collectors gems are rare but affordable and of great beauty like morganite and zircon. Lastly, affordable gemstones are those with high quantity in the market, affordably priced, but with excellent overall value such as amethyst and blue topaz.

How to Buy Pearl Jewelry

Pearls may be natural, cultured (naturally grown but with human intervention), or synthetic. Artificial or synthetic pearls are man-made and produced using plastic, glass, or other similar materials. Pearls are judged according to the skin, luster, shape, and size. Skin refers to the absence of blemishes, luster is an exclusive quality of pearls, referring to its surface glow, and shape places preferences for the most perfect spheres for pearls.