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Beloved...Bejeweled...Be Careful! What to Know Before You Buy Jewelry
02/09/12
Planning a gift of jewelry? Whether it's for sweetheart or yourself, build
in time to compare prices and quality. A gift of jewelry can be expensive. If
you're not familiar with any jewelers in your area, ask family members, friends
or co-workers for recommendations. Also, when ordering online and you've never
heard of the seller, check on its reputation with the Better Business Bureau
or the state attorney general's office. When you're shopping, ask your salesperson
to write down any information you might rely on to make your purchase. And before
you buy, ask for the store's refund and return policy. When ordering online,
keep printouts of the web pages with details about the transaction, including
refund and return policies if you're not satisfied.
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The Federal Trade Commission has a few additional pointers for jewelry shoppers
who are in the market for gold, watches, gemstones, pearls or diamonds:
1.
There's a big difference between 14 karat gold and gold-plated jewelry. Fourteen
karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts
of base metal. Gold-plated describes jewelry with a layer of at least 10K gold
bonded to a base metal. Gold plating eventually wears away, depending on how
often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
2.
If you're buying a watch, determine whether you want one that runs on a battery
or one that must be wound daily. Ask if a warranty or guarantee is included,
how long it lasts, and what parts and repair problems it covers. Also ask how
and where you can get the watch serviced and repaired.
3.
Know the difference between laboratory-created gemstones and naturally mined
stones. Stones created in the lab are visually identical to stones mined from
the earth. The big difference is in the cost: laboratory-created stones are
less expensive than naturally mined stones. But because they look just like
stones mined from the earth, they must be identified as lab-created. If you
want a naturally mined stone, ask if it has been treated. Gemstone treatments
-- such as heating, dyeing or bleaching -- can improve a stone's appearance
or durability. Some treatments are permanent; some may create special care requirements.
Treatments also may affect the stone's value.
4.
Ask whether pearls are imitation or real. Real pearls are made by oysters
or other mollusks; imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by
mollusks with human intervention; an irritant introduced into their shells causes
a pearl to grow. Real pearls that are not cultured are fairly rare and expensive.
The cost depends on the size, usually stated in millimeters, and the coating
or "nacre" on a real pearl, which gives it its iridescence.
5.
When you're buying a diamond, consider four criteria: cut, color, clarity
and weight , usually stated as carats. Each factor affects the price. Color
is sometimes "graded" on a scale. However, scales are not uniform:
a "D" may be the best color for one scale, but not for another. Make
sure you know how a particular scale and grade represents the color of the diamond
you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only
if it has no visible surface cracks or other imperfections when viewed under
10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
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