Jewelry

Today may be the day you purchase expensive jewelry, such as a diamond, ruby, or emerald for the one you love. This special purchase should be an informed decision and well worth your time to do some research before you buy. An engagement ring will be one of the top ten most expensive purchases you make in your life time. If you are buying costume jewelry, aesthetic value or appearance will probably be more than adequate to help guide your purchasing decision. However, purchasing jewelry with precious stones should be a careful selection process that guarantees you are getting the most value for your money.

Expensive jewelry should be purchased from an accredited dealer belonging to the American Gem Society (AGS). These dealers follow a strict code of ethics. Most dealers will guarantee your purchase so that you may bring it back to the store if you are not satisfied within 30 days. Reputable dealers should give you the option of bring your jewelry to an appraiser so that you can make sure you are paying a reasonable price. An insurance appraisal should give you an idea of how much it would cost to replace jewelry in case it is stolen or lost. Unfortunately market value for the jewelry will probably be lower than you would actually pay for it. The goal of the buyer should be to pay a price that is as close to market value.

A qualified appraisal will help determine replacement value, or resale value. A good appraisal will check the grade of the diamond, its color and clarity. It may also give you an idea what gold alloy the ring itself is made from. A GIA report will give you an appraisal of a gemstone's authenticity, color, and grade.

• Pearls can be damaged by the chafing of the clothes you wear.
• Pearls can also be damaged by heat or lack of air.
• Diamonds may be harder than glass, however they can chip and loose their shape if you use them to cut glass.
• Some lower price stones are given color by exposing them to radiation!
• Amber stones imperfections are more valuable when they have an imperfection like a mosquito inside them!
• A large ruby can be more expensive than a comparable size diamond.
• Over a hundred years ago jewelry was made with human hair.
• Jewelry should be put on after you put on cosmetics to prevent damage.

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