Jewelry is a great gift to give during the holidays because when taken care of, it can last several lifetimes. Also, whenever he or she wears it, they will think of you! Unfortunately, not all jewelry being advertised to you is created equal. Here are some jewelry shopping tips to be aware of.
· Karat of Gold: Karat of gold, often abbreviated as kt., refers to the percentage of gold in the jewelry piece. For instance, 14kt has 58.5% gold with the rest being other metals, and 18kt has 75% of gold content. The price of the piece can vary when all other things are equal based on the amount of gold content. Be sure to read the description or ask what karat the piece is before buying.
· Gold Plating/Gold Filled: When you see a jewelry price that seems too good to be true, read the fine print! Often, you will see “14kt gold plated,” which means it is sterling silver or a base metal with a thin, yellow color coating the piece. “14kt gold filled” means that it is a very thin layer of gold infused on the piece, it does not go all the way through. The plating will come off with regular wear, and a gold filled item cannot be sized or repaired. Read the fine print!
· Hollow Chains vs Solid Chains: Solid gold chains will have a higher price tag than hollow gold chains because there is more gold in it. A hollow chain is sort of like a wrapping paper tube, if you bend or dent it, there is no fixing it. It will also wear through and break at certain parts with regular wear, and it cannot be fixed. A solid gold chain will wear much longer before needing repair maintenance and solid gold chains can be repaired. If a chain feels too light, it is probably hollow.
· Single Cut Diamonds vs Brilliant Cut Diamonds: To bring the price down on jewelry, manufacturers will often use single cut diamonds and not brilliant cut diamonds. The difference between the two is the cut and sparkle factor! Single cut diamonds have 18 facets (or cuts), while brilliant cuts have 58 facets. Single cuts are often not cut or polished very well either.
From design to construction, I make sure you are getting a great piece of jewelry when you work with me. I would love to help you with your holiday jewelry! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:
One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)
Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)
Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 27 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)
Learn more about me and my process: www.AngelaCisneros.com
Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.AngelaCisneros.com/book-appointment
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