Community News
Holiday Jewelry Shopping Tips by Andy Feist, Premier Diamonds
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hristmas! What an exciting time of year. Carols, cookies, Santa, overly-excited children, family, and, of course, the gifts. For the most part they’re easy—sweater for granddad, toys for the kids, and jewelry for that special someone. But when it comes to jewelry, where do you start? With the many different styles and qualities available, there’s just too many options. So, we’ve made it easy for you and provided six ideas for a fun and successfully jewelry buying experience. 1. Use a jeweler you trust. Perhaps you have a family jeweler. If not, a referral is best. Ask your friends and coworkers. Surely someone has had a positive experience with a jeweler they are happy to pass on to you. If you feel pressured in the process, then move on. Don’t be shy about asking lots of questions. Listen carefully to the answers. If they don’t know, can’t find out, or the answer doesn’t make sense—it might be time to move on to another jewelry provider. 2. If you are wanting custom work, start early! In fact, the best advice is to start early no matter what you are looking for. As it gets closer to Christmas, the selection decreases. 3. Set a realistic budget and stick to it. If you discover that your budget will not purchase what you would like, be prepared to go to “plan B” gift-wise. If the budget is flexible, then move forward. 6
4. When in doubt, buy quality. This is a great reminder when buying jewelry: “Long after the price is forgotten the quality is remembered”. If purchasing a diamond, find out if it has a “diamond grading report”. Is it GIA or another lab? GIA is universally recognized as the best and strictest. You pay a premium for a GIA-certified diamond, but you’ll get a stone that is usually properly graded. Beware of the web! Purchasing a diamond, pearls, or precious colored gems is not like buying tires. Each stone is unique. Quality can vary greatly, even with stones of the same weight and grade. Precious stones really need to be seen and compared in person. 5. Be sure to ask about the store’s return policy. Know if and when your purchase can be returned and, if it can, if you’ll get a full refund or a store credit. If your special present is custom made, find out your options. You may not have any. Knowledge is key. 6. If a deal is too good to be true……it probably is! There is no free lunch. Good luck shopping for jewelry this holiday season—but most importantly, have fun picking out that perfect gift for that perfect somebody in your life! Andy Feist lives in Canyon Creek and owns Premier Diamonds.
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