If you currently don’t have a trusted jeweler and are unsure where to go to acquire fine jewelry, you can follow the 5 points outlined today to determine if you have made the right choice for a quality jewelry store.
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What is Quality Jewelry and Why Choose It
Quality jewelry is synonymous with a trusted jeweler—a place where you can confidently purchase jewelry knowing that you will find exactly what you are looking for, crafted with excellent results.
In a quality jewelry store, the pieces are made from noble metals such as gold, white gold, or platinum, and they are meticulously crafted by expert jewelers to ensure each piece is created to achieve the best outcome and maximum durability.
In the world of jewelry, there are many different ways and techniques to achieve the same result. However, the choice of method can lead to either high-quality jewelry or simple pieces with poor materials and finishes that won’t stand the test of time.
Additionally, a quality jewelry store is one that offers fair pricing for its pieces. You will never find costume jewelry or silver items alongside gold jewelry in such a store, as it would undermine the reputation of the latter. On the other hand, a quality jewelry store won’t overcharge you simply because of its name or, at times, presumed fame.
Aside from the quality of the jewelry offered, customer service is also an essential factor to consider. In a quality jewelry store, you should feel comfortable and confident expressing the type and style of jewelry you want, and the staff should have a deep understanding of their products, allowing them to provide expert advice.
Now that we have a clear understanding of these concepts, let’s explore the indicators that can help you determine if the jewelry store you’ve chosen is of high quality.
Is the Price of Jewelry an Indicator of Quality?
Partially yes and partially no. The metals and gemstones used in jewelry have international market prices. In other words, all jewelry stores start with the same base prices for gold and diamonds, or other precious stones. This indicates that there is a normal price range, which includes the cost of labor for creating the jewelry.
If you come across a jewelry store offering significantly lower prices, you should be cautious. It’s possible that the items are silver with a thin gold plating, contain synthetic diamonds, or are produced in mass production facilities that use child labor or simply have poor quality. Such extremely low prices are impossible to achieve if the entire jewelry-making process is of high quality, as they would even be below the international market price of the raw materials used in the jewelry. Moreover, many online jewelry retailers outright misrepresent the products they offer.
On the contrary, a jewelry store that offers very high prices is not necessarily a sign of quality. It may be due to the brand name, but it could also be based on an alleged reputation, even if their jewelry is produced by industrial methods focused on minimizing costs, such as microfusion. This method is fast and allows for the production of many pieces, but it can result in porosity (small holes) in the metal, which can affect the appearance or, in severe cases, lead to jewelry breakage.
Thus, a quality jewelry store will have a fair average price for its pieces, and it’s important not to be swayed by extremes on either end of the spectrum.
The Physical Location of the Jewelry Store
The physical location of a jewelry store does not necessarily indicate higher or lower quality. As experienced jewelers with over 40 years of expertise, we are well aware of this fact.
There are centrally located jewelry stores in cities with elegant interior designs and spectacular layouts that charge a premium just for their prime location and store ambiance. In these stores, they may employ industrial production methods to reduce costs, ultimately compromising the quality of the jewelry to cover other expenses. Therefore, the location and store appearance do not guarantee quality; rather, they may result in higher prices relative to the jewelry’s actual value.
On the other hand, there are jewelry stores that are not as centrally located, or their stores are smaller and less lavish, but they employ expert jewelers who create high-quality pieces. These jewelry workshops do not need to invest astronomical sums in their location, and, as a result, their prices are not inflated. This allows them to offer superior quality at a fair price.
Who Has Assisted You in the Jewelry Store?
This point is of great importance and can truly indicate whether a jewelry store or workshop is of high quality. First and foremost, you should assess whether the owner is a certified jeweler with extensive knowledge. The business owner is responsible for the final decisions regarding the jewelry-making process. If they lack expertise in the field, their decisions may not consider the long-term consequences, not out of malice but due to ignorance.
It is equally important to consider who has assisted you in the jewelry store. You have the right to be served by knowledgeable individuals with extensive training who can provide proper guidance. For example, when choosing a ring, you should be informed that for individuals in manual professions, matte-finish rings will yield better results as minor dents are hardly noticeable, unlike polished rings. Such details and more are known only by certified jewelers, not by individuals with customer service training, no matter how friendly they may be. In the case of a jewelry workshop, being attended by a certified jeweler allows you to design a high-quality piece with their experience and advice. Otherwise, it would be impossible to create a quality piece.
It is also important that the individuals assisting you are well-versed in the materials used in the jewelry. Therefore, you can inquire about the carat value of the gold used, which should always be 18k, or the alloy used (gold is always mixed with other metals to impart ductility and malleability). In the case of white gold, it should always be an alloy of palladium or platinum, never alloys. For more information about quality jewelry, you can refer to another article that delves deeper into the subject.
What Do the Jewelry Store’s Windows Display?
The final point may be the most visually apparent and easiest to discern. When referring to a quality jewelry store, we are speaking of jewelry items that are also of high quality. Therefore, you should be wary when the store’s display features silver items, gold-plated pieces, or leather costume jewelry mixed with genuine jewelry.
Unfortunately, silver does not yield good results, as it is very soft and prone to deformation, which can loosen the prongs holding gemstones and cause them to fall out. Rings become misshapen, and earring stems may break. Moreover, silver is often manufactured in the East and is imported as a metal to bypass scrutiny. In the worst cases, to save the cost of polishing, it is given a nickel plating, which is highly allergenic. Even when coated with rhodium, since the layer is very thin, the nickel is exposed after little use. This is the typical scenario for people who claim to be allergic to silver. Additionally, if not diligently cared for, silver quickly loses its polish and oxidizes, turning black and losing its beautiful appearance.
The same applies to gold-plated costume jewelry; the actual metal is of low quality and may cause allergies. It can easily deform, be prone to breakage, and display marks from regular wear. Leather items fare even worse; leather wears out quickly, potentially tearing and causing the jewelry piece to be lost.
In the display of a quality jewelry store, you should only find high-quality jewelry made of 18kt gold with appropriate thickness to endure daily use. This assures that the store exclusively sells and recommends pieces that yield the best results for their customers.