Jewelry Buying Guide
If you have decided to give your special someone a nice piece of jewelry this festive season, then a whole new set of challenges awaits you. While jewelry itself can bring sheer delight to your near and dear ones, the difficult job is on you. How do you find the best quality jewelry at the right price? How do you know that you are not being taken for a ride? Unless you have a permanent jeweler whom you trust, you can easily be duped in case of precious gemstones. No reputed jeweler would do this, but you have to be wary of the ones who do it. So it is important that you possess at least a working knowledge about the various aspects of buying jewelry.
 30x6 2mm Green Emerald Topaz 18K White Gold Plated Pendant Stud Earrings Set  US $7.90
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 AU48 Yellow gold 10K hoop earrings small huggies jewelry earring pair US $22.50
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 Classic 18k gold filled Pear diamond cut crystal stud earring valentines day US $1.56
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 18K white gold filled double pear swarovski crystal dangle earring Hello Kity US $.99
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 ARINNA pearl rose Gold GP cute Fashion Earrings stud clear swarovski crystals US $5.99
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 Antique 14K Yellow Gold Seed Pearl Lapis Lazuli Dangle Drop Unique Earrings US $649.00
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 New 18k White Gold gp Earrings Fashion Jewelry use Swarovski Crystals E522 US $8.98
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 14 kt Gold Hoop Earrings US $71.50 |
 Haute Chocolate necklace Roundel pierced brown gold earrings US $53.00
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 18K Yellow Gold Filled CZ Jewelry Womens Charm Earrings US $2.25
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Choosing a setting
Choosing a setting or the mounting is the first step and will bring you one step closer to buying that perfect piece of jewelry for your loved ones. What are you looking for? On what occasions will the jewelry be worn? Rings and bracelets are the more chosen form of jewelry when compared to earrings. When you get into rings, you have another huge range of designs and settings to choose from. Is it a wedding ring? Well, then it will be worn everyday and you have to choose a design that can bear a lot of wear and tear, humidity etc. If you choose a thin fancy design for a wedding ring, then it might break off quite easily. The next part is for you to observe the jewelry carefully. Make sure that the back of the piece is smoothly designed. If there are rough edges or prongs, then it is an indicator of faulty workmanship. Try using a loupe to examine the prongs more closely. If the prong is holding a precious stone, then it is all the more reason for you to use a loupe.
 WONDERFUL BLACK ONYX GEMSTONE 925 SILVER CUFF BRACELET US $8.99
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 5 x Tibetan Silver Spit Happens Bib Pendant Dangle Beads Fit Charm Bracelet f270 US $.99
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 925silver fashion charming cross necklace bracelet set new gift US $1.56
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 NEW Beautiful Fold Over Enamel Bangle Bracelet Blue Silver US $.99
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 Square White AB Swarovski Crystal 925 Silver Loose Bead Fit Bracelet US $4.68
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 MARRA MAMBA 925 SILVER BRACELETSILVERRUSH2000243 US $37.00
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 PUGSTER® BEAD DADDY GIRL SILVER CHARM FOR BRACELET I49 US $.99
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 Created Sapphire Silver Plated Bracelet 8 1 4 US $1.56
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 2 pcs classy Tibetan Silver big cuffs Bracelets 75D US $2.01
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 Antique Silver Metal Flower Bead Adjustable Bangle Bracelet Charm Z012 US $2.99
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Gold Jewelry
Gold is one of the rarest and the most expensive metals on the planet. It is extremely soft and hence is ideal for jewelry. But this very softness of gold also works as a deterrent against it as it is subject to wear and tear easily. Hence gold is mixed with other metals to make it hard and durable. Gold is measured in weight. Karats abbreviated to K or KT. 24 Karat gold is the ultimate or the purest quality gold. 1K gold means 1/24 part gold, 12 karat gold is only 50% of pure gold and the remaining 50% is alloy and so on. There are minimum gold content standards for each country below which the piece of jewelry is not considered to be gold at all. In several countries the minimum gold content is 18k while in US and England, the minimum is 9 or 10 Karats. Most people mistake Karats with Carats which is another system of measurement used only to measure gemstones and nothing else. When you buy gold, ensure that you buy it only from a reputed jeweler and check the registered trademark of the manufacturer. Do not buy any piece of jewelry even if the jeweler insists on a bargain deal and underkarating.
Diamond and gemstones
Finally when it comes to diamonds and gemstones, there are several factors like carat, clarity, cut and color that are taken into account. The whitest diamond is usually the purest and the most expensive one. Apart from that the cut is another aspect that needs to be looked into. A properly cut diamond is the one that will throw out the maximum light after being exposed to it. The clarity of the diamond will also determine its price. Fortunately, there are grading systems in place which will give you a better idea about the diamond and its cost.
