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Ten Things Your Jeweler Would Not Want You To Know
Buying jewelry is not free of risks and flaws. There are many things that a
jeweler doesn't want you to know when he/she sells you jewelry. Wise men have
already said, 'all that glitters is not gold' and 'every stone that sparkles
isn't a diamond'. Here's a checklist of the things that your jeweler wouldn't
want you to know.
Diamond Jewelry Can't Ever Be On Sale
Every day you are exposed to sales advertisements at your local jewelry stores.
Temptation to splurge on that diamond ring you saw the other day is strong
because it is on sale after all – right. Wrong! There is no such thing as a
diamond sale. Did you know that DeBeers control 65% of all cut or uncut diamond
supply across the world and they regulate the supply as desired? This helps the
market to never get oversaturated nor allows the prices to fall down. But
coming back to diamond sale; only diamonds that are "flawed" (less brilliance,
less valuable) are sold in a sale.
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Beautified "Perfect" Diamond
New scientific developments have proved to that diamonds can be enhanced to
appear "perfect." Some of these methods of enhancing the appearance of the
diamonds include:
Fracture filling - a treatment that is used to fill visible cracks in the stone
with a glasslike substance. It makes the stone look more expensive than it
really is and is not a long lasting treatment.
Artificial stones - Sometime artificial stones are passed off as real diamonds
because they appear just like the real thing. These are sold off at the price
of real diamonds. Always ensure your diamond is legit and check that there is a
return policy before you buy any piece of jewelry.
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Dyed Precious Colored Stones
Natural colored, precious stones such as emeralds, rubies, sapphires are
increasingly becoming rare. Many of these stones are likely to be treated with
techniques like heating or oiling to enhance their appearance. Just make sure
you ask the salesperson before buying, and try to get them appraised externally
if possible.
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Blood Diamonds From Africa
Diamonds from countries such as Sierra Leone, Angola, or the Congo are mined
using slave laborers. Some of this money also funds warlords who use it to buy
weapons to kill innocent civilians. It may not be possible for your jeweler to
tell you the origin of the diamond as it changes many hands. Besides, there is
no way to certify that a diamond is "conflict-free."
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Be Careful When Buying Diamonds Online
Online shopping for jewelry is not very popular yet. The images displayed on
the websites are very different from what you wind up with. Additionally,
return policies are problematic, while many websites just disappear. Only buy
from sites that offer you a full refund within a decent timeframe. Oh! If you
don't find any information about the treatment of stones, don't bother buying
them.
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Shiny Beads = Pearls?
There are natural pearls and then there are cultured pearls. Natural pears are
rare and very expensive, while cultured pearls are available easily. A good
pearl has a thick nacre or the lustrous coating that covers its nucleus. Thick
nacre means more glow, and a purer pearl. Stay away from pearl jewelry that is
sold around $150, as these are artificial and spoil soon.
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Extended Jewelry Warranties Are A Burden
Extended warranties sold by jewelry stores cost from a few dollars to a few
hundreds. These warranties are a burden and cover only partial loss. You'd be
better off buying a new insurance policy that can protect your jewelry against
all kinds of loss including theft, death by garbage disposal etc.
Remember, caution is the key to buying good jewelry. So research properly
before you buying a piece of jewelry and stay safe.
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