What Should You Look for in Quality Jewelry?
It can be challenging to choose jewelry for yourself or to surprise that special someone. With so many con artists selling fake jewelry on the streets and online stores, you need adequate information to choose quality.
Nothing is disheartening as spending money on imitation when looking for a genuine piece. You can ruin your anniversary, birthday, or holiday mood if you choose the wrong jewelry.
Just like it can be really hard at first to choose an online casino like Intertops poker bonus (there are just so many!) it can be hard to find the right place to buy your jewelry. What should you look for when choosing jewelry to ensure it is quality? This article provides practical tips and tricks to avoid fake jewelry.
1. Check the reputation of the seller
Before jumping to an offer in an online store like eBay and Shpock or Facebook Marketplace, ensure you know the seller as a reputable jeweler. While you can get an excellent deal on these sites, the sites do not moderate who is selling, which means anybody can sell.
Check the seller’s reviews and see what other buyers say about their products and services. Unmoderated selling sites are an ideal breeding ground for fake dealers, hence the need for vigilance.
You want to ensure the seller is a respected jeweler even if they charge higher prices for their products. Another advantage of choosing a reputable seller is that you can return the jewelry if you notice any defects or lodge a complaint for a refund.
2. Examine the branding
You can check for their hallmark if you know a designer and the brand, especially when buying high-end jewelry. Although many imitations may look authentic from a distance, you will likely notice the difference at a close range.
Examine the fonts, spellings, and layout to ensure the jewelry you pay for matches the designer’s hallmark.
3. Check the quality
You will likely notice the quality giveaways for a fake item. When you look closely at the gem, do you see a construction that is on point? If you have any doubt, trust your gut!
If you buy a necklace or bracelet, examine the link- genuine jewelry should be smooth with a solid look, not pinched. And if you are checking for the authenticity of a stone, check its mounting and settings.
Fake costume jewelry’s stones are often glued rather than properly mounted. Vigilance is required to identify these errors; otherwise, you can make a grave mistake. When shopping for quality jewelry, do not be in a hurry!
4. Take a look at the stones
While it is easy to identify bad quality jewelry, a perfectly arranged gemstone could indicate a fake. Genuine gemstones are imperfect, and you can recognize naturally formed flecks on the stones.
For instance, if you are going for diamonds, look for the natural imperfections within the stone through a magnifying glass. Fake precious diamonds are made by mixing glass and plastic. If you look closely, they are often overly smooth, lacking the natural imperfections of a real gem.
5. Documentation or certification
If you buy jewelry with genuine diamonds or expensive gemstones, you should be given a certificate proving its authenticity. The document could be from the IGI, EGL, or GIA. Don’t accept the jewelry if it does not arrive with an authentication certificate!
Additionally, ensure you check other accompanying documents for the jewelry, including the manufacturer’s details, care tips, and cleaning manual. Check the printing quality on these documents, spelling, and grammar used- poor quality documents and certifications often accompany fake items.
6. The style of the jewelry
Are you looking for vintage jewelry to put a smile on the face of your lifetime partner? Analyze the jewelry style to determine if it is vintage or not. Jewelry is like fashion; they represent or reflect different eras.
For instance, if the seller is presenting you with vintage jewelry made between 1900 and 1930, the jewelry should feature a white-colored metal that resembles silver. Jewelry made during WWII will likely feature gold bound with silver because gold was in short supply. Having these details can help you differentiate fake from genuine vintage jewelry.
7. Evaluate the weight of the jewelry
Examining the weight of the jewelry is vital when purchasing bangles and chains. Genuine gold and silver are often heavier than the imitations made from pewter and brass. Do you have a genuine gold chain? Use its weight to help you identify fake ones.
If you are presented with a thicker gold bangle or chain but feel lighter than what you have, you know they are probably fake or made from hollow gold. Furthermore, genuine gold chains often feel smooth, consistent, and heavy.
For example, if you see a gold-colored chain with a silvery or darker color showing on other parts of the chain, it is likely gold-plated and not valuable.
Fake gold-plated jewelry gives silvery or dark color when they wear out. On the other hand, solid gold or platinum jewelry retains its color even if it wears down.
8. No fillers
Poor quality jewelry is filled with fillers. Some companies mix genuine and less valuable metals to shave off valuable weight, making the jewelry less authentic. They use fillers to cover the spaces in the gemstone.
These companies want to save on production costs but end up making jewelry with high risks of infection. These low-grade metal fillers, such as nickel, irritate the skin of those with nickel sensitivity. You do well to avoid this jewelry at all costs.
9. Mirror finish
High-quality jewelry has a mirror finish on its body. This finish beautifies the item on your skin, making you look incredibly elegant. However, fake jewelry has an element of roughness or imperfection that can irritate your skin, causing inflammation and other harmful things.
Mirror finish is essential, especially if you hang the jewelry through a piercing that has not fully healed. Fake jewelry may exacerbate the scar. Therefore, ensure your jewelry is shining bright like a diamond.
Final words
The jewelry world is filled with genuine and fake items in equal measure. If you do not do your due diligence, you can become a victim of scams and spend thousands of dollars on a fake. Therefore, thoroughly examine the jewelry you want to buy and ensure your dealer is a reputable jeweler; otherwise, you may buy a fake item.
