Showing posts with label jewelry shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry shopping. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Jewelry Gift for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is equated to hearts by lots of gift shoppers. While heart shaped jewelry is certainly appropriate, it’s also nice to sometimes shop out of the box for any major gift-giving event.

Casual Dating Jewelry for Valentine’s Day

It’s never recommended that jewelry be given for Valentine’s Day if the dating situation is not committed. It just sends the wrong message. If the giver is more serious about the relationship than the recipient is, it’s an awkward situation. If the recipient is more serious about the relationship than the giver, then the wrong message is being sent. This is unfair to the recipient.

Always Shop for Jewelry With a Budget in Mind

Just because the diamond industry has that goofy two-month salary guideline in place for engagement rings doesn’t mean the consumer has to follow along like a zombie. Anyone who truly cares for the gift giver will not want them to go into debt to buy a piece of jewelry. Settle on a dollar amount that’s presently in the wallet, available to be spent. Don’t deviate from that amount.

Non-Traditional Jewelry Gifts That Don’t Break the Budget

It’s not necessary to give karated gold and precious gemstones to show love and caring for Valentine’s Day. It’s easy to come up with a perfect jewelry gift idea if the giver keeps their eyes open and notices what type of jewelry their sweetheart likes to wear. For example, meaningful charms for someone who wears a charm bracelet or necklace will always be appreciated. One idea might be a charm representing the first date. If ice skating was on the agenda – a pair of skates.

If the couple went out for sushi, a charm in the shape of sushi or chop sticks. The market used to be flooded with sushi shaped charms. They are somewhat harder to find today. However, there is normally at least one vendor on eBay selling these types of charms.

Funky, interesting looking costume jewelry is another suggestion. If it’s noted a particular color is a favorite, see what type of costume jewelry is available to coordinate with that color. If buying earrings make sure to find out if pierced or clip on earrings are favorites. Please note: don't give a gift in a color the recipient never wears. There's a reason why they never wear it; they don't like it.

Keep the Receipt

Always make sure there is a backup plan and keep the receipt so the gift can be exchanged or returned. This is not a harbinger of a pre-Valentine’s Day breakup but just a practical suggestion. For example, the jewelry might have a faulty clasp that's only noticed with use. It's always best to plan for the worst and keep that receipt.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

What To Remember When Buying Gold Jewelry



Jewelry fashion is dynamic. Jewelers are always coming up with new designs and new materials from which jewelry can be fashioned. Even stunning pieces of jewelry may lose their popularity after a few years. Gold jewelry however is always in fashion. Jewelry collectors and even simple wearers like gold because it is beautiful and long lasting. Gold does not discolor because it almost never reacts with any other material. Rarely is someone allergic to gold so it always a good choice to go for gold.

When you are considering buying gold jewelry, you have to be familiar with the terminologies used. The purity of gold is measured in karats and the mark on the ring indicating this is a number followed by K (such as 24K, 18K, 12K). K stands for karat. 24K is pure gold. 18K is a mixture of 18 parts gold and 6 parts of a metal or a mixture of metals, making 18K 75% gold. 14K is 14 parts gold and 10 parts of a metal or a mixture of metals, making it 58.3% gold. The percentage of gold for 12K and 10K jewelries is also computed in the same way. In the United States, 10K is the minimum karat used in gold jewelries. Europe marks its gold jewelry differently. When the jewelry is 18K, it is marked 750 in Europe, indicating that it is 75% gold. 14K jewelry is marked 583 and 12K, 500, for 58.3% and 50% respectively.



Most gold jewelries should have a mark identifying its maker. This is really helpful when choosing your jewelry pieces. You might consider doing your research on gold jewelers before purchasing any jewelry. This way, you have a basic idea on jewelers that you prefer. If the piece you’re considering doesn’t have a trademark, it is better to look for another one.

Gold is not always alloyed with other metals. Sometimes it is just used as a coating for a base metal. Gold filled jewelries have a layer of karat gold wrapped around a base metal. The base metal used may vary. The gold content should be indicated on the piece such as 1/20 12K G.F. This indicates that the jewelry is 1/20th 12K gold by weight. Gold overlay and rolled gold plate are also terms used to indicate that a layer of gold (a minimum of 10 karats) is electronically bonded to a base metal. Abbreviations such as 12K Gold Overlay or 14K RGP indicates the percentage of gold used and the process of binding the gold to the metal. Gold plated jewelries are also available and the coating is usually thinner than in gold – filled jewelries so they easily fade.

When buying gold jewelry choose solid gold (even alloys are called solid gold) when you intend to wear it frequently. Gold-filled and gold-plated jewelries should be considered when they are only to be worn occasionally.

Source: What To Remember When Buying Gold Jewelry

What To Remember When Buying Gold Jewelry



Jewelry fashion is dynamic. Jewelers are always coming up with new designs and new materials from which jewelry can be fashioned. Even stunning pieces of jewelry may lose their popularity after a few years. Gold jewelry however is always in fashion. Jewelry collectors and even simple wearers like gold because it is beautiful and long lasting. Gold does not discolor because it almost never reacts with any other material. Rarely is someone allergic to gold so it always a good choice to go for gold.

When you are considering buying gold jewelry, you have to be familiar with the terminologies used. The purity of gold is measured in karats and the mark on the ring indicating this is a number followed by K (such as 24K, 18K, 12K). K stands for karat. 24K is pure gold. 18K is a mixture of 18 parts gold and 6 parts of a metal or a mixture of metals, making 18K 75% gold. 14K is 14 parts gold and 10 parts of a metal or a mixture of metals, making it 58.3% gold. The percentage of gold for 12K and 10K jewelries is also computed in the same way. In the United States, 10K is the minimum karat used in gold jewelries. Europe marks its gold jewelry differently. When the jewelry is 18K, it is marked 750 in Europe, indicating that it is 75% gold. 14K jewelry is marked 583 and 12K, 500, for 58.3% and 50% respectively.



Most gold jewelries should have a mark identifying its maker. This is really helpful when choosing your jewelry pieces. You might consider doing your research on gold jewelers before purchasing any jewelry. This way, you have a basic idea on jewelers that you prefer. If the piece you’re considering doesn’t have a trademark, it is better to look for another one.

Gold is not always alloyed with other metals. Sometimes it is just used as a coating for a base metal. Gold filled jewelries have a layer of karat gold wrapped around a base metal. The base metal used may vary. The gold content should be indicated on the piece such as 1/20 12K G.F. This indicates that the jewelry is 1/20th 12K gold by weight. Gold overlay and rolled gold plate are also terms used to indicate that a layer of gold (a minimum of 10 karats) is electronically bonded to a base metal. Abbreviations such as 12K Gold Overlay or 14K RGP indicates the percentage of gold used and the process of binding the gold to the metal. Gold plated jewelries are also available and the coating is usually thinner than in gold – filled jewelries so they easily fade.

When buying gold jewelry choose solid gold (even alloys are called solid gold) when you intend to wear it frequently. Gold-filled and gold-plated jewelries should be considered when they are only to be worn occasionally.

Source: What To Remember When Buying Gold Jewelry