Buying gemstone and diamond jewelery:
- Budget - Establish a range.
- Research - The more you learn, the more likely you
are to get exactly what you are looking for and to get
it at the right price.
- Trends - For major purchases, stay with traditional
elegance.
- Look carefully at what part of the price is in the setting. Consider buying stones and metal separately if it makes sense.
- Don't shop at stores with coded prices, usually characterized
by "price tags" with alphanumerics instead
of real prices. It is an opportunity for salespeople
to take advantage of individual customers
- Be careful about terms like Total Carat Weight, Carat
Weight Total, CWT, Ct. TW. These terms
are calling out the total of multiple diamonds in the
piece.
Example - one big diamond and 2 smaller diamonds might
read as 2 Ct TW. Don't believe the big diamond
is 2 Ct. All 3 diamonds combine to weigh 2 carats.
That can make a big difference.
- Setting - don't scrimp on one. A strong setting will
protect your investment.
