Tips on How to Save Money When Buying Jewelry and Rings Jewelry, including engagement rings, women’s wedding bands, and men’s wedding bands, can be costly if you are not sure what to look for or what you can do to save some money. Alaska Jewelry is pleased to provide information to help you become a savvier shopper and avoid being duped. There are numerous ways you can save money if you are on a budget and want nice looking pieces but cannot afford to break the bank. Shop Online – Most locally owned jewelers with an online jewelry store do not have the huge overheads as retailers and chains with numerous locations. As a result, they tend to offer lower prices on many different pieces and types of jewelry. 1.
Avoid Chain Jewelry Stores – The big chains might seem like they would provide you with the best discounts. However, that is misleading, as big chains have higher overhead and operating costs, which they make up for by marking their items up higher compared to locally owned and operated jewelry stores, like Alaska Jewelry. 2.
Consider Silver Jewelry with Gold Nugget Accents and Inlays – The cost of gold can be expensive for some people, in addition to the type of setting and gemstones they desire in the piece. An inlayed gold nugget ring with a silver band costs less compared to a gold ring with gold nugget inlays. 3.
Verify Gem Stones Are Certified – Ask the jewelry to provide details on the source of the gemstones, and processes used to treat the stones. Some jewelers will use specific processes to try to hide imperfections, like using silicon or colored glass, which can make a flawed stone look better. This might be acceptable and help save money, as long as the jeweler fully discloses this information. 4.
Bigger Stones Are Not Always Better – It is easy for some people to get caught up on the size of the stone and not consider the cut, clarity, and color, too. There are many large stones out there that are less valuable due to certain flaws, compared to smaller stones with fewer flaws. Skilled jewelers can also use crafting processes to make smaller stones look bigger, as well as minimize the appearance of flaws. 5.
Consider Other Gemstones Besides Diamonds – It is possible to have a nice looking engagement ring, wedding ring, or other piece of jewelry by using alternative gemstones that are less expensive than diamonds or a combination of smaller cut diamonds and other stones. Popular alternatives to Diamonds would be Sapphire or natural Alexandrite engagement rings. 6.
Flaws Can Be Hidden in Settings – It is easy to hide imperfections in stones by color matching the metal of the setting to the stone. For instance, Diamonds with a color grade below J should be set in a yellow gold head. The diamond will look yellow next to white gold or Platinum, but appear bright white next to yellow gold. Also, if a stone has a visible inclusion 7.
near its edge, a skilled jeweler will position the stone so that the inclusion is hidden behind a prong or bezel. Whether you are shopping on a budget and want to save money on jewelry or want to ensure you are getting the best quality possible, remember to use the above tips and suggestions to your advantage.