1. Go and buy from reputable dealers.

2. Take up promotional offers and discounts. Some of them are well worth it.

3. Always insist on warranties from dealers. If the product in question are from the upper class stuffs(e.g diamonds), the certificate of authenticity must be included as well.

4. When choosing diamonds and semi precious stones, look for well cut ones. Badly cut stones will have irregular looking patterns; minor chips and flakes might even be discovered when observed through a magnifying glass.




5. Diamonds and precious stones( either semi or otherwise) will not refract all the 7 colours of the rainbow. They will only produce the fires of their respective original colours.

6. When choosing for pearls, look for well rounded and unblemished ones. Real pearls will be kind of soft and springy when bitten with teeth while imitation pearls will be hard and unyielding, and they feel like glass or plastic.Be well aware that pearls, however authentic they may be, cannot last forever. Ordinarily, pearls will lose some of its luster some 8-10 years after it is bought. Pearls are also not meant for everyday wear, as acidic bodily sweat and other harsh environmental factors might erode its surface, eccelerating the lackluster appearance of the pearl in question.


7. The authenticity of amber can be tested by slightly applying it with a heated pin. This test is preferably done at inconspicuous nooks and crannies of the stone as this test might slightly deface it. A real pice of amber would invariably produce woody and resinous smelling fumes. Fake plastic ones will not have this effect.

8. The cheaper alternative for diamonds would be cubic zirconia. Note that cubic zirconias are nearly as hard as diamonds, and the fire they produce are great too.

9. The cheaper alternative for platinum would be rhodium, as rhodium looks nearly like platinum and is widely available at a fraction of the cost .

10. Precautions must be taken when choosing for silver, as some badly treated silver will darken quickly. Italian silver is encouraged if you wish for a long lasting wear.

11. The bright counter display lamps always serves to enhance the beauty of the product. But this is not a good thing indeed as it can confuse you and degrade your sense of judgement. Tell the shop assistants to turn the display lamps off when you want to view a piece of jewellery, so as to avoid disappointment when you get to examine it real closely at home.

The delightful were pictures taken from wikipedia.

Labels: amber, cubic zirconia, diamond, pearl, platinum, rhodium, silver