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How to Shop for Jewelry Online
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By Reynold Cummings
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If you're considering a gift of jewelry for someone special oras a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms usedin the industry.
1. Gold Gold means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24Kgold is soft, it's usually mixed with other metals to increaseits durability and hardness. If a piece of jewelry is not 24karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim thatthe item is gold.
2. Platinum, Silver and Other Metals Platinum is a preciousmetal that costs more than gold. It is usually mixed with othersimilar metals: iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium andosmium. Different markings are used on platinum jewelry ascompared with gold jewelry. These quality markings are based onthe amount of pure platinum in the piece - based on parts perthousand.
3. Gemstones Natural gemstones are found in nature.Laboratory-created stones are made in a laboratory. These stoneshave essentially the same chemical, physical and visualproperties as natural gemstones. Laboratory-created stones donot have the rarity of naturally colored stones and they areless expensive than naturally mined stones. By contrast,imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only,and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Gemstones maybe measured by weight, size, or both. The basic unit forweighing gemstones is the carat.
4. Diamonds A diamond's value is based on four criteria: color,cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamondusually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a claritygrade of "slightly included" may represent a different grade onone grading system versus another, depending on the terms usedin the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale andgrade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you'reconsidering. A diamond is described as "flawless" if it has novisible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader. Diamondweight is usually stated in carats.
5. Pearls Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and othermollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but withhuman intervention. Because natural pearls are very rare, mostpearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls.Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organicmaterials. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters ormollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pearls. Acultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usuallystated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating,which gives it luster. Jewelers will usually tell you if thepearls are cultured or imitation.
To get the best deal on a piece of jewelry for yourself orsomeone you love, shop around. You should compare quality,price, and service. If you're not familiar with any jewelers inyour area, ask family members, friends, and co-workers forrecommendations.
Always check for the appropriate markings on metal jewelry andfind out if the pearls are natural, cultured, laboratory-createdor imitation. Also, Find out whether the gemstone has beentreated. Is the change permanent? Is special care required?
Shop with companies you know or do some homework before buyingto make sure a company is legitimate before doing business withit. Get the details about the product, as well as the merchant'srefund and return policies, before you buy. Look around thewebsite for an address to write to or a phone number to call ifyou have a question, a problem or need help.
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