7 Tips for Successful Holiday Diamond and Gemstone Jewelry Shopping
The holiday season is approaching fast and furious, with Christmas only a few weeks away. Whether you’re shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, or some other winter holiday, you’re sure to be on the lookout for deals and special purchases to help you stretch your hard-earned cash.
Before you begin your shopping, especially if you’re looking to gift sparkly jewelry this holiday season, you may want to keep a few things in mind. While price is certainly an important component of the gift-buying experience, there are other factors that can make the difference between a highly satisfying or disappointing jewelry-buying experience.
To that end, we’ve got seven smart seasonal shopping tips for you to consider:
Shop around: This year will definitely be a challenge for some consumers in light of current economic conditions. However, tough times for retailers mean there will be plenty of bargains waiting for savvy shoppers. Prices for many luxury items, including jewelry, haven’t been this low in years, giving the opportunistic shopper a great opportunity to get more sparkle for less money.
Compare stores: should you shop at the mall or should you shop online? Many consumers do both, but have grown accustomed to shopping online to find the best values. Online jewelry stores offer a wide selection of diamonds, pearls, silver, gold, gemstones, and other desirable gift items. However, not all stores have a wide selection and not all stores pass on your savings to you. Online prices should be lower, especially if you’re dealing directly with the jeweler instead of going through a middleman. Plus, select online merchants operate with lower overhead than brick-and-mortar stores and pass these savings back to you, the consumer.
Browse Inventory: If money is tight, but you still want to buy your significant other a memorable gift, consider choosing a slightly lower grade metal or gem. Instead of a platinum band, why not go with white gold? If you buy a diamond, which of the four C’s do you value most: cut, clarity, color or carat weight? If cut is most important, consider choosing a diamond with a lower carat weight. Even a slight variation in size from what you would like to purchase could provide a stunning sparkler diamond that will win your approval.
Consider silver: Silver prices have stabilized and are certainly much lower than gold. Silver is also in fashion and something you may very well prefer to other precious metals. To that end, the Hot Diamonds collection is one of the trendiest and most sought after designs, offering a unique look at affordable prices. Special note to the ladies: Hot Diamonds also has a collection of cufflinks, necklaces, rings and bracelets for the man in your life!
Look for Pearls – Once only royalty and the wealthy were within arm’s reach, pearls are now plentiful thanks to modern farming techniques. As a result, prices for cultured pearls have dropped considerably and continue to fall, especially for smaller pearls. Prices are determined by size, color, gloss, quality, shape, and surface markings. Compare various strands, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and studs to find the perfect pearl jewelry for your loved one.
Gemstone Trading: If you know she has her eye on diamonds, but your budget is closer to topaz, why not commit? There are many designer jewelers that mix and match gemstones, adding a ruby with a diamond and a pearl to create a fabulous and stunningly alluring design that will take your breath away. Best of all, when she shops online, she’ll save money and, in some cases, she won’t be charged sales tax!
Estimate time: The last tip is more for your emotional well-being: relax! When shopping for the perfect diamond ring or exquisite pearl drop earrings or other gift item, you just don’t want to rush. An eager shopper is a dissatisfied consumer, one who will doubt his decision and regret his purchase. If you’re not sure what to buy, contact a trained jewelry expert who will be happy to guide you through the buying process. If she’s shopping for diamond jewelry, she can design whatever she wants, allowing her to play an important role in the gift-buying experience.
The holidays are coming soon and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you bought the right gift at the right price for the person who means the most to your life.