Tips for Buying Jewellery on
Online Shopping Portals
The jewelry market is one of the most complex markets in the world with literally thousands of types of jewelries from rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and the list could go on. Online shopping offers the buyer the possibility to choose from hundreds of shops without going from store to store and wasting a lot of time searching for the perfect jewelry.
Sterling sliver jewelries are becoming more and more popular among jewelry buyers because they come at an affordable price and also stand out from all other jewelry due to the purity of the silver which is quite exquisite. These jewelries are the perfect compromise between cheap jewelries and very the very expensive ones which aren’t accessible to the regular buyer due to the fact that they come at a big price.
Lots of online shops offer this kind of jewelry for potential buyers which is a great alternative to other types of jewelries due to the fact that quality can be found at an affordable price. Whether your looking for an engagement ring or a necklace, sterling silver jewelries come in all shapes and sizes, satisfying everyone’s tastes, making them an ideal solution for a present.
Another advantage of online jewelry shopping is that you don’t have to stand in line when you want to purchase something also online shops are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Besides this, many online shops have special offers from time to time, price cuts and other similar advantages which put them in front of regular shops.
On many online jewelry shops you can find comments from customers which bought products from that shop, this is a great way to find out what other people think about the products available which will help you decide whether to buy or not from that shop.
Also, online jewelry shops have a contact section where you can ask questions about the products available, this is a great way to find out more information about a specific product like its availability, shipping, payments and other similar questions.
Well developed jewelry websites present their products in a very professional matter, giving the visitor a clear idea about that specific product. Complete information can be found on this sites regarding all of their products making the buyer’s life easier because they can have all the information they need about a certain product so they can easily decide which product to buy.
All in all, combining online jewelry shopping with sterling silver jewelries you get the perfect way to make an ideal present to your love ones, at a reasonable price. Just by clicking a few mouse buttons you will make someone’s life way more happier, with a sterling silver jewelry.
Shopping Gold Jewellery
Gold is among the most loved precious metals in the world. It’s a wonderful ornament to wear as well as a great hedge against inflation and falling markets. Another significant attribute of gold is that it can be liquidated easily around the world.
For us Indians, gold is a symbol of purity, prosperity and opulence. But how well do you know your gold jewellery and what things should you keep in mind while buying gold ornaments?
Here’s what you need to know – Tips when buying Gold Jewellery.
1) Understand that there are variations in gold that affect its purity, quality and price - the main factors to consider include purity, gram weight and design.
2) Purity - When it comes to purity, most gold has markings inside that indicate its Caratage.
Pure gold is too soft to use it as jewellery. So it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability. The most common ‘Carat’ options are 18 K, 22K or 24 K.
The higher the number, the higher the purity of the gold.
| Carats | Fineness (of 1000) | Purity (%) |
Comments |
| 24 | 999 | 99.9% | Pure gold |
| 23 | 990 | 99.0% | Minimum allowed for pure gold jewellery. Popular in China |
| 22 | 916 | 91.6% | Popular in India |
| 21 | 875 | 87.5% | Popular in Middle East |
| 19.2 | 800 | 80.0% | Standard in Portugal |
| 18 | 750 | 75.0% | Standard international caratage |
| 14 | 585 | 58.5% | 583/58.3% in US |
Source: World Gold Council
3) Price - The price of gold jewellery is determined by the purity of the gold, which alloy it is combined with, and by the amount of skill and labour that goes into the piece – the higher the skill and labour, the higher the making charges.
4) Colour - Gold has many variations. In addition to yellow gold, white gold and rose gold are also popular options. You can also find many two-tone styles, if you prefer a mix of colors.
Combining pure gold with other metals creates a new and diverse colour palette. Mixing in white metals, such as palladium or silver in combination, creates white gold, now the overwhelming choice for wedding bands in the US. The inclusion of copper results in the soft pink complexion of rose gold. And gold can now be created in a spectrum of other colours, such as green, purple and even black.
But the greatest demand for gold around the world remains for yellow gold, warm, rich, and subtle - the ultimate in precious metals.
5) Identification - In many countries including India, local law requires that every item of gold jewellery bears a clear stamp indicating its caratage. This identification is often controlled through a hallmarking system.
Branded Jewellers usually stamp the jewellery themselves, displaying both their own identifying mark and the caratage or ‘fineness’ of each piece.
Government of India' has identified BIS as a sole agency and The BIS Hallmarking Scheme has been aligned with International criteria on hallmarking (Vienna Convention 1972). As per this scheme, licence is granted to the jewellers by BIS under Hallmarking Scheme. The BIS certified jewellers can get their jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. (Know more about BIS hallmark certification here)
6) Jeweller’s Reputation - Buying gold is based on trust and you are building a lifelong relationship with the jeweller. Ensure that brand is well established and has proven reliability and authenticity.
All that Glitters is Gold!
Keep your gold jewellery fresh and clean, and always glittering like new! In the next article, we shall cover simple but important tips for looking after your gold jewellery.
