Sparkle and fall
5 tips for buying jewelry for Valentine’s Day
SHOPPING for jewelry for a loved one ahead of Valentine’s Day can be stressful. But learning some tricks should help anyone have an easier time finding the perfect gift. That means understanding a partner’s tastes, shopping at reputable jewelry stores and learning what the wording means in terms of how gemstones are graded.
Start researching with time to spare, figure out how much you want to spend, and shop to take advantage of post-holiday sales or limited-time Valentine’s Day deals. Check out some some tips:
Know your loved one’s taste
Look at what your partner is wearing and what’s in the jewelry box. If your special someone likes small earrings, don’t get big hoops. And if that person is active, don’t buy rings with high settings. Among the trends this year: updated classics like hoop earrings with diamond chips, or layering rings or bracelets. If you plan to buy diamonds, see if there’s a way — subtly! — to find out if your partner would rather sacrifice size over quality or vice versa.
Research and learn the lingo
Learn about the Four Cs of diamonds: cut, color, clarity and carat. Check out sites like online retail sites like Blue Nile for help understanding key terms like what clarity means when you are talking about diamonds, or want to know more about how gemstones are graded. Also learn about the Four Cs of diamonds: cut, color, clarity and carat.
Take precautions against fraud
Be cautious about a store always offering discounts of more than 50 percent. Consumers may find the discount price is actually the average retail price elsewhere, says the Jewelers of America. Buy from a trusted retailer. Ask friends for recommendations.
Check out discounts
A number of shops, such as those in malls in Cebu, are holding sales promotions. Jewelry are sold for as much as 50 percent off. This early, start canvassing shops for the best deals and designs that best suit your loved ones tastes.
Consider synthetic diamonds
If you want something sparkly but want to avoid gems from conflict zones, synthetic or man-made diamonds are about 20 percent to 40 percent less expensive, according to DealNews. Produced in a laboratory, they are chemically the same as mined diamonds, as opposed to simulated diamonds, which are usually cubic zirconia or moissanite. While a gemologist wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between mined and synthetic diamonds, a jeweler needs to tell buyers the origin. In the Philippines, you can inquire about lab-grown diamonds from Golcondia Cultured Diamonds, which opened shop at Edsa Shangri-la two years ago. (AP/With NSV)
