Go off the beaten path
Jan 11 '00
I recommend going off the beaten path for most jewelry purchases and especially for engagement rings. This means DO NOT GO TO THE MALL!!!!
Mall jewelers are very, very expensive. They offer poorer quality stones at higher prices and often mislead consumers as to the quality of gemstones. They also have jewelry that isn't very original.
Your best bet is to find where the jewelry wholesalers operate in the large city closest to you. These are the people that sell, repair and design jewelry for the major stores in your area. They usually operate in a centralized location like a jewelry district or office complex. They are the experts and they are also very creative people. This is the place to go if you want a custom design or if you want changes made to a more traditional style (e.g. different cut stone, different metal, different type of stone). Don't be afraid to ask for exactly what you want here because they will be able to make it if they don't have it in stock.
You still have to enter these shops as an educated consumer. Read up on the types and qualitiy of stone that you are looking for. Also know the going price in grams for the precious metal that you will be purchasing. You can often bargain for prices here so having these benchmarks in your head will show the salesperson that you know your stuff. You can get this info by asking the price at several wholesalers in the area and taking the lowest price you find as the one you will pay.
There are great bargains to be had here because you are buying direct from the source. My husband was able to buy me a diamond 2-3 times the size of what he could afford at the mall by shopping from the wholesaler. I also was able to go with him to where he bought the engagement ring and we custom designed the wedding band.
Make sure that you become familiar with the wholesalers before you buy. Look around the area and get to know which are good quality shops, they usually sell their own designs and are handle custom orders easily, and which are bargain basement, fly-by-night shops. These are the ones in business to sell a volume of pre-made inventory. Also ask how long the wholesaler has been in business.
Good Luck, don't be intimidated and never shop at the mall.
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Epinions.com ID:
LisaS
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Reviews written: 61
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