Hi, I am “Mike the Jeweler”, as seen on the Style Network’s reality show “Who’s Wedding is It Anyway”. This is my very first blog on a subject of jewelry buying, a subject I know as well or better than anyone else on the planet.
I want to protect and serve the retail public. I want to arm you with knowledge about jewelry buying, so you can buy jewelry right! I want to be accessible!
Did you ever buy jewelry from a total stranger, and then take it to some other stranger, or better yet, someone you “know, and trust” someone you didn’t buy the piece from in the first place, and ask the age old question “Did I get a good deal”? What if the answer is “no”? Why didn’t you buy from the expert, or someone you know and trust? You can ALWAYS “DO BETTER”, but there is a cost to THAT TOO!
I don’t mean to imply there is no room to purchase that one of a kind piece you saw on vacation and had to have. The impulse piece you fall in love with and cannot get from your normal “jewelry guy”.Ironically
that piece is the one you have to have no matter how “good of a deal” you are getting. You rationalize your way through the sale.
You can find a piece of jewelry for almost any price. Let’s talk about the “right piece” of jewelry instead of making it all about price, and a good deal.
Does the piece fit your lifestyle? If you garden with your jewelry on, I would not want you to do it with an Emerald ring and a bracelet to match. Have you ever had a jeweler tell you they would NOT sell you a thousand dollar piece of jewelry because they knew you would be “sorry later”, and lose the sale? I have done that multiple times in my 29 years in jewelry retail, and it feels good, and people trust me! Do you think all jewelers have that kind of practical approach, or have the integrity to tell you the truth with the loss of the sale looming? No way!
What is an “everyday piece” and what is not?
The classic every day piece is a diamond engagement ring. The minute you get “creative” and decide you want to have an Emerald, an Amethyst, or an Opal, or almost any other semi-precious stone in the center to be different, your “last forever”piece will become very temporary.
The above stones mentioned are very soft, brittle, or just plain fragile.
A ring lives on you hands and is subject to much knocking, scratching, hitting, and so on. Unless it has a Diamond, Sapphire, or a Ruby as the center stone, I would hesitate to call it an everyday ring. This also goes for Bracelets. Bracelets take as much or more wear than rings, and have more of a tendency to be worn with other bracelets they may knock into and wear against.
Stones in earrings are almost always safe. There is very little wear and abuse to an earring unless you wrestle, or are a circus performer. Earrings usually have their vulnerability in the structure of the metal, but the stones are usually safe. I would group pendants with earrings , the stones in these pieces are usually safe as well.
Diamonds are great! Such as ones that are found in Engagement rings. They are expensive, but they are DURABLE, and beautiful. They are used in Bridal jewelry because they represent love and longevity because they have been around for millions of years, and if you are married, it may seem like it has been millions of years (sorry, just being funny).
I have just written some of the important things I think you should know. Now I want you to tell me what YOU need to know by replying back.
Buy right!
“Mike the Jeweler"
I want to protect and serve the retail public. I want to arm you with knowledge about jewelry buying, so you can buy jewelry right! I want to be accessible!
Did you ever buy jewelry from a total stranger, and then take it to some other stranger, or better yet, someone you “know, and trust” someone you didn’t buy the piece from in the first place, and ask the age old question “Did I get a good deal”? What if the answer is “no”? Why didn’t you buy from the expert, or someone you know and trust? You can ALWAYS “DO BETTER”, but there is a cost to THAT TOO!
I don’t mean to imply there is no room to purchase that one of a kind piece you saw on vacation and had to have. The impulse piece you fall in love with and cannot get from your normal “jewelry guy”.Ironically
that piece is the one you have to have no matter how “good of a deal” you are getting. You rationalize your way through the sale.
You can find a piece of jewelry for almost any price. Let’s talk about the “right piece” of jewelry instead of making it all about price, and a good deal.
Does the piece fit your lifestyle? If you garden with your jewelry on, I would not want you to do it with an Emerald ring and a bracelet to match. Have you ever had a jeweler tell you they would NOT sell you a thousand dollar piece of jewelry because they knew you would be “sorry later”, and lose the sale? I have done that multiple times in my 29 years in jewelry retail, and it feels good, and people trust me! Do you think all jewelers have that kind of practical approach, or have the integrity to tell you the truth with the loss of the sale looming? No way!
What is an “everyday piece” and what is not?
The classic every day piece is a diamond engagement ring. The minute you get “creative” and decide you want to have an Emerald, an Amethyst, or an Opal, or almost any other semi-precious stone in the center to be different, your “last forever”piece will become very temporary.
The above stones mentioned are very soft, brittle, or just plain fragile.
A ring lives on you hands and is subject to much knocking, scratching, hitting, and so on. Unless it has a Diamond, Sapphire, or a Ruby as the center stone, I would hesitate to call it an everyday ring. This also goes for Bracelets. Bracelets take as much or more wear than rings, and have more of a tendency to be worn with other bracelets they may knock into and wear against.
Stones in earrings are almost always safe. There is very little wear and abuse to an earring unless you wrestle, or are a circus performer. Earrings usually have their vulnerability in the structure of the metal, but the stones are usually safe. I would group pendants with earrings , the stones in these pieces are usually safe as well.
Diamonds are great! Such as ones that are found in Engagement rings. They are expensive, but they are DURABLE, and beautiful. They are used in Bridal jewelry because they represent love and longevity because they have been around for millions of years, and if you are married, it may seem like it has been millions of years (sorry, just being funny).
I have just written some of the important things I think you should know. Now I want you to tell me what YOU need to know by replying back.
Buy right!
“Mike the Jeweler"
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insight and no, I have never had someone not sell me a one thousand dollar piece because I would of regretted it later. They actually sold it to me, and yes I still regret it. A question I have are these matching sets. What is the proper way to get a set like this for you sweetie... Is there a proper time frame to complete the set.. Whats the proper piece to start with and the rest of the logistics involved?
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my very first comment! And I know you meant YOUR "sweetie"in your comment.
"Timing" is the romantic, and emotional part of the purchase. Sorry, but "when the time is right" is the cliché I will use. Start out with the piece SHE wants, something that will look good on her. Find out what makes her feel good, and think of you when she wears it. Even this process of buying jewelry can strengthen your relationship and make you delve deeper into her likes and dislikes. See, jewelry buying as in a lot of things in life is "more than meets the eye"!
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThere are certain things that buying from someone you trust is what makes it a good deal! Relationship buying is the only way to go. In the end you will always get a better deal, better service and better quality. You will never walk away talking about how good of a deal you got because it is never a question, you just walk away happy with your purchase!
Thanks, great post Mike.