Discovering Hidden Gems: A Quick Guide to Buying Jewellery

Thinking about buying that exquisite piece of jewellery you’ve had your eye on lately but worried about the price tag? We’ve all been there. Deciding whether to spend a month’s wage on a gold necklace or on those diamond earrings that you’ve been eyeing up is not a decision which should be taken lightly. You can get beautiful jewellery for a reasonable price, which means that a piece should be really special before you even consider splurging on it. Here is our quick guide to buying jewelry.

Changing Fashions

A good rule of thumb is to pay less for any item which is fashionable. We all know that trends change; twenty years down the line, that ring you spent all of your savings on might be a tacky, abstract horror rather than high fashion. If a piece is trendy, you can guarantee that its appeal will fade and it won’t be long before it’s outdated, so those which are a little plainer but possessed of a timeless elegance are far more worthy of a high price-tag than statement fashion. A good way to judge is to consider whether people would have worn the ring fifty years ago. If they would have, and you still want to wear it today, then chances are its appeal won’t fade, so it’s worth spending money on it. If you don’t have the expertise to judge the long-term worth of fine jewellery yourself, then look for an experienced jeweller, such as George Pragnell, to guide you in making your decision.

Individuality

When you’re purchasing, look for a piece that will stand out from the crowd without being garish – it should be simple and elegant yet eye-catching. Try to find something with a slight twist to make it completely individual, as there’s nothing worse than shelling out for an expensive silver necklace only to find two other people wearing exactly the same piece, bought for far less, the next time you go out. The point is to stand out without going overboard – after all, you’re an exceptional and unique person and your jewellery should reflect that. Take a look at Berganza they have a wonderful selection of jewellery for you to choose from.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Before spending your hard-earned money on an expensive piece of jewellery, try asking yourself the following:

• Does the piece reflect your and your personality?
• How passionate are you about wearing the piece?
• Will you keep it for the rest of your life and/or pass it along to your loved ones?
• Are you buying it because it’s the first piece you’ve seen and liked, or because you think it’s loveliness and charm is absolutely unprecedented?

Unless the answers are ‘yes’, ‘very’, ‘yes’ and the latter, it’s not the piece for you.

Can You Justify It?

Buying an expensive piece of jewellery should be seen as an investment rather than gluttonous overspending, and if you choose properly, that’s exactly what it will be. If you want a timeless piece but are reluctant to spend money on the best, think of buying second-hand or pre-owned pieces, which can be just as lovely and high-quality but tend to have a slightly lower price tag. Whatever you pick, make sure that your high-end jewellery is something you will cherish forever – after all, it’s hard to put a price on something which will give you so much pleasure.