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With Mother’s Day just days away, you might be one of those stragglers still deciding what to get mom.
Jewelry is a great gift idea, but it is also one filled with pitfalls.
Unless you’re an expert, precious metals and stones are impossible to value by sight alone.
You’ll want to do your homework before making your purchase or you take the risk of not getting what you think you’re getting.
Consumer Reports offers these tips before buying that bracelet or earrings for mom:
KNOW YOUR KARATS
The price of gold varies with karat number (a unit of fineness), weight, design, finishing (by hand vs. machine) and country of origin.
Pure gold, 24 karat, is too soft to be molded into jewelry, so it’s mixed with other metals. Changes in gold’s color result from the metal mix-in. Anything less than 10 karat, about 42 percent gold, can’t legally be sold as gold. “Fill,” “overlay” or “electroplate” indicates a thin gold coating.
BUY FROM A CERTIFIED GEMOLOGIST
They belong to a group such as the GIA, Jewelers of America or American Gem Society. Also ask friends for names of jewelers they trust.
Make sure the dealer allows plenty of time to return jewelry for a refund.
ONLINE
You might save online, where markup is low, but you won’t see the jewelry firsthand. Gem and mounting might be sold a la carte, and sizing could cost extra.
Check out www.diamondtalk.com and www.pricescope.com, where consumers share experiences.
LOCAL VS. CHAIN STORE
Be aware that chain stores are likely to charge less than local jewelers but their salespeople might be less knowledgeable.
DON’T BUY PROMISES OF HUGE DISCOUNTS
“Ninety-five percent of the discounts I see are fictitious,” says jeweler David Nytch, a certified gemologist appraiser who has worked in retailing, “because the pieces are vastly overpriced to begin with.”
CONSIDER THE SOURCE
Under a voluntary international system, the diamond industry has agreed to keep a paper trail as diamonds move from mine to store. The system isn’t perfect, but it can help buyers avoid “blood diamonds” that have financed conflicts in Africa. Ask to see a written guarantee on the invoice that comes with every stone. There’s also an international effort to ensure that gold-mining operations respect human rights and the environment. For a list of retailers that support the campaign, go to www.nodirtygold.org.
USE A CREDIT CARD
Pay with a major credit card. It might give you recourse if problems arise.
HAVE IT APPRAISED
If you’ve bought expensive jewelry, have it valued by an appraiser certified by the American Society of Appraisers (Go to www.appraisers.org or call 800-272-8258).
WHERE TO TURN
If you suspect you’ve been taken, contact the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (www.jvclegal.org). For $75, its dispute-resolution service mediates between buyer and seller.
