Jewelry can be the perfect gift for mom on Mother"s Day, but
there are pitfalls, especially if you rush at the last minute.
Procrastination and a lack of knowledge can be rewarded with
overpaying for a piece of jewelry or even worse, being
ripped-off. A gift of jewelry can be expensive. Asking friends,
family and co-workers if they can recommend a website, brick and
mortar store or local crafts person can help. Checking with the
better business bureau is also a commendable approach. When you
are shopping, ask the salesperson to write down any information
you might rely on to make your purchase and before you buy, ask
for the store"s refund and return policy. When ordering online,
keep printouts of the web pages with details about the
transaction, including refund and return policies if you"re not
satisfied. Six Smart Shopping Tips for Mother"s Day and Beyond
1. There"s a big difference between 14 karat gold and
gold-plated jewelry. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14
parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal.
Gold-plated describes jewelry with a layer of at least 10K gold
bonded to a base metal. Gold plating eventually wears away,
depending on how often the item is worn and how thick the
plating is. 2. If you"re buying a watch, determine whether you
want one that runs on a battery or one that must be wound daily.
Ask if a warranty or guarantee is included, how long it lasts,
and what parts and repair problems it covers. Also ask how and
where you can get the watch serviced and repaired. 3. Know the
difference between laboratory-created gemstones and naturally
mined stones. Stones created in the lab are visually identical
to stones mined from the earth. The big difference is in the
cost: laboratory-created stones are less expensive then
naturally mined stones. But because they look must like stones
mined from the earth, they must be identified as lab-created. If
you want a naturally mined stone, ask if it has been treated.
Gemstone treatments"� such as heating, dyeing or bleaching"� can
improve a stone"s appearance or durability. Some treatments are
permanent; some may create special care requirements. Treatments
also may affect the stone"s value. 4. Ask whether pearls are
imitation or real. Real pearls are made by oysters or other
mollusks; imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are
made by mollusks with human intervention; and irritant
introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow. Real pearls
that are not cultured are fairly rare and expensive. The cost
depends on the size, usually stated in millimeters, and the
coating or "�nacre"� on a real pearl, which gives it its
iridescence. 5. When you"re buying a diamond, consider four
criteria: cut, color, clarity and weight, usually stated as
carats. Each factor affects the price. Color is sometimes
"�graded"� on a scale. However, scales are not uniform: a "�D"� may
be the best color for one scale, but not for another. Make sure
you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color of
the diamond you"re considering. A diamond can be described as
"�flawless"� only if it has no visible surface cracks or other
imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a
skilled diamond grader. 6. One final tip, Mom"s love longer
(i.e. 24") gold or sterling chains with gemstone pendants. And
you can almost never go wrong with the very popular omega-style
chains in various widths in sterling silver or gold.

About the author:
For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially
invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your
FREE copy of "�How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being
Ripped Off."� This concise, informative special report reveals
almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and
gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at
www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Author : Sam Serio
Site : www.goarticles.com

BobPaton.com � 2010
Hosted by Midsouth Marketing

Online Games | New Media Blog | City News Magazine | Collierville Advertising | Collierville Dragons