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Gifts
are exchanged between bride and groom all through the engagement
period.
In
some circles it is customary to present the bride with a piece
of jewelry during every Jewish holiday that falls during the
engagement period.
The
grooms too, are the recipients of gifts. In the orthodox
community, those gifts are often sets of "Seforim"
books, such as the Talmud, Mishna Brurah, and more. But
cufflinks, watches, and money clips are also on the list of
happily accepted overtures.
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A
piece of jewelry made with precious metals and gemstones is an
instant heirloom, whether it's a gift or purchased for one's
self. The recent explosion of e-commerce means that jewelry
buyers are confronted with more options - and pitfalls - than
ever before. Shoppers should know that the laws that apply to
shopping in a bricks-and-mortar retail store also apply to the
Internet.
Elizabeth
Florence, Director of the Jewelry Information Center, a
nonprofit trade association based in New York City say:
"The key to buying fine jewelry is where one shops. Trust
in the jeweler and/or the venue is vital." Following are
some tips from the JIC:
1.
Buy from someone you
trust:
Shop from a well-established professional jeweler. Ask a
friend for a recommendation, or check with the Chamber of
Commerce or Better Business Bureau. Look for a jeweler who
is affiliated with a professional trade association, such as
Jewelers of America (JA), that requires high ethical
standards of its members and provides them with ongoing
education. Get an itemized receipt and the return policy in
writing.
2. Buying on the Web.
Shop only on Web sites that list a phone number, address
and/or "Contact Us" e-mail option. For on-line
purchases, always use a credit card rather than a debit
card. Look for a liberal return policy with a full refund.
Be sure to note the window of time in which the jewelry may
be returned! Ask for the original packaging and an itemized
receipt. When buying diamonds, ask for a grading report from
an independent gemological laboratory. When buying watches
on-line, be aware that some manufacturers' warrantees are
valid only if the watch is purchased at an authorized
dealer.
3. Don't be dazzled
by discounts.
If a venue is routinely offering unbelievable discounts of
50% or more, the sale is probably just that--unbelievable.
Savvy shoppers may find that the "drastic
discount" price is actually the normal retail price
elsewhere.
4. Ask about the
quality mark and registered trademark.
With gold jewelry, the karat mark or quality mark indicates
the purity of the piece: "14K" means 58.3% pure
gold; "18K," 75% pure. In other words, in a piece
of 14k gold jewelry, 14 of its 24 parts are pure gold; the
other 10 are alloy, which could be any number of different
metals, added for strength and sometimes to change the color
(to rose gold, white gold, etc.) Platinum - the hardest and
most rare metal - is most often marked "PLAT" or
"950 PLAT." Sterling silver pieces are usually
stamped "925." For pieces manufactured in the
U.S., if the quality mark appears, the piece is required by
federal law to also be stamped with the manufacturer's
trademark, which ensures that the manufacturer stands behind
the authenticity of the piece.
5. When buying
gemstones, find out if the stone has been treated in any way
to improve its beauty.
Gem treatments such as oiling and heating are accepted
industry practices. However, FTC guidelines require that
these treatments be disclosed to the buyer because they may
affect the care and cleaning of the stone. Exercise your
rights and be informed.
6. When buying
diamonds, look for the 4 C's.
They are cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Cut is
arguably the most important, because a skillful cut is what
will unleash the fire and brilliance in a diamond. Cut,
which refers to the faceting, is not to be confused with
shape - such as marquise, oval, princess (square), etc. As
to color, grading begins at D; the deeper into the alphabet
one goes, the poorer the color. In a store, ask to see loose
diamonds on a sheet of pure white paper and note any
contrast. Clarity refers to the presence of - or lack of -
imperfections such as bubbles, spots or lines called
inclusions. Clarity is graded on a scale ranging from
flawless (FL or IF) to imperfect (I).
7. Cultured pearls.
Look for surface cleanliness: an absence of any scarring or
pitting. Also important is the pearls' luster: they should
be glowing with iridescence, not chalky or dull. When
purchasing a strand of cultured pearls, be sure there is a
knot between each pearl. This insures that if the strand
breaks, the pearls won't skitter across the floor. In
addition, the knots keep the pearls from rubbing against
each other. Before you purchase, check to see that the
pearls are well matched in color and lustre, and that they
graduate gracefully in size, growing smaller toward the
clasp. Roll the strand of pearls on a flat counter top to be
sure they don't wobble; this will tell you that the pearls
have been drilled exactly through their centers and that
they will lay beautifully around one's neck.
Fine jewelry is unlike any
other purchase. Jewelry that is wisely bought and well cared
for will be treasured for generations to come.
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