Bankrate.com posted some great jewelry buying tips today. The section
on pearls is posted below. To read the entire article, which also
includes tips on buying diamonds and other colored gemstones, visit: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/pf/20051213a1.asp
Floating Flowers necklace, www.moonriverpearls.com
Whether you're buying five golden rings or that classic strand of
pearls, purchasing a nice piece of jewelry for the holidays isn't that
difficult. But getting a good deal takes a little know-how.
The first rule: Buy from someone you trust.
"Know what you're buying," says Alex Angelle, AJP, spokesman for the
Gemological Institute of America. "And the best way to know what
you're buying is to know who you're buying from."
Second, get "a full and accurate description of the item," he says.
Know that words like "synthetic," "created" or "lab created," mean the
stones are not natural. "Be sure you know if the gem you're buying is
natural, synthetic or treated in any way."
If the item comes with a laboratory report, it should be from an
accredited gem lab. In the report, look for treatments done to the
stone (such as heating, irradiation or laser drilling and filling)
that may enhance the appearance, but not necessarily the value.
And, whether you're buying for yourself or someone else, you want the
option of returning the item. Whether your special someone prefers
gold to platinum or the item just isn't the quality expected, you want
a seller who stands behind the product with a convenient return policy.
Pearls
Like other stones, the key is to know what you're buying. If the
pearls are real, odds are they're cultured. "You really won't find
natural pearls in the marketplace," says Robert Artelt, chief
marketing officer for Mikimoto America.
For quality pearls, look for a bubble- or blemish-free surface on the
pearls. And the rounder they are, the better. "The more round they
are, the more expensive they will be and the better quality they will
be," says Artelt.
Freshwater pearls, which tend to have an irregular shape, are usually
less-expensive because they take less time to grow, he says.
Pearls can range in color from silvery white to white, with green or
pink overtones, to pink. The rounder and more lustrous, the better the
quality and, usually, the higher the price. Luster is also a sign of
greater strength and durability. There's no right or wrong with color,
says Artelt. If you're choosing something like a pearl necklace,
select a color that will complement the skin tone.
Sometimes pearls are dyed, and that's fine as long as the coloring
process is stable and no one is trying to pass off the color as
natural, says Artelt. One way to tell: If they are on a string, look
for color demarcation around the drill hole, he says.
A good quality string of pearls, like many better necklaces, is likely
to have a safety clasp. In addition to the regular clasp, there will
be some sort of second fastening device as a safeguard. "In more
inexpensive strands, it's less common," says Artelt.
"Since there is no standard grading system for pearls, you really have
to know the business you are doing business with," says Artelt.
And yes, you can tell if pearls are real by running them over your
teeth, says Artelt. But save that for the set you inherit from
Grandma, not your next trip to the mall.
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