As far as gifts go, you can’t beat a beautiful piece of jewelry. No matter what the occasion; it could be Christmas, Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, or just-because, gifting someone you love with a beautiful piece of fine jewelry is an excellent (and popular) way to show them how much you care. The question now becomes: how to find the right jeweler? Lucky for you, we’ve put some serious thought into this and came up with the definitive list of 6 things to look for when choosing a jeweler.
5 Tips to Help You Find the Right Jeweler
Only Buy From Professionals
The first and most obvious thing to look for when choosing a jeweler is… are they even a jeweler? Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are plenty of great people offering to sell you an engagement ring out of the trunk of their car or a fancy “new” watch out of the hidden pocket in their trench coat, but those great people probably aren’t professional jewelers. Buying jewelry from a professional jeweler comes with a few undeniable perks. Most notably, a professional jeweler knows what they’re talking about, and I don’t mean memorizing a sales pitch. Professional jewelers can offer you the best information, guidance, and advice on all of their pieces. They should know everything about the piece of jewelry, from how it was made to where the gemstones and materials originated from.
High-Quality Diamonds, Gems, and Metals
Going along with our theme of education, another thing to look for when choosing a jeweler is how well they know their products, materials, and their craft in general. They should be able to answer your questions about gemstones, diamonds, metal quality, and anything else related to your piece of jewelry. We put together a short list of strategic questions to ask to help you find the right jeweler.
Questions Every Jeweler Should be Able to Answer:
- Are your diamonds conflict-free?
- What are the strengths, weaknesses, and general characteristics of different gemstones?
- What’s the difference between the “Cut” and the “Shape” of a gemstone?
- Do you know the difference between a Karat, a Carat, and a Carrot?
- Can you explain the 4 C’s of diamonds?
- Are your diamonds and gemstones verified and certified through a respected, third-party organization, like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)?
Reputation Matters
When it comes to finding the right jeweler, reputation definitely matters. Checking their reviews and social media accounts is an important part of the finding-a-jeweler process. Pay attention to the good reviews, the bad reviews, AND their responses to the bad reviews. You can tell a lot about a company by looking at their responses to bad reviews. Are they helpful? Dismissive? Do they own their mistakes and offer up solutions or do they come up with catty excuses? The answers to these questions should give you some insight into how you’ll be treated at this jewelry store.
Best Ways to Check the Reputation of a Jewelry Store:
- Ask around for recommendations.
- Check them out on social media.
- Check their online reviews.
- How long have they been around?
- Are they locally-owned?
Do They Care?
Ok, this may seem like a pretty low bar, but you’d be surprised at how important this question is. Unfortunately, it’s too easy to walk into a big-name jewelry store, like Tiffany & Co., Jared, or Kay Jewelers, and just become another number on a spreadsheet. Going to a Jewelry shop where the jewelers genuinely care about their customers is the best way to ensure you’re getting the best treatment possible. A jeweler who cares is much more likely to go above and beyond, making sure you feel heard and appreciated.
Post-Purchase Perks
Finally, a good thing to keep in mind when choosing a jeweler is what happens after the purchase. Ask whether or not they offer things like a life-time warranty, free repairs, free cleaning and polishing, updated appraisals, and financing options. The answers to these important questions will help you find your forever jewelry store.
Look No Further: F.A.O. Jewelers is Here for You
If you’re looking for the right jeweler, then you’ve come to the right place. Here at F.A.O. Jeweler, we combine the care and personalized attention of a locally-owned jewelry shop with the high-quality professionalism and incredible jewelry selection of a big brand. In the end, we know that it’s all about you and your experience with us. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing the absolute best customer experience imaginable. Stop in to have a conversation with one of our professional gemologists or design specialists. We’d love to be your forever jewelry store. For more information, give us a call at (810) 229-5335 in Brighton or (810) 632-0202 in Hartland. You can also check us out on Facebook and Instagram for more pictures, reviews, and information about us. Check out our Jewelry 101 Blog for more helpful information on our jewelry, gemstones, diamonds and more.