How To Buy Gold Jewelry?
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
1. Know your karats.
Each gold jewelry piece has to have the karat mark, which will tell you that the piece is real gold and the percentage of pure gold it contains. Imported gold jewelry is stamped with different numbers. The European markings for 14 karat gold jewelry is 585; for 18 karat is 750.
2. Look for the trademark
In the U.S. any karat-marked jewelry sold by law it must have a trademark. When there’s a trademark, it means the manufacturer stands behind the accuracy of the karat mark.
3. Evaluating price
The price of gold jewelry is determined by several factors; total weight of the piece, the design and the construction, and the ornamental detailing, such as engraving or Florentine finish.
4. Check the clasp
When buying a gold necklace or bracelet, make sure you examine the clasp to see if it is strong enough to support the chain, especially if the piece does not have a trademark. Run your hand over the chain and look for any rough edges. A well-made piece of gold jewelry should look and feel like the quality piece it is. And if you take the time to look it over, you will have a piece that with good care can last a lifetime.