With the holidays around the corner, choosing the perfect piece of jewelry can be an exciting endeavor. Asking your jeweler the right questions can help you ace your jewelry gift list. We turned to several experts—American Gem Society (AGS) jewelers—to find out what questions you should ask when selecting the perfect piece of jewelry.
Our experts included four different AGS credentialed jewelers: Loretta Gordon-Boch with Gordons Gold Jewellers in London, Ontario; Georgie Gleim, CG, and Brenda Mitchell, CSA, with Gleim the Jewelers in Palo Alto, CA; and Maria Brown, RJ, with Exclusively Diamonds in Mankato, MN. What’s their training?
Georgie and Brenda suggest asking if the jeweler has any gemological training. Loretta suggests that if you are shopping with an AGS-credentialed jeweler, you should find out what separates their store from others. A good jeweler will be up-to-date on the latest styles. Maria suggests asking them what current styles are stealing the spotlight, especially with engagement rings. If you are working specifically with an AGS jeweler, Maria also suggests asking them about the exclusive advantages of shopping with an AGS-credentialed jeweler. This will help you understand their depth of training and the level of service they provide.
What’s their training?
Georgie and Brenda suggest asking if the jeweler has any gemological training. Loretta suggests that if you are shopping with an AGS-credentialed jeweler, you should find out what separates their store from others. A good jeweler will be up-to-date on the latest styles. Maria suggests asking them what current styles are stealing the spotlight, especially with engagement rings. If you are working specifically with an AGS jeweler, Maria also suggests asking them about the exclusive advantages of shopping with an AGS-credentialed jeweler. This will help you understand their depth of training and the level of service they provide.
What Kind of Protection is Offered?
Make sure you understand what kind of guarantee, if any, the jewelry comes with. Georgie and Brenda recommend asking your jeweler if they offer insurance replacement documents with the purchase and finding out what kind of warranty they offer.
What Level of Care Does the Piece Require?
Loretta suggests asking how often the jewelry should be brought in for inspection. Georgie and Brenda echo this suggestion and recommend asking your jeweler how best to care for the jewelry you purchase.
What About the Metal?
Loretta advises asking your jeweler about the metal or finishing in the jewelry. For example, “What kind of chain would you recommend for a sentimental pendant?” Or “What metal is best for durability?”
What if the Jewelry Needs to be Repaired?
Things happen. Even the most durable piece of jewelry needs repairing sometimes. Brenda stresses that it’s important to ask your jeweler if any repairs or manufacturing are done onsite.
What Questions Should I Ask About Diamonds?
There are many questions you should ask about diamonds, but let’s start with three.
With the natural versus laboratory-grown diamond debate increasing, Loretta suggests asking your jeweler to explain why you should choose one over the other.
Also, the team at Gleim’s recommends asking to see a diamond under the microscope and have them explain what you see. Doing so can help you better understand the characteristics of a diamond. When you give the gift, it’s an added little bonus for the recipient when you tell them about some of the interesting characteristics!
What Else?
As it’s a gift, there are other questions you can ask, too, in case the recipient doesn’t love it. These questions include the return policy, sizing policy, and associated costs for rings.
Doing a little research and preparing a list of questions are important when shopping for jewelry. To ensure you are shopping with jewelry experts, visit ags.org/findajeweler to find an AGS jeweler near you.
