A Practical Guide to Selecting Quality Jewelry for Your Loved Ones

Are you looking to buy quality jewelry for your loved one? And not sure where to start? 

Luckily, we have got you covered with all the details. Whenever you want to gift a jewelry piece to your loved one, you obviously want to buy something very special for them. But when shopping for jewelry, it is not that easy. Don’t worry. In this article, we will be sharing practical tips for buying quality jewelry for your loved one. 

Keep reading!

To start with, when it comes to quality jewelry we will be discussing the difference between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry.

Fine jewelry: Fine jewelry is used for jewelry that is made up of precious metals like gold, sterling silver, or platinum. Jewelry which is called fine jewelry is very durable and lasts for a long time. As fine jewelry is strong they do not tarnish if maintained with care and proper storage. 

Fashion jewelry: Fashion jewelry is the type of jewelry that is not made up of precious metals. They are often made up of bass metals like copper, aluminum, or brass, which easily bend and tarnish. As they are prone to cracking and tarnishing so they do not have a long life. 

So before you waste your precious money on cheap jewelry, go through below outlined the steps and you will find a perfect gift for your loved one that they will adore for lifetime:

  1. Before shopping, think about that special someone for whom you are shopping: This should be the very first thing you should consider while buying a jewelry gift. If you are planning to give a special jewelry gift, you have to spend some good time and think about the recipient’s personality and her taste in jewelry. You can do this by observing their daily wear accessories and then you can consider the following questions as well:

Do they usually wear bold statement pieces or like simple understated jewelry?

Do they have any personal preference for metal? You can know this by noticing their jewelry metal which they wear daily.

Do they wear neutral-noted jewelry or like colorful jewelry as well?

What necklace length do they wear?

What type of earrings like only stud, dangle, chandelier, or drop earrings do they wear? 

What bracelets like charm bracelets, cuff bracelets, or no bracelets do they like? 

Do they like simple rings or large rings?

By knowing the above answers it will be easy for you to select the style or type of jewelry that recipients like.

  1. Set your budget: This is another early important step while you shop for a jewelry gift. This will make your shopping experience smooth. Setting your budget will also narrow down many options so that you can only focus on jewelry pieces that are in your budget. You will get a beautiful piece of jewelry on a tight budget as well. There are many options available for jewelry in the market, you just have to do a little research and you will find the perfect piece within your range. 

 

  1. Consider what message you want to communicate through buying jewelry: As you start browsing through many options, consider the message you want to communicate to the recipient through your gift. Your gift can communicate various things such as you love that person from the bottom of your heart, you like her, you are just proud of that person or just treasure that person. So while finalizing your jewelry gift you must decide what you want to say to your loved one. 

 

  1. Sterling silver, gold or platinum, stainless steel?

Sterling silver: It is composed of 92.5% of silver and 7.5% of other metals like copper or nickel. The composition of these metals brings strength and durability to the silver. Sterling silver jewelry is the most popular because of its affordability, various designs, and durability. 

Gold: Gold jewelry is a little expensive. It comes in three colors: white, rose gold, and yellow. Gold jewelry comes in different purities like 9k and 18k. As gold jewelry is costlier so you can check your budget accordingly and can select the jewelry that comes under your budget. 

Platinum: There was a time when gold jewelry was considered as the most luxurious but platinum jewelry has turned the tables. Platinum jewelry has a beautiful silvery white color. Though platinum is the most expensive so as we said you need to be very careful with your budget.

Stainless steel: Forget about other metals, there is new metal in the town. Stainless steel! Stainless steel is a metal that is composed of iron, carbon, and chromium. Because the metal is corrosion and heat resistant, it will be a perfect addition to her jewelry box. Now you must be thinking like sterling silver metal, does stainless steel turn green? As we mentioned above, stainless steel is an alloy of chromium, nickel, iron, carbon, and manganese. So stainless steel is protected from rusting because of chromium.

  1. Hallmarking: While making your purchase ensure that you are getting the best quality of jewelry, so you must check the hallmark of the jewelry. Hallmark is known as the legal guarantee of the quality and purity of metal content present in the jewelry. Many jewelers will insist you buy non-hallmarked jewelry by giving assurance of purity and quality but don’t trust them. Always go for hallmarked jewelry. Please note that the cost of a hallmark is very nominal so it does not have any impact on the jewelry cost. 

Conclusion:

We hope this guide on how to select a perfect gift for your loved one was helpful. Keep your search on, find a reputable store and get the best piece of jewelry that your loved one will cherish for life.

P&K is a distinctive magnificent brand of designer quality jewelry and is affordable. We feature stunning and awesome designs that are made to last. So do check out our collection of cubic zirconia jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, marcasite jewelry online, and many more on our website. 

6 Pro Tips for Buying Marcasite Jewelry Online in 2022

Marcasite dates back to the time of the Incas. Along with pyrite, large quantities of marcasite jewelry have been found in Incan burial chambers. The Incans also used marcasite to adorn plates and mirrors.

Fast forward a few centuries to Victorian England. Queen Victoria was responsible for making marcasite jewelry famous when she wore it as a substitute for more expensive diamond jewelry. Since the common man was also unable to afford diamond jewelry, it soon became a popular substitute among them as well.

Today, marcasite is all over the jewelry market. Its unique appearance and unusual iridescence have made it highly sought after. Before you can buy marcasite online, it is important to first understand what it is. Marcasite is a semi-precious stone that is brittle, hard, brassy yellow, has a metallic sheen, and is opaque. It is a gem that is made up of small crystals and is quite rare.

Here’s everything you need to know about marcasite and jewelry made using this gemstone.

What is good quality marcasite?

In the past, marcasite may have been popular for being inexpensive yet beautiful. However, today marcasite jewelry is regarded for its ability to be molded into complex designs. If you want to spot good quality marcasite, here are some things you should look at:

  • Magnetism – A simple test is to hold a magnet to the stone and see if it sticks. If you find that it doesn’t, your marcasite is authentic.
  • Rivets – Authentic marcasite jewelry will have rivets sticking into the base of the piece to hold the design together. You can flip the jewelry over to look for these rivets to confirm its authenticity.
  • Finish – Marcasite has a distinct yellowish sheen that is reflected in different ways when light hits it. If any non-magnetic item is posing as marcasite, it can be easily caught under a microscope or magnifying glass upon proper inspection.

But what do you do if you want to purchase your marcasite jewelry online? Well, here are 6 pro tips to help you get the best possible piece:

  1. Style – Vintage vs. modern

When you start looking for the perfect piece, you must first decide on the style that you like. You can choose between vintage marcasite jewelry or something that is more modern. Either way, once you have that narrowed down, the selection process is that much easier.

  1. Setting

The setting of the stones in the jewelry is the next thing to look at. Back in the day, marcasite stones were set into the metal with tiny claws to hold them in place. Not only did these claws make the stones secure, but they also added intricate detailing to the piece which in turn enhanced its overall beauty.

As you can imagine, this was a painful and time-consuming process. Today, marcasite stones are set in jewelry using glue. While this is a more efficient way to make the jewelry, it does not secure the stones quite as well as metal claws would. So, if you want your marcasite jewelry to stand the test of time, we would suggest picking pieces that are made with the claws or prongs rather than those that are glued in to the metal.

  1. Design

Beautiful as marcasite is, there are some styles and designs of marcasite jewelry that are truly more breathtaking than others. For one, silver-colored metal best compliments this stone, so it is advisable to go for marcasite set in white gold, silver, or platinum. Second, due its unique reflective qualities, smaller black stones interspersed with marcasite in any piece of jewelry tend to enhance the overall beauty of the piece. Pearls are also a great companion to marcasite. Black, white, and silver are colors that go with everything. So, if you want to be able to flaunt your brand-new marcasite jewelry, these colors are the best way to go.

  1. Price

The price range of marcasite jewelry varies based on the style, cut, and size of the gems used. While we don’t recommend you emptying out your pockets to buy the perfect piece, we also don’t want you to end up with something too cheap. Finding a gorgeous piece of marcasite jewelry in a medium price range will leave you happier and satisfied with your purchase.

  1. Return Policy

Remember, you are buying online. Things may not look as they do on the website when you finally see them in person. Even if you do all the research and pick the perfect piece, you may not like the look of it when it finally arrives at your doorstep. For this, it is important to first check the return policy on the item you want to purchase before you go ahead and buy it.

  1. Seller’s reputation – Authenticity certificate

When buying anything online, it is advisable to go with a seller who has a good reputation. Read as many customer reviews as possible and do your due diligence before deciding on a seller. Especially if you are buying wholesale marcasite jewelry, you need to be able to trust the seller. Most well-respected marcasite jewelry sellers will provide you with authenticity stamps or certificates for all their jewelry offerings. This will let you know that what you have purchased is true to its name.

P&K Jewelry can help with all your marcasite jewelry needs – whether it is wholesale sterling silver bangles or anything else, we have a range of options to choose from, at honest prices and quality assurance. Explore our collection today and take your pick!