Trust Your Judgement when Buying Gemstones

Buying gemstones for a custom engagement ring is a process that’s probably more stressful then it should be.  There is so much information out there, particularly with diamonds, that it’s almost a case of the customer being over educated on what to look for before they buy.

Four C’s blah, blah, blah.

Sure, you should  practice due diligence and shop around a bit.  It’s undoubtedly a big purchase and shouldn’t be taken lightly.   Go ahead and find a ballpark range in quality you think you would like and figure out a budget.  I say think on purpose, as you will see later.  Start online and get an idea of what is selling for what, at your budget.

This can be any gemstone.  Diamonds are a bit more complicated but the same process goes for any colored stone.  Figure out your budget and browse online to see what’s available.  With the colored stones you are  interested in basically the same criteria as a diamond, but there are far fewer nuances to worry about.  A blue sapphire, for instance, will have different shades of blue but the value is far less affected then a diamond would be.

Once you have your budget in mind and have your head full of online education, it’s time to actually look at a few different stones.  How it looks, to your eyes, is what really matters.  In fact, the number one deciding factor should be how it looks, and not any “C”.  That is why what you think you would like is often not the case once you see the way the stones look in person.

How it looks to you is the way everyone else will see it.  In fact, you will be getting a much closer view then almost everyone else, with your eyes alone.  Forget the magnifying glass.  Even your good friends will most likely give in a quick look or two, compliment the piece, and move on to something else.

What really matters when buying gemstones for any jewelry, is how it looks when you wear it.  Trust your judgement and what you see with your own eyes.

Settings

Setting is the metal that holds the stone in a piece of jewelry.  Most of us think of rings when we think of a setting, but it can be anything affixed to metal.  Another term for setting you find occasionally is mount.

Two of the most popular settings are bezel and prong, and most of the jewelry you find today has a variation on one of these.  Most typical engagement rings use a type of prong setting, while other types of jewelry use a bezel set more often.  These are generalizations, of course, and you can find either setting on any piece of jewelry.

Prong settings have the advantage of showing off more of the stone.  This can be a disadvantage because you will need a nicer stone or you are more likely to notice inclusions on the side.  There is also less material around the stone to protect and hold it in place, so a prong setting requires more periodic maintenance and inspection.

Bezel settings are the earliest form of setting where the most of the stone is surrounded with the metal.  This type of setting is popular in handmade jewelry due to its durability and variety.  Because the stone is protected with the metal it is a very functional setting.  You will still need to have your stone inspected, just far less often and with usually minimal repairs.  The disadvantage of a bezel is that you see less of the stone.  Varieties of bezel setting include a half bezel, full bezel, and decorated bezel.

Decorated bezel is simply a bezel that has any sort of design in the metal.

Knowing the difference between the different settings can help you make a more informed decision with your jewelry.  Keep a bezel open as an option if you decide on a custom engagement ring.  It is an understated, hand made look that is durable and easy to wear.

How to Choose a Jeweler

Jim Charneski Gold Pendant

Getting a custom engagement ring or other piece of jewelry designed can be very stressful.  It doesn’t have to be.  If you go into it with a little knowledge and patience, and find the right jeweler, you might even enjoy it!

Once you have a budget set and some online research under your belt, it’s time to decide on a jeweler to make your piece.  Here are some things to ask before you jump in and put down any cash.

1.  How much money down, and for what?  Judge their reaction, is it casual or do they get uptight and ask for a large down payment?  You want someone who trusts that you’ll be satisfied and has confidence in their work.  This usually means they won’t ask for a lot of money down, but expect to give a good faith percentage of the piece.

2.  What is the time frame for completing the steps?  How much work do they have at the moment besides yours?  You will want an idea of a time frame.  Make sure you let them know if you have a deadline, it can easily take extra time if things need to be ordered and sent back.

3.  Will you be notified before each major step in the process?  Will they call you?  Custom engagement rings usually have a few major steps, and you want to make sure you get to see the ring before each decision.  If you can’t picture what it will look like, ask questions until you do.  You don’t want any doubts when there’s no turning back.

Here are a couple more points when your ready to begin designing a custom engagement ring:

Trust your instinct.  You want to feel completely comfortable with the jeweler.  If you feel like your taking up too much of their time or uneasy about something, it might be better to keep looking.  Making a piece of jewelry is a time consuming process, so make sure your dealing with someone you get along with.

Shop around just in case.  Ask people recently married who they used, word of mouth is the best advertising.  Often you will find a good jeweler just by asking around, but visit a couple of other shops to be certain.  Take notes and compare pricing on a couple of similar stones.  When you start looking, let them know you are shopping around, and ask for a few price quotes.  It doesn’t hurt to keep them on their toes!