Buying a piece of fine jewelry is unlike buying any other product. What other product comprises materials that are often billions of years old? The natural gemstones and precious metals from which fine jewelry is created have a uniqueness and complexity that require special knowledge–and often gemological equipment–not readily accessible to the average consumer. No two gemstones are alike; design and quality vary greatly from piece to piece. Most consumers could not evaluate a strand of quality cultured pearls, distinguish between a blue topaz and a sapphire, or recognize a one-carat diamond. And even if they do know the difference between carats and karats, how do they know they are getting what they’re paying for?

With the proliferation of jewelry outlets, including catalogs and electronic shopping, selecting where and what to buy can be a daunting experience. The Jewelry Information Center, a non-profit trade association headquartered in New York City, provides the following tips on finding the right jeweler and what to look for when buying fine jewelry. Click to read full PDF – 138k