Your guide to buying jewellery.

When it comes to shopping we all like to find that perfect bargain. The one that is durable, good quality and you know your going to get some use out of it. So when it comes to buying something as precious a diamond or an expensive piece of jewellery, you need to know all the facts.

If you're considering splashing out on a diamond ring, a string of pearls, jade earrings or maybe a sapphire necklace, you need to take time and care before parting with your money.

Here at Burns Jewellers and Arthur Kay & Bro. we don't just want you to dive in for the first piece that catches your eye. Examine the quality of the stones, consider the weight of precious metal, look at the colour, the cut and the shape. The jewellery you buy could be an engagement ring which is going to last for a lifetime, so make sure it's the right one.

From here on in we will provide the knowledge that will help cover any questions you have. You don't have to be an expert - you just need to know the right questions to ask.

Once you have purchased a piece of jewellery, don't forget to make sure that it's protected against possible loss or theft.
Jewellery prices vary considerably and you need factual information to make valid comparisons between items.
For example:
Always consider what sort of precious metal is the piece made from, and how much does it weigh? Are there any gemstones, and if so, what are they?

If at any point you have seen a piece of jewellery and require particulars, do not hesitate to ask for written details. Most jewellers will are only too happy to provide these, so be wary of any jeweller who isn't prepared to confirm their assessments in writing.

GOLD JEWELLERY
Gold jewellery is made from gold of different purities. The majority of gold jewellery sold in the UK is 9ct gold,
which contains 37.5 percent of gold in its composition, while 18ct gold contains 75 percent and 22ct gold
contains 91.6 percent. In the UK, European style jewellery is generally available in 9ct and 18ct,
while Asian jewellery is almost exclusively 22ct. All gold over one gram in weight on sale in the UK has to be
checked for its purity by the old and traditional system of HALLMARKING.

Your first check should be the hallmark.

Makers Mark Carat of Gold Based.
(i.e. 375 = 9ct, 585 = 14ct, 750 = 18ct, 916 = 22ct, 990 + 999 = purest gold)

Makers Mark Purity of Silver
(800 not normally found in UK, 925 = Sterling Silver, 958 Britannia Silver, + 999 = purest silver)

Makers Mark Purity of Platinum
(850, 900 and 999 not generally used in UK, 950 most common)

ASSAY OFFICES are located in:
London
Birmingham
Sheffield
Edinburgh

NEVER buy gold in the UK without seeing the hallmark details. The value of gold jewellery depends on the type of gold from which it is made, its weight and the type of item being made. Machine-made gold chain tends to be cheapest, with hand made and more intricate pieces being the most expensive.

DIAMONDS
When we source the diamonds we sell in our shops, many hours are spent sifting through a wide selection of stones. Diamond merchants from around the world will often offer us a variety of diamond parcels, but only a small number will be selected and end up in the jewellery we manufacture. So complex is the process of assessing a diamond's attributes, that only a selected number of people in our organisation are given the task of choosing which diamonds to buy and which to reject. In order to give you a little insight into the characteristics of diamonds, please click on this link to discover all about the 4C's

TREATED DIAMONDS
What you see is not always what you get. Some diamonds are treated, perhaps to hide a small crack or imperfection. Although this doesn't affect the appearance, it can halve the value. So when buying diamonds, ask your jeweller to state in writing whether or not they have been treated.

PEARLS
We all know pearls come from oysters. In fact they are organically grown deposits of nacre within the body of an oyster. Most pearls are artificially inserted and are therefore known as cultured (as opposed to natural) pearls. The value and beauty of a pearl comes from the unique ability of the crystalline nacre to absorb, refract and reflect light. Sounds technical but it's true. The more the individual pearl is able to do this the more valuable it is. And its size and symmetry are also very important. If you're out hunting for pearls, look for lustre and their ability to reflect and refract light. Roll the strand along a flat surface to check for symmetry and to see whether they have been strung through their exact centres.

SILVER JEWELLERY
Silver is a relatively inexpensive metal, and demand for silver jewellery, including individually designed pieces, has grown over the past few years. Most silver jewellery in the UK is Sterling Silver (92.5 percent pure) and all pieces over 7.78 grams need to be hallmarked. As with gold, check the hallmark, the weight and the silver quality. With silver, the quality and reputation of the individual designer counts for more than the weight and silver quality of the piece. If you ever have to sell your silver jewellery, it will be the attractiveness of your chosen design that will be the key to its value.

COLOURED GEMSTONES
The most popular types of gemstones are: Sapphire; Ruby; Emerald; and Amethyst. If you're choosing a coloured gemstone, ask whether it's genuine, a natural stone or synthetic. Find out whether the colour is natural, or if it has been artificially enhanced. Check that the clarity of the stone is good, and that there are not too many imperfections or flaws that would make the stone more vulnerable to breaking, and be sure that you really like the colour, by examining it in natural daylight.

Last - but by no means least - make sure you get your jeweller to confirm in writing his assessment of both the nature and colour of the stone.

WATCHES
There's more information available on watches than there is on jewellery as most watch manufacturers have set ranges and publish recommended retail prices, so it's much easier to make product and price comparisons. Things to look out for: The manufacturer and brand of the watch, which will give you an idea of the quality.

The type of movement will provide a clue as to the quality of the watch - Swiss made movements are generally the most expensive. Mechanical movements are more expensive to produce than an equivalent quality quartz movement, although they will not be as accurate.

The type of casing - watches can be made from various metals including platinum, gold, silver, gold plated, stainless steel and titanium. Check out the metal and, if it is gold plated, check out the depth of the plating.

The function - does the intended use of the watch fit the design specifications? For example, is the watch water resistant and, if so, to what depth?

Burns Jewellers
Group