If you are looking to treat yourself or a loved one to a special piece of fine jewelry, it is important to know what to look for to ensure you are getting a high-quality piece that’s worth your investment. With so many options on the market and varying levels of quality, shopping for fine jewelry can be overwhelming. That’s why we have put together this buyer’s guide for jewelry shopping and jewelry appraisal for insurance and other purposes.
This guide is filled with expert tips to help you navigate the process with confidence along with professional jewelry valuation.
Look for maker’s mark and jewelry stamps
When shopping for fine jewelry, one of the first things you should look for is a maker’s mark and jewelry stamp. A maker’s mark is a unique symbol or signature that identifies the jewelry designer or manufacturer. It is usually stamped on the jewelry piece, either on the clasp, inside of the band, or in another inconspicuous area. A maker’s mark ensures that you are buying a piece of jewelry from a reputable and reliable source. For expert’s advice, you can get jewelry appraisal NYC.
A jewelry stamp indicates the type and purity of the metal used in the piece. For example, a ’22K’ (.915) stamp means that the piece is made of 22 karat gold. Other common stamps for gold purity are 23K (.955), 18K (.750 ), 14K (.585) and 9K (.375).
Online jewelry valuation is an effortless way to know the true worth of your piece.
Similar to gold, stamps for platinum purity are .999, .950, .900 and .850 representing the platinum content. Knowing what these stamps mean can help you determine the quality and value of the piece you are interested in. So, when shopping for fine jewelry, be sure to look for these important marks and stamps.
If you are looking to buy fine jewelry, it is safe to say that you should steer clear of the stamps we are mentioning now. These stamps signify low quality jewelry such as Gold Plate (GP), Gold Fill (GF), Rolled Gold Plate (RPG) and electroplated gold jewelry (GE or HGE).
How to test the quality of your jewelry pieces
Here are a few tests that you can perform to check the quality of your fine jewelry pieces:
Breath Test for Diamond
The Diamond Breath Test involves breathing on the stone to see if it fogs up. A real diamond doesn’t retain heat, so if the stone becomes foggy, it’s most likely made of glass, zirconium or crystal rather than a genuine diamond.
Magnet Test
The Magnet Test is a simple way to distinguish between genuine and costume jewelry. If a magnet sticks to your jewelry piece, it is most likely made of some type of imitation material as platinum, gold and silver are non magnetic.
Vinegar Test for Gold
The Vinegar Gold Test is a quick and easy way to determine if a piece of gold jewelry is genuine. Simply put a few drops of white vinegar on the item and if the metal doesn’t change color, it is most likely real gold. If the metal changes color, then it is not made of genuine gold.
Jewelry Appraisal for Insurance & Other Purposes
Congratulations on purchasing your fine jewelry piece! Now that you own a valuable and treasured possession, it is essential to protect it properly. One of the most important things you can do after buying fine jewelry is to get it appraised. Jewelry appraisal for insurance in NYC is the process of determining the value of a piece of jewelry based on its quality, materials and market demand.
Online jewelry valuation serves various purposes, but the most crucial is insurance. An appraisal report establishes the value of the piece and helps to ensure that you get proper coverage in case of loss, theft or damage. Besides, it helps you to sell your piece for a fair price, settle an estate or divide assets in a divorce. So, don’t forget to get your fine jewelry appraised by a qualified and certified appraiser to safeguard your investment.
