How to Find The Best Jewelry Deals: 6 Tips to Shop Wisely
Shopping for jewelry can be a daunting task. Not only do you have the pressure of choosing the perfect piece for the person you are buying for, but also the stress of selecting from the never-ending jewelers and online marketplaces. It’s overwhelming, to say the least.
With that being said, it doesn’t have to be. Armed with a little bit of know-how and a sprinkling of common sense, choosing the best piece of jewelry for the best price doesn’t have to cause you any more stress than it should.
If you are in the market for the perfect piece of jewelry for your friend or loved one, but don’t want to pay an armload, here are some excellent tips for the best jewelry deals.
Finding The Best Deals on Jewelry
1. Avoid Prestigious Brands
Companies spend millions of dollars every year on improving their brand and their awareness. The bigger the brand, the more they can charge for their products because of their perceived value.
If you want to save yourself a pretty penny when shopping for jewelry, whether that’s an engagement ring, a diamond bracelet, a watch or an earring, take a look at the smaller, less obvious jewelers. The quality tends to be exactly the same, just at a marginally lower price point.
2. Shop Online
To build on the previous point about branding, another massive cost for regular retail businesses are the overheads associated with owning a brick and mortar business. Online business doesn’t have that problem. They need a domain name, hosting and a good-looking website design. That’s it!
Online jewelers tend to have far fewer overheads than a regular brick and mortar business, meaning a lot of that extra money is given to you, the customer, in the form of cheaper products.
When shopping online for expensive jewelry, make sure the vendor you choose is reputable. It’s easier to be scammed on the internet than it is in real life, so be diligent when buying jewelry online.
3. Consider Silver
Gold is all the rage right now, though, it’s always been a popular item. However, silver is becoming trendier, seen everywhere on the fashion scene. It’s also considerably cheaper!
If you don’t mind compromising on the type of metal that your new piece of jewelry is made of, consider choosing silver as opposed to gold. The amount of money you will save is enough to justify the compromise.
4. Second-Hand Jewelry
This tip on finding the best jewelry deals is not for everyone, but it’s worth mentioning anyway. Pawn shops and second-hand jewelers often stock some amazing pieces of jewelry that look as good as new, just at a heavily discounted price.
Second-hand jewelry also has the mystique and history attached to it that brand-new jewelry does not. Always make sure that the jewelry is certified before you buy it. Again, it’s easier to be scammed by a pawn shop than it is from a reputable dealer.
5. More Carats Does Not Always Equal Better
The term carat refers to the weight of a stone, not its size. If you take a 1-carat diamond and a 0.9-carat diamond in the palm of your hand, the visible difference is often negligible. However, the difference in cost between the two is usually dramatic.
Save yourself some money by considering a step down in carat. Your eyes won’t tell the difference, but your bank account certainly will.
6. Set a Strict Budget
When you don’t have a strict budget in place, it’s easy to overspend. You are more likely to justify paying a higher price for something if you are loose with your budgeting. The first rule of saving money on a purchase is to know the highest price you are willing to pay, and sticking to it.
These 6 tips should help you find the best jewelry deals online.
