Jewellery Leeds | Learning How to Buy Cheaper

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How to Buy Cheaper Good Quality Jewellery

So, you are looking to buy a piece of fine jewellery…

You logged onto your computer, fired up Google and typed in, Jewellery Leeds to perhaps locate a jewellers near you in Leeds area, or to maybe do a little research, or check out who is having a sale on those cute pair of earrings or necklace you have had your eye on….and on and on the reasons go.

I’d like to ask you to read this article and consider for a moment whether you really want to buy that diamond ring or that bracelet or pair of pearl ear rings at hyped up prices?

I’d freely argue that at no other time in history, or at least “our” history, has it been a better time to maybe look for jewellery somewhere besides the H. Samuel’s or Berry’s Jewellers. To perhaps look for that Raymond Weil Ladies Tango Watch or perhaps a pair of wonderful Bella Diamanti 18 ct white gold earrings, or even that special engagement or wedding ring online at the largest auction site in the world… ebay!

Think about it. In today’s fragile economy, people are selling things that they spent a lot of money on at a fraction of the price just to put food on the table. So many people have lost their jobs or retirement funds or money in the stock market and you can fine incredible deals on all kinds of fine jewellery at never before seen prices.

However, Amazon UK is proven to have best cheapest deals around. With excellent established reputation, they shouldn’t be overlooked.

Watches, pendants, bracelets, engagement rings, wedding rings, sterling silver, gold, necklaces, you name it, it is out there and in awesome condition and hundreds or even thousands less than you would pay at retail!

Or, how about a site like Amazon where you can save 50% or more over retail for a brand new piece of jewellery!

Jewellery Leeds is a website on a mission… to save you money!

You will find numerous articles on all things jewellery here as well as links to jewellery you can buy online at auction on sites like ebay, the largest online auction site in the world!

In fact, I just recently purchased an exquisite Princess 18K White Gold 1.00CT Diamond and 2.30CT Sapphire ring that was on sale at the Diamond Store UK. I have saved £1670.00!

It has a wonderful blue saffire stone, gleaming within a diamond-encrusted outline. Best of all, it has been made from conflict free diamonds. In my research, I have found similar for 3 times the price.

It is in beautiful condition and although I absolutely love it I have put it up for sale.  I’m in no hurry to sell it, I mean thankfully we have food on the table, so I can try and get at least £1000 more than I paid for it!

And that brings me to another point about this site. We have articles on buying jewellery on reduced prices or finding vintage pieces and turning around and selling them at a profit if that is what you might want to do…it is a great business model!

So, if you were looking for directions to H. Samuels, Berrys Jewellers, Phillip Stoner, or any of the dozens of other fine jewellers in Leeds area, maybe you should cancel that trip for the moment and dig in here and do a little diamond mining of your own.

>>Click Here to go to Amazon UK Jewellery<<

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All About Pearls In One Place

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At Jewellery Leeds we love our pearls.

You know, the cool thing about pearls, if we put aside how elegant and beautiful they are,  is how they come to life, both naturally and cultured. We have put together some essential information to educate you a bit before you go on a pearl shopping spree :-) .

Pearl quality is affected by a number of factors. At Jewellery Leeds we recommend that costumers learn some basics of choosing fine pearls with an aim to make your pearls purchase truly enjoyable experience and a sound investment.

Pearls Size:
Pearl size is determined by two factors: First, the size of the implanted nucleus and second, the thickness of the nacre that grows layer upon layer around the nucleus. A large cultured pearl that lacks nacre thickness has a low value, and tends to discolour and crack fairly easily. A pearl with a thick nacre coating will retain its luster and beauty for a lifetime when properly cared for. For pearls of similar quality, the most important other determinant of price is the size of the pearl. The size is generally measured in millimeters.

Pearls Shape:
Perfectly round cultured pearls are the rarest. Although most cultured pearls are nearly round, only about 1% are perfectly spherical. To check a strand for roundness, roll it across a flat surface. The strand should move evenly and smoothly and not bounce around like your grand pas old geloppy!.

Pearls Luster:
Luster refers to the surface property that imbues cultured pearls with their shine and beauty. When checking pearls for luster, view them while standing with your back to a source of light. The sharper your reflection on the surface of the pearl, the higher is the luster and the better the quality.

Pearls Color:
Pearls come in a variety of shades, with the major classifications being white, pink, silver, cream, gold, and black. Choice pearls also have a secondary colour, or “overtone”, around the surface of the pearl. These overtones are usually rose, green or blue. The colour should emanate from deep within the center of the pearl. All the pearls in a strand should be consistent in color.

Pearls Surface:
Just as with any product of nature, all cultured pearls have minor imperfections. A quality cultured pearl is free of large pits or blemishes.

Akoya Pearls:
Akoya pearls are cultivated using Pinctada Fukata oysters. Although most Akoya pearls are cultivated in Japan, they are also cultured in the tropical waters off the coast of Korea and China and southward as far as Sri Lanka. Akoya pearls are from two to ten millimeters in size, and their shape is typically round or off-round. Colours range from pink to white and yellow. Typically pearls are harvested after about eighteen months to three years of cultivation, reaching about 0.5 mm in diameter after eighteen months in the host oyster. Akoya pearls are renowned for their high luster and rich colour.

Tahitian Black Pearls:
Tahitian Black pearls are cultivated from Pinctada Margaritifera oysters (black lip oysters) found in French Polynesian waters. Black South Sea pearls come in a wide range of colors from silver / gray, blue, and red / purple to dark green, with peacock being the most valuable. Cultivation time averages about two years. Tahitian pearls have long been highly prized by many cultures for their exotic colours and brilliant luster.

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How to Find the Best Wedding Jewellery

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We here at Jewellery Leeds love to talk about weddings. Naturally, when you are all head over heels in love, impulse is at the highest level especially knowing that this wonderful, life long commitment is ahead of you.

If you are about to get married, at least try to imply some common sense when choosing wedding jewellery.

Here are some tips:

When it comes time to get married, you have a lot of things on your mind. In addition to all of the planning that goes into a wedding, you have big decisions to make on wedding jewelry. The engagement ring, for instance, is the first thing you have to think about. Saving for that purchase is a big deal, so you want to make sure you pick out the right one. You’ll also have to think about a wedding ring, but that’s secondary to the engagement ring.

Finding the perfect diamond ring is all about the perfect fit. That’s not meant in a literal sense, but more in how the item fits your needs. Diamond rings are expensive, but they can vary in price depending upon size, cut, clarity, and a host of different factors. Before you can pick out your engagement ring, you have to know what your budget is. Diamond rings can run, typically, anywhere from £1000 to £30,000. You can buy a bigger, more expensive ring, but that’s only for the high rollers. A good rule of thumb is to save three whole months’ worth of pay. Depending upon your salary, this could work.

When you figure out how much you’re willing to spend, you need to think about the kind of cut your future bride wants. You can usually find this out without giving away the fact that you’re going to propose. In passing, find out if she wants a princess cut, an emerald cut, or maybe just a round cut. The options are almost endless, so you need to really understand what she’s looking for. Diamond rings might carry a big price tag, but they aren’t all created equally. Some looks are more suitable for different women, depending upon their taste.

Another important “C” word is clarity. Many people like to judge diamond rings based upon their size or their price, but clarity is much more important in the grand scheme of things. A good engagement ring will really shine when the light hits it. Sometimes, people settle for cloudier rings that are less expensive. This might be good for your budget, but it won’t give you a great looking engagement ring. Make sure that you ask and find out the grade of the diamond clarity. Jewelers are required to give out this information, so make sure you take advantage of it.

Shopping for engagement rings is fun, so you need to approach it that way. You shouldn’t have to worry about things while you are doing it. You should figure out how much you are willing to spend, and don’t stress if it’s not a whole lot. You can find some great diamond rings for less than you would think. It’s important that you do all of the research and above all else, make the ring fit your future bride. She will love it pretty much not matter what you happen to spend on it, but you’d rather have a great ring than an average looking one.

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Avoiding Most Common Diamond Scams

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When it comes to diamonds, there are numerous scams to avoid. Most scams are minor, but there are some major ones that come up from time to time concerning the buying and selling of diamonds. Scams occur simply because most people who buy diamonds – for whatever reasons – don’t know that much about diamonds. Therefore, they are easily fooled.

Jewellery shops  like to show their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask to see the diamond in a different, darker type of lighting as well. Also, jewellery shops often run ‘fluorescence’ scams to varying degrees. Referring to a diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very unique and special, but in fact, this type of diamond is of lesser quality – even though the jeweler will try to make you think you are getting something special.

A common scam that most jewellery shops participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam. The tag on the piece of jewellery, usually a ring, only states the total carat weight of all diamonds in the piece, instead of listing the total weights separately for each diamond. This leads consumers to believe that the main diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it is. Ask what the total carat weight of the center stone is. Also beware of fractions. Jewellers are allowed to round off diamond weights. This means that if the jeweller tells you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is probably between ½ and ¾ carat – but closer to ¾.

Some truly unscrupulous jewellers target those who want appraisals on diamonds that were given to them as gifts or that were purchased elsewhere. They will try to tell you that the diamond is worthless, or worth less than it actually is worth – and offer to take it off your hands or trade it for a much better diamond, along with the cash to make up the difference. This is called low balling. Get a second, third, and even a forth opinion before taking any action.

Jewellery shops often run ‘fluorescence’ scams to varying degrees. Referring to a diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very unique and special, but in fact, this type of diamond is of lesser quality – even though the jeweller will try to make you think you are getting something special. Jewellery shops also like to show their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask to see the diamond in a different, darker type of lighting as well.

Another common dirty trick is to switch the diamond you have chosen and paid for with one of lesser quality and value when you leave it to be set in a piece of jewellery, or leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only way to avoid this is to do business with one trustworthy jeweller. Avoid jewellers that you have not done business with in the past.

There are many more scams that jewellery shops commonly pull on unsuspecting consumers. Just use your best judgment, and purchase your diamonds with the utmost care and consideration.

More information about diamond scams at: Diamond Helpers

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