Buying jewelry online can sometimes save money, but the lowest price doesn't always mean the best value. The difference may come from the quality of the materials, construction, craftsmanship, and most importantly, the service you receive after the sale.
For example, genuine 18kt gold should contain approximately 75% gold, with the remaining 25% made up of alloy metals. Different alloys and manufacturing methods can affect durability and, importantly, whether a piece can be properly repaired.
When you buy from a reputable local jeweler, you're buying more than the jewelry. You're also buying knowledge, craftsmanship, service, repairs, and a relationship with someone who can stand behind the piece for years to come.
Online jewelry can create problems when something breaks, and the manufacturer requires you to ship it back, or when a local jeweler is asked to repair a piece they didn't make and cannot verify. A jeweler may not know the metal composition, manufacturing process, or construction, making a proper repair difficult or impossible.
There's also an important question for consumers:
If your jewelry is valuable enough for you to repair, isn't it valuable enough to purchase from someone you trust?
The cheapest ring or chain isn't necessarily a bad purchase, just as an expensive piece isn't automatically better. The real question is what you're getting for your money and who will be there after the sale.
Good jewelry should be made to last, maintain, repair, and potentially pass down to the next generation.
Don't just buy the jewelry. Buy the relationship behind it.
For example, genuine 18kt gold should contain approximately 75% gold, with the remaining 25% made up of alloy metals. Different alloys and manufacturing methods can affect durability and, importantly, whether a piece can be properly repaired.
When you buy from a reputable local jeweler, you're buying more than the jewelry. You're also buying knowledge, craftsmanship, service, repairs, and a relationship with someone who can stand behind the piece for years to come.
Online jewelry can create problems when something breaks, and the manufacturer requires you to ship it back, or when a local jeweler is asked to repair a piece they didn't make and cannot verify. A jeweler may not know the metal composition, manufacturing process, or construction, making a proper repair difficult or impossible.
There's also an important question for consumers:
If your jewelry is valuable enough for you to repair, isn't it valuable enough to purchase from someone you trust?
The cheapest ring or chain isn't necessarily a bad purchase, just as an expensive piece isn't automatically better. The real question is what you're getting for your money and who will be there after the sale.
Good jewelry should be made to last, maintain, repair, and potentially pass down to the next generation.
Don't just buy the jewelry. Buy the relationship behind it.