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I think this has been said, but be true to yourself and your style. When I was getting engaged in 2000, NOBODY was buying YG. But I had always dreamed of having a 6mm YG wedding band, and diamond wise, I didn't really care about the setting, I just wanted a great diamond.

There were times I felt like people thought I didn't have good taste going with something that was "out", but every time I look at my ring, I know it's perfect for me.

My other thought is don't be afraid to think big. I had been wanting a gold bracelet for several years. My worry was losing it though, I have a tendency to take of bracelets without realizing it. I thought the Cartier Love bracelet was a perfect solution, but way too much $. I came close to getting an Ippolita last year, but it was really more delicate than I was looking for, so I waited. Long story short, I have my Cartier Love now, it's wonderful, and I'm so glad I waited.
 
very valid points Hoka!!

My tips -

Don't be impulsive! Think carefully and hard before pulling the trigger on a major purchase - esp. one that is not returnable. Tiffany's gives you 30 days but Cartier will only exchange if you exchange for a higher price item. I believe Saks gives you 30 days too.

Listen to your friend's opinions. I'm so glad I listened to my friend when she told me to buy the WG Love instead of the YG!

Research a lot. Ask questions to unbiased people not just the jewelers in the store trying to make a sale. Ask on this forum! I'm very glad that I decided on resetting my e-ring into the HOF platinum "Significance" instead of the HOF white gold "Repertoire".

Finally, plan and space out your purchases. Don't go into debt. Look for 6-month or 12-month no interest plans. I would not own any of my wonderful watches, Cartier pieces or soon to have e-ring reset if I did not space them out over several years.
 
I recognize your story on WG vs YG Lana! But from a different viewpoint:
my friends told me it was such a pity to buy WG because people might think it's silver... I couldn't care less as I buy jewelry for myself. WG is now popular here but it still does not affect me.
 
My advice:

- Make a wishlist.

- Focus on your dream! After getting my holy grail ring, I'm extremely content and can't really think of any other to ring.

- Try on the pieces and TAKE PICTURES at the store wearing them!!! This way, when you go home to think about the piece, you'll have a real reference instead of imagining again how the piece is and how it looks on you!
 
This is so true. I wear YG and my ering is a marquise stone. DH is offering to do an upgrade for me and I thought about getting a more "instyle" stone since the marquis stone is "out" now. Problem is that my heart is still drawn to that cut. I have tried on some round cut stones, pear, oval, etc... and they don't make my heart sing like a marquis. So I'll be the young, out of style girl with a YG marquise stone upgrade for my ering. That's being true to myself and my style though. I always wear YG and haven't stopped just because it is "out." So figured I can get an out of style stone for my ering since that is what I like. Can't help it if I don't like the "instyle" stones. Love them on other people though, just not on me.



I think this has been said, but be true to yourself and your style. When I was getting engaged in 2000, NOBODY was buying YG. But I had always dreamed of having a 6mm YG wedding band, and diamond wise, I didn't really care about the setting, I just wanted a great diamond.

There were times I felt like people thought I didn't have good taste going with something that was "out", but every time I look at my ring, I know it's perfect for me.

My other thought is don't be afraid to think big. I had been wanting a gold bracelet for several years. My worry was losing it though, I have a tendency to take of bracelets without realizing it. I thought the Cartier Love bracelet was a perfect solution, but way too much $. I came close to getting an Ippolita last year, but it was really more delicate than I was looking for, so I waited. Long story short, I have my Cartier Love now, it's wonderful, and I'm so glad I waited.
 
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This is so true. I wear YG and my ering is a marquise stone. DH is offering to do an upgrade for me and I thought about getting a more "instyle" stone since the marquis stone is "out" now. Problem is that my heart is still drawn to that cut. I have tried on some round cut stones, pear, oval, etc... and they don't make my heart sing like a marquis. So I'll be the young, out of style girl with a YG marquise stone upgrade for my ering. That's being true to myself and my style though. I always wear YG and haven't stopped just because it is "out." So figured I can get an out of style stone for my ering since that is what I like. Can't help it if I don't like the "instyle" stones. Love them on other people though, just not on me.


I don't understand how any diamond shapes can be "out"! They may be more or less popular during a certain period of time, but IMO most engagement rings are pretty timeless. If it looks good on you and you love it, it is ALWAYS "in".
 
1. Treat your jewelry purchases like appliance purchases: buy what you need not what you seem to like {right now}. Likes and dislikes come and go. A great pair of earrings that completes ten different outfits is here to stay. The greatest most beautiful watch ever seen on every celebrity will collect dust and rust in your vanity if you are not a watch person. Just ask me about it. Boy was I glad to unload my Cartier on Ebay!

2. Jewelry does not make a great investment. Buy it to wear not to keep. If you are not wearing it, chances are no one else will. You may think your daughter will be happy to inherit it all... and she will just dump it all on eBay to raise some cash for something else entirely. I have inherited some stuff from my grandmothers. They did make some noises about how me and my cousin will enjoy wearing this and that. Sold it all off. The cousin's hoarding her share. She's not wearing it either though. My guess she never will: she is into costume jewelry where 'emeralds' are as large as saucers. Real emeralds will never cut it for her.

3. Speaking of costume jewelry: cheap and chic!

p-WA
 
I'll second Monica's first point:

1. Definitely save up for your absolute heart's desire.

3. A great jewellery collection doesn't happen by accident.

5. With respect to browsing non-brand jewellery stores, do this when the sales are on. You can get great deals. Also check out pawn brokers and estate jewellery stores. There can be some fantastic treasures waiting to be found.

7. Find a great custom jeweller who will collaborate with you to make pieces of your own design. If you can't find your dream piece in store, design your own.

I'm totally agree with this :smile1:
 
Buy what you love - not what is hot on a celebrity or something someone tells you to have or that looks good on a friend.

Buy what you can afford. There is no point going into debt over jewellery, and if you are buying it as an "investment" forget it. It's very rare for most pieces to appreciate significantly in value over the short (and sometimes even the long) term.

Don't be blinded by an appraisal - the rule of thumb is to pay no more than 1/3 of appraised value. And understand the differences between an appraisal for insurance, fair market, and items (like antiques) that cannot be replaced. Most insurance companies will offer to find or remake a lost or stolen item - or give you a cheque for the amount it would cost THEIR jeweller to make it, and not necessarily the appraised value.

Don't overlook vintage or costume jewellery. Some of my very favourite pieces are costume. Some, it's easy to tell. Others are so beautifully crafted they look absolutely like fine jewellery.

Don't be blinded by name brands. I love the Tiffany Etoile band. And was thrilled to get one just like it from Blue Nile for one-third of the price.

Store your precious pieces properly. Know the needs of the stones. Diamonds scratch, pearls are soft, opals are a water based gel matrix and like pearls, can dry out. Also understand that some woods emit gases that can affect metals so consider that if you have a large wooden jewelry cabinet - it's especially important if you are storing valuable costume pieces.

Educate yourself about what you want to buy. Know your seller. And understand their return and repair policies.

Most of all, don't be afraid to wear your jewellery, whether precious or costume. What are you saving it for???

Enjoy it!
 
All these TPF University lessons are so valuable!

Make sure a new piece has true added value to your current collection! I have a tendency to buy modern WG stacking rings which look more or less the same. I have been able to resell them OR make them into a Pearl ring etc. It just added no added value.
 
Jewelry that has a "dated" design will be priced less than something with a "current" design that is in demand. If you're looking for great bang for your buck, look for jewelry in antique/pawn/whatever stores with high-quality stones that you could reset into a custom design. You can put the materials you don't use, like the gold from the setting, toward the cost of the redesign. I did this several times in college while I was working at a fine jewelry store and ended up with some really gorgeous, custom pieces - that I designed myself! - for a great bargain.
 
Jewelry that has a "dated" design will be priced less than something with a "current" design that is in demand. If you're looking for great bang for your buck, look for jewelry in antique/pawn/whatever stores with high-quality stones that you could reset into a custom design. You can put the materials you don't use, like the gold from the setting, toward the cost of the redesign. I did this several times in college while I was working at a fine jewelry store and ended up with some really gorgeous, custom pieces - that I designed myself! - for a great bargain.

That's great! Makes me remember that you can also 'reinvent' your own jewelry:
- redesign your jewelry if you do not wear it anymore. I did this with a ring with diamonds. Somehow I didn't like it. My jeweler advised to turn it into a pendant and now it's gorgeous. Also, I have turned 2 twin rings into hoops. Love it and now I wear them quite often.

It's such a pity if you are not wearing your jewelry. Reinventing it is a lot of fun.
 
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