The last few years have seen the rise of feel-good dressing. People are investing in items that bring joy and meaning to their lives. This includes fine jewelry. Dopamine-inducing, sentimental pieces of jewelry, along with online shopping have created a new trend that we are totally here for. Famous jewelry brands like Angara have made buying fine jewelry online easy and hassle-free. But if you are a rookie at the whole online-shopping-for-fine-jewelry thing, and are feeling a bit overwhelmed about where and how to start, we have you covered.
Fine jewelry is an investment and we understand if you are feeling cautious before buying it. Big-ticket items such as fine jewelry require a lot of research and understanding before you click ‘buy’. Whether you are buying it for yourself or a loved one, here are a few things that will help you navigate the world of online jewelry shopping.
What is Fine Jewelry?
A piece of jewelry that is made out of high-value metals like gold, silver or platinum which may or may not include precious gemstones is qualified as fine jewelry. By high-value, we mean the metals that have a higher karat rating, typically 18K or 22K, which in turn means they have a higher purity level. Fine jewelry may cost more than semi-fine jewelry or fashion jewelry, but it lasts longer, resists tarnish and is almost always accompanied by a warranty of some sort. Fine jewelry is a forever buy and is a better investment if it is something that you will wear every day, like engagement or wedding rings and customized pieces that have sentimental value.
Fine jewelry, unlike fashion jewelry, is a forever buy, and we have a few tips to help you choose pieces that you will love wearing and showing off!
#1 Make Sure the Jewelry Design is Versatile
You are gearing up to spend significantly on fine jewelry. Make sure it is something you will wear every day, can be layered with your existing pieces and will look good with an LBD as well as a crisp white shirt.
#2 Don’t Give in to Trends
The wheels of trends turn slowly in the world of jewelry. We say do not go for seasonal, fashion-driven jewelry. When you are investing in fine jewelry, choose pieces that express your personal style. Jewelry has fast become a way of expressing yourself, so make sure your jewelry says something about who you are.
#3 Break the Rules and Have Fun
The fun thing about personal style is, there is no definition to it. As you change, so does it. Whether you want to wear mismatched earrings, or layer different metals together or even mix it up like wearing vintage jewelry with something contemporary, we say go for it.
#4 Set a Budget and Stick to It
It is funny to think that something so small will cost so much, but that’s fine jewelry for you. Luckily there is a wide range of choices in terms of budget, design and materials used, so you can get something perfect for your requirements. Exploring different websites will help you here. A little comparative study will help you understand what is the best quality your budget can accommodate. Keeping this in mind, be wary of too high prices or even too low prices. Too high a price means they are charging overheads, and too low means they have compromised in either the quality or the manufacturing process.
#5 Think About What You Want to Invest in
Think about what jewelry pieces you currently have in your rotation, and which ones you wear most often. If you are not a necklace person, then buying a few different necklaces just because you saw ‘layering’ is all the rage on Instagram, doesn’t make sense. Buy fine jewelry pieces that you are comfortable wearing often.
#6 What Style Are You Most Comfortable With
Do you like chain bracelets, cuffs or bangles, or even tennis bracelets? If it’s necklaces, do you prefer chokers, mid-length necklaces or longer ones or even lariats? What suits your personal dressing style the best? There are so many options to choose from, so it is important to understand what the seller offers. If a particular seller does not offer a piece of jewelry in a particular style you want, you can always find another seller.
#7 Factor in Your Lifestyle While Buying Fine Jewelry Online
This simply means you take into consideration where you will be mostly wearing your piece of fine jewelry. If you work in an office for the most part of the day, you might want pieces that are functional, dainty and relatively non-flashy. If you work in the arts, you might want to consider your particular way of expressing yourself and go with colorful gemstones in creative cuts and settings. If you are a very outdoorsy person, you will want to wear something tough and scratch resistant.
#8 Choose the Seller After Careful Consideration
There are so many online jewelry retailers that it may be difficult to decide where to buy from. Some things to consider are where you are getting the best value for your budget, what deals the seller might be offering at the moment and their return, exchange, warranty and shipping policies. Check their customer reviews and their online ratings, and also try and speak to their customer service help desk to get an idea about the brand. Enquire about the hallmark on the jewelry and authenticity certificates for gemstones, and make sure they provide them along with the purchase.
#9 Understand the Size of the Jewelry
It is important to be as accurate as possible with the size of fine jewelry, especially where rings are concerned as they are the most difficult to resize. Keep a tape measure handy and make sure you understand the length, circumferences, width, thickness, etc. of a piece of jewelry. You may find that even after careful consideration, the piece of jewelry might not sit on your body the way you had imagined. So, it is always in your best interest to get yourself measured for rings at a jeweler and also understand the return, re-sizing or exchange policies of the store. It is also a good idea to request the store to send you images of somebody actually wearing the piece, if possible.
Buying fine jewelry online may seem like a tricky process to navigate, but once you do your due diligence, you will find that it is impossible not to enjoy buying jewelry from the comfort of your home!
