The Jewelry Box

Diamond Pricing – How it Works

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:39:31 +0000

Thought you might be interested to know how the final price of a diamond (and other gems) is reached. You might think it all comes down to just size but there’s a lot more to it than that.

Pricing most products is quite easy. Determine how much it costs to make the item, how much it costs to market that item, and then mark it up by 15 – 30% or more.

Simple, right? But when it comes to pricing diamonds things aren’t quite that simple. There are other factors to take into account before you get to a final price for a diamond.

Diamond prices are determined first by adding the cost of the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond, and all other costs necessary to turn the rough diamond into a marketable stone. Depending on the importance of the diamond, an independent company may be called in to certify the grade of the diamond based on color, cut, clarity, and weight.

From this point on, the diamond becomes more expensive each time it changes hands, until it finally reaches a retailer, where the price is raised a bit more. Before reaching the retailer, however, the diamond must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, to the independent grading company, and then to the Primary market. Once it has reached the primary market, it will be purchased by diamond dealers and wholesalers, and from there it will be sold to retailers.

As you can see, the earlier you can buy a diamond in the process, the lower the cost of the diamond will be – but not the value. The value remains the same and is based on what the diamond will sell for in the market place – through a retailer.

If you own a diamond, and you have no idea how much it is worth, you can have it appraised, but the appraisal may not be accurate. You will be better off obtaining a certificate through GIA – Gemological Institute of America. With the information this provides, you can use a cutter’s guide to accurately determine what your diamond is worth.

There are also many diamond price calculators available. These can be found on the Internet, and lots of diamond dealers use these as well. You must realize, however, that before you can accurately price a diamond, you need to know quite a bit about diamonds, such as different cuts, clarity, color, and weight – and how each of those aspects adds to the value of a diamond, or maybe even decreases the value of the diamond as the case may be.

Again, you will be better off if you get a Diamond Grading Report, and use that information to look up the price in one of the guides the diamond cutting industry uses. This will give you the most accurate value .Related Posts:

Gregg Wolf Jewelry And The Brand’s Illustrious Founder Gregg Wolf.

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:11:32 +0000

A useful article on the Gregg Wolf culture, Gregg Wolf Jewelry & its famous Founder Gregg Wolf. This essay takes the reader through the founding of the Gregg Wolf label label and its meteoric promotion to the peak of the gothic jewelry industry.

Jewelry designer du jour Gregg Wolf has been turning out sterling silver gorgeousness in the East Village for wellover 20 years. Famous for his much publicized relations with the late guru Stephen Sprouse, Gregg Wolf jewelry is enviably famous on his own for bearing iconic gothic rock n roll designs, such as the Gregg Wolf draped chain wing backed necklace & the Gregg Wolf padlocked silver slave cuffs.

Gregg Wolf jewelry is most aptly described as bold, fearless, nonconformist, and utterly correct – somewhat like Gregg Wolf himself. Gregg Wolf sterling silver gothic jewelry pieces are fantastic entrance-makers and are usually carried off by people who dare to display daring statements. Gregg Wolf is as the Charles James of jewelers due to his obsession with color & fit.

Why replicas, fakes and Gregg Wolf Designs inspired jewelry is rising in popularity

In recent years, Gregg Wolf Designs jewelry has faced challenges from countless offshore competitors with the talent, resources & ability to offer equally detailed, beautiful & expertly crafted luxury gothic styled silver jewelry to bikers & other rock-culture lovers at a tiny fraction of Gregg Wolf Designs jewelry prices. Today, fans of gothic silver jewelry are given a wide range of alternatives to original Gregg Wolf Designs jewelry. Gothic sterling silver jewelry fans are waking up to the ugly truth behind branding, which is actually no other than an imaginary concept. Brand is not something that customers can always be expected to bear the cost for. Given the easy availability of cheaper & just as intricate offerings, it is no wonder that designer label jewelry isn’t an unusual or rare sight on the streets despite the luxury brand prices of the original. The new and somewhat wiser sentiment is: why bust the bank on designer label jewelry when one could easily get a nearly identical piece made from the same top quality 925 sterling silver at a tiny fraction of the cost?

However, in choosing alternatives in the form of fakes or similarly styled inspired designs, it is important to confirm the grade of jewelry you are buying. Gregg Wolf Designs Jewelry competitors range from top grade alternatives & close replicas by bona fide jewelers to mass-producing manufacturers churning out cheap imitations made from base materials such as steel & copper.

For a thorough & comprehensive documentary of fakes and replicas, the writeup at the Chrome Hearts page will be very useful and informative.

The writer is a New York-based veteran jewelry expert with a full decade of craftsmanship and a legacy of strong customer satisfaction. He is an expert on jewelry craft and gothic fashion analysis. If you wish to find out everything you need to know about selecting best grade replicas made from real sterling silver jewelry, visit Gothic JewelryRelated Posts:

Black Diamond Rings Combine Unique Stones With Beautiful Craftsmanship

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:50:20 +0000

Black diamond rings and jewelry are all the rage right now. If you find yourself wondering what a black diamond is, rest assured that you are not alone. Diamonds are the result of pressurized carbon; when this carbon is not correctly pressurized during early stages of growth, that diamond turns into a black diamond. As the carbon is swallowed up by the growing gem, it turns into a uniquely colored black diamond.

Black diamond jewelry is a bold and gorgeous way to make a statement. Although these gems are not considered the same quality as their true diamond counterparts, they are becoming equally popular. People around the world of all classes and social standings have been known to wear black diamonds on special occasions.

Does your significant other dislike traditional diamonds and other gemstones that are on the brighter side of the color spectrum? Get her a black diamond solitaire or a ring with a black diamond. Unlike some other gemstones, black diamond jewelry will coordinate with just about every outfit; it looks just as elegant as previously mentioned gemstones as well. Make sure you employ the same care as you would when shopping for a regular diamond when you shop for a black diamond. Make sure you take your time, weigh your choices, and consider each one carefully before making your final purchase.

Despite being considered low quality diamond products, don’t let their carbon impurity put you off from buying black diamond rings. Some of the world’s most famous diamonds are famous because of their impurities. The Hope Diamond for example, is an incredibly famous blue diamond and gains it’s blue color from a boron impurity that is present during the diamonds formation.

Despite being imperfect, pink diamonds are sought after because they are one of the rarest colored diamond types in the world. If you can find a pink diamond ring, it will be a true treasure for whoever ends up wearing it.

Black diamond rings are a true treasure that will be cherished in your family for decades to come. With their bold combination of beauty and rarity, you will be delighted to pass them down from generation to generation. Despite being imperfect, black diamond rings are a wonderful item to pass down throughout your family; no one is perfect and these gems reflect the human spirit.

Rare and uniquely colored diamonds are quickly becoming all the rage. Today’s black diamond rings are gorgeous, and are even more affordable than ever before.Related Posts:

A Jewelry Display Stand Is Practical, Beautiful, And Economical

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:08:16 +0000

Once, a jewelry display stand was used only by stores to hold special items they were offering. However, the stand has evolved, and the new styles can now be used as a decorating touch for home or store. New designs and materials have produced stands that are a beautiful accent even without jewelry. Stands have moved into the boudoir as an accent piece that also serves a purpose, and retailers have also benefited from the striking new models.

Stands to hold pierced earrings are very popular and come in a tremendous range of styles. Materials used include acrylic, metal, and wire. They may be simple, such as a rectangle or ladder, or intricate, such as a dragonfly, birdcage, or tree. The most common type are made to hold only earrings, but there are also styles that will hold one or two necklaces or bracelets.

Ring stands are often shaped like a hand, although some merely feature posts in the center to hold the rings. They may be made of wood, metal, or acrylic and may also be lined with black velvet to showcase the items. Some have a bowl at the base to accommodate other items, but most are designed specifically to hold rings and little else.

Like earring holders, necklace stands are available in a wide variety of styles. They may also be made from many different materials, including acrylic, wood, pewter, wire, and even copper or silver. These may be shaped like dragonflies, trees, or dressmaking forms. If there are arms, they may be fixed in place or they may rotate for easier access. The arms may be solid, allowing numerous items to be placed on them, or may feature notches or pegs to hold single items. It is not uncommon to find them with bowls to accommodate earrings or rings while making the stand more stable.

Combination stands can accommodate several different types of jewelry. Many have holes for pierced earrings, shorter arms for bracelets, and long arms for necklaces. A few styles even feature a post to hold rings. Their designs may be simple and basic or quite intricate. A wide range of materials can also be used in their construction.

Plastic necklace displays can be used to hold one dramatic piece or several chains. Most are lined with felt or black velvet to showcase the beauty of the piece while protecting delicate chains. Some styles are basically a board easel with notches in the top or along both sides to securely hold the chains. Others resemble a neck which allows the necklace to be shown as it will look when worn.

The easiest way to locate stands is to shop online. Dealers who sell costume jewelry or supplies and fixtures for retail jewelers are often good sources. Some towns have local dealers, but they are rare in some parts of the country and may have a limited selection.

In the home, stands help protect chains from tangling, scratches on pendants are reduced, and earrings are kept better organized. By adding your personal collection, you also create a decorating touch that will be different from all others. As a retailer, the use of stands lets you showcase your wares in an elegant manner that will help draw customers to your items.

Locate a fabulous jewelry display stand that will highlight and enhance your jewelry today! You will find a jewelry tree that will fit all your needs when you visit today!Related Posts:

Buying Diamonds Online -What to Watch Out For

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:51:11 +0000

With such a huge potential for scams on the Intnernet and especially when it comes to jewelry, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.

So why would you want to buy diamonds online instead of from your local jewelry store?

Price

Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

Choice

One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!

Diamond Buying Tips

Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices.

Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping.

Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints. Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase.

Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!Related Posts:

What’s the Best Way to Store Jewelry?

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:05:16 +0000

Found a great article on the best ways of storing your jewelry and thought it worth sharing here.

Proper Jewelry Storage

Believe it or not, many people abuse their jewelry. They keep them in drawers, in random boxes, and even left on countertops. Even if you’ve been lucky enough not to lose any pieces of your collection, not properly storing your jewelry can lead to damage and lost pieces. If you want to keep your jewelry safe, here are some jewelry storage tips.

Purchase a Jewelry Box for Jewelry Storage

A jewelry box is the best way to store your jewelry and keep your collection safe. Your jewelry box doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to be able to handle the type of jewelry you have. For example, some jewelry boxes are designed specifically for rings while others are designed for necklaces and bracelets. You don’t want to force your jewelry into a box that’s not designed for it. Instead find one that can house your individual items appropriately. A jewelry box is the perfect solution for your jewelry storage needs.

If Jewelry Boxes aren’t Your Thing, Get a Jewelry Organizer

Some people just don’t want a jewelry box or don’t have enough pieces to justify purchasing one. This is understandable, but it doesn’t solve your jewelry storage issue. So, instead of a jewelry box, get yourself a jewelry organizer. Jewelry organizers vary in design and shape. Some organizers are segmented, lined trays designed to store all your jewelry pieces while others are specifically crafted stands for specific pieces, such as bracelets and necklaces. The key to selecting the right jewelry organizer is to purchase one that can store all pieces in your collection without the jeopardizing the integrity of each piece. So if a jewelry box isn’t your thing, but you’re still looking for a jewelry storage solution, a jewelry organizer is what you need.

Jewelry Storage for On the Road

Taking your jewelry box with you when you travel is not normally an option. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t safely store your jewelry to take along on a trip. There are travel jewelry organizers that are designed to help you keep your jewelry safe when you’re on the road. These travel organizers are padded pouches that have pockets for your different jewelry items. They offer a quick and convenient solution to storing your jewelry when you’re abroad. Travel jewelry cases aren’t as durable or solid as a jewelry box, but it’s the next best thing when you’re traveling.

Lisa Becker is an avid jewelry box collector and writes for Jewelry Boxes 123: Shop For Your Perfect Jewelry Box. Her expertise regarding jewelry boxes provides insight into the world of jewelry boxes and armoires. For more articles, visit Jewelry Boxes 123 Articles

If you’re going to get the most from your jewelry then you want to make sure you follow the tips Lisa has outlined here. Whichever option you choose, it’ll help you keep your jewelry organized and in tip top condition.Related Posts:

Selling Gold Jewelry – Is It Worth It?

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:21:40 +0000

The focus of this site has always been more on buying jewelry than selling it. But with the seemingly, never ending parade of sites wanting to buy your gold jewelry, it seemed a good idea to address the question of selling your jewelry, whether it’s gold or not. The question you need to ask is whether the money you will recieve for your gold jewelry is worth more than the sentimental and emotional value attached to it.

Gold Prices

If you’re wondering why this particular market has sprung up and seems to have taken over every TV station, and every online website, it’s because of the price of gold. Quite simply, the price of gold has gone up, almost 300% in the last year alone. So the gold you bought a few years ago is worth far more now than you paid for it.

Which of course means that people are willing to pay for it. Unfortunately, the companies that have the money to advertise are the ones who are most likely to pay you the least amount of money for any gold jewelry you try to sell. Despite the fact the price of gold has risen so dramatically you can expect to recieve a darn sight less for your gold jewelry than you initially paid.

If you think that clearing out all your old jewelry and selling it to one of these companies is the best way to make some quick money then please think again. Oftentimes, jewelry value isn’t measured in dollars anyway. No amount of money can replace the feelings and sentiments that particular jewelry pieces evoke. A family heirloom that has been passed from generation to generation cannot be reduced to a monetary figure.

Of course, not all jewelry is sentimental. And indeed some items may be just reminders of times we would prefer to forget. But whatever the piece of jewelry is and wherever it came from, do bear in mind you won’t get back what you paid.

Jewelry Selling Tips

If you do have old jewelry (of whatever type) that you wish to sell, then sell it yourself. Have it valued first so that you aren’t taken advantage of by some unscrupulous buyer. Your local jewelry store will most probably offer a valuation service. In fact, your local jeweler may well be the best person to consider selling your jewelry to.

Open an account at Ebay and put your jewelry up for auction. Ebay gives you the whole world as prospective customers for your jewelry pieces. And the more customers you have access to, the greater the potential sale price.

One thing’s for sure, if you miss out the companies that are springing up purely to take advantage of the spiralling gold prices, then you can take advantage of those prices yourself.Related Posts:

Online Jewelry Quality

admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:52:00 +0000

A number of people are concerned about the quality of jewelry that is sold online. And when you see some of the sites that sell jewelry online you can understand why.

But as long as you shop from reputable online jewelry retailers, there shouldn’t be any concerns about the quality of the jewelry you’re buying.

As we’ve said before here at The Jewelry Box, buying jewelry online should still be fun. You shouldn’t be worrying that the jewelry is going to be of a lower quality than that found in a high street jewelry store.

Jewelry bought online should be covered by the same standards and guarantees that applies everywhere else. And when you buy from reputable retailers, you can rest assured that it is.

The beauty of shopping for jewelry online means that you don’t have to leave the house to find the perfect piece. There’s no aggressive, high pressure salesmen, standing over your shoulder, trying to convince you to buy something that isn’t really what you’re looking for, or is out of your price range.

If you have any concerns at all about buying your jewelry online then don’t do it. It’s that simple. And this applies whether your’e buying an expensive, one of a kind, jewelry item, or a cheap piece of fashion jewelry.Related Posts:

E bay Jewelry Auctions

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:15:19 +0000

Ebay jewelry auctions are hugely popular with online jewelry shoppers. Of course, Ebay is a popular auction site, no matter what you’re searching for. Let’s face it, if you can’t buy it on Ebay, it probably doesn’t exist.

But jewelry is very personal so you might not think that an auction site would prove very popular for buying these types of items. After all, a lot of the items on Ebay are second hand, and they don’t come with the usual returns policy that you would find from dedicated jewelers or retail stores.

However, the jewelry auctions on Ebay more than make up for this with what they do offer.

Value

Even buying brand new jewelry from Ebay, you will find that the prices compare very favorably to those of dedicated jewelry stores. This is down to a number of reasons, but one of the main ones is the fact that sellers on Ebay don’t have the same costs as a dedicated business.

Ebay Community

Before you buy anything from anyone on Ebay, you can see immediately whether that person has a good or bad reputation. Customers are encouraged to leave feedback on how quickly the item was recieved, whether it matched the description, the level of customer service, etc.

Of course,you can also check out the feedback and testimonials of dedicated jewelry retailers, but with Ebay, you know that the feedback comes from genuine customers, just like you. Their whole community of millions of shoppers is there to let you know exactly what you can expect from all their sellers.

Paypal

One of the greatest concerns when buying anything online is that of fraud. Customers are rightly wary of entering credit card details on a strange website. But with Ebay, you get to pay for your purchases using Paypal, one of the greatest inventions of all time as far as I’m concerned.

Your details are never disclosed to the person from whom you’re buying and if you should have a dispute over an item, then you’re covered by Paypal.

Buying jewelry online, is like any other online purchase. You need to be careful and you need to research the site and the retailer before you hand over your hard earned cash.

Online auction sites are becoming increasingly popular for all types of goods and services, but Ebay is still the market leader in this area. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to lose it’s reputation anytime soon.

As a regular Ebay shopper myself, that was the reason I decided to add the Ebay Jewelry Auction page to the site. I’m pleased that many of you have found it helpful and hope you continue to use it when searching for jewelry on Ebay.Related Posts:

Buying Jewelry Online Should Still Be Fun

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:21:42 +0000

Just because you’re looking to buy jewelry online instead of from a jewelry store doesn’t mean that it should in any way be less pleasurable. Yet, for many folks it’s still fraught with worries and panic invariably sets in after you’ve made your purchase.

What if it’s the wrong style?
What if it doesn’t fit?
What if it doesn’t look anything like it did in the picture?
What if it gets lost in the post? Or damaged? Or…..

Sheesh, it’s a wonder any jewelry ever gets sold on the Internet. And yet it does, every single day money is transferred to online jewelry stores in return for sometimes very valuable pieces of jewelry.

And almost always, those online purchases go without a hitch. In truth, buying jewelry is much like buying anything else. As long as you’re careful where you shop, and you do your homework up front, then you shouldn’t have any problems with your purchase. And that applies no matter what the cost or value of the jewelry item.

But still, we humans are a funny lot. And especially if you’ve never bought jewelry online before, it can sometimes be a bit bewildering to say the least. So here’s your

Survival guide to buying jewelry online.

Know Your Target Market

Just as the online jewelry retailers target their websites at particular demographic groups, you should know exactly who your purchase is for. This means knowing what style of jewelry they prefer. The last thing you want to see when they open your gift is that momentary delay before the fake smile. And you know it’s fake if it wasn’t instant.

It isn’t hard to find out what sort of jewelry someone likes. Take a look at their current collection. Is it mainly gold or silver, do they prefer gemstones or diamonds, do they have a preference for antique jewelry…

If you’re still unsure, ask a close friend to help out. Better to seek assistance than get it wrong. Even if you can exchange it for another piece, there’s no making up for getting it wrong on the day.

Stick to Your Budget

Because you’re not actually handing over your hard earned cash, an online transaction can easily lead you into spending more than you can really afford. Nobody wants a piece of jewelry that has been bought at the expense of someone going into debt in order to buy it.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that ‘bigger is better’. It isn’t. The better jewelry gift is the one that you’ve taken time and care over choosing because it was the ‘right’ piece, not because it was the most expensive!

Size Matters

If you’re buying a ring, then make the effort to find the right ring size. The ‘WOW’ factor will soon disappear once they realize they have to wait 2 – 3 weeks before they can wear it.

Customer Service

Check out several online retailers before you buy jewelry online. 99% of them will have an excellent customer service record and once you know what level of service to expect you are better placed to make sure the one you choose lives up to that standard.

Check out their returns policy, insurance, delivery, after sales…. trying to save a little by buying a cheaper alternative from a not so reputable retailer can end up costing you a whole lot more if they don’t provide insurance while the item is being shipped from them to you and it goes astray.

Sending the Right Message

If you’re buying jewelry for a partner, then steer clear of rings, unless you are seeking to make a long term commitment. No matter which type of ring design you go for, the underlying message is ‘long term commitment’. Stick with necklaces, earrings, bangles, etc and you can’t go far wrong.

Of course, if you are wanting to test the waters to see how your partner might feel about such a thing, then a simple, inexpensive ring might just give you an idea of whether the feeling is mutual. Be warned though, if it isn’t, and you end up scaring them silly, you might just find yourself out of pocket and out of a relationship.

So there you go, at least now you’re armed when you sit down to your computer to do your jewelry shopping.Related Posts: