Here the Jewellery Buying includes the following to help you easy in choosing your perfect jewellery. 

 

Gold

Gold has been one of mankind's most revered substances since the beginning of time. The legends and myths surrounding gold are legendary and for many ancient civilizations, only the most powerful were permitted to wear it.

Today though, the glamour and beauty of gold, while remaining as desirable as ever, are far more democratic.

An enduring element found naturally in a distinct yellow color, gold is resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion. Although it is very strong, it is also the most malleable of all precious metals.

Purity

Pure gold is known as 24K gold, but most jewellery is made from either 18K gold, 14K gold or 10K gold. This is because pure gold is too soft for everyday wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability.

Karatage, denoted by a number followed by "k" indicates the purity, or how much gold there is in the metal in a piece of jewellery. It is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold, 100% gold. 18k gold is composed of 75% gold, and 14k gold is composed of 58.3% gold and 41.7% of other metals.

The following shows the Karatage preferred for jewellery:

24 karat Gold equals 100% pure Gold -too soft for jewellery

22 karat Gold equals 91.7% Gold - still too soft for jewellery, but popular in certain parts of the world.

18k Gold equals 75% Gold - very popular for higher end jewellery, good balance of strength and value

14 karat Gold equals 58.3% Gold - extremely popular for jewellery. Good balance of durability and value.

12 karat Gold equals 50% Gold - not used for jewellery

10 karat Gold equals 41.7% Gold - lowest Gold content that can be legally marked as Gold. Not acceptable for jewellery

Sometimes, gold of a lower karatage is plated in higher-karat gold to enhance its colour. This is perfectly acceptable as long as the jeweller discloses this fact and you pay a fair price. Keep in mind that gold plating will wear off over time and your jewellery may need to be re-plated.

To determine the karatage of a particular piece of jewellery, look for the quality mark. Generally, pieces will either bear the stamp of their karatage based on the U.S. or European system. The U.S. system uses karat designations (24K, 18K, 14K, 10K, etc.) Europe uses number designations which correspond to the percentage of gold content. For instance, 10K is marked "417" for 41.7% gold; 14K is marked "585" for 58.5% gold; 18K is marked "750" for 75% gold, etc.

 

Colour

The colour of gold is determined by two factors:

The type of metal alloys included

The percentage of each metal alloy

While yellow gold is still probably the most popular colour of gold, by mixing gold with other alloys, jewellers can create stunning golden shades. White gold, pink gold, rose gold, orange gold and even green gold are just some of the many colours of gold.

 

Yellow Gold

Gold has a warm yellow colour in its purest form. Even when it is alloyed with other metals, such as  copper with a red hue, and silver featuring a green hue, an expert mixture will retain its signature warmth.The richness of the Gold colour is directly affected by the percentage of Gold in its alloys: therefore, 18k Gold has a richer Gold colour than 14k Gold.

 

White Gold

A silvery white character is what makes white gold jewellery so appealing. In order to make the gold white, it is combined with metal alloys that are white in nature and plated with an extremely hard element called rhodium. Although strong, rhodium may wear away over time. Replating is a simple process that can be done to restore whiteness to your jewellery

 

White Gold with Black Rhodium 

Black rhodium is plated to white gold creating a rich black appearance that is extremely hard and strong. As with traditional white rhodium, black rhodium may wear away over time. Replating will restore your jewellery’s black finish.

 

Rose Gold

The beautiful pink hue of rose gold jewellery is created by using a copper alloy. The overall percentages of metal alloys is the same for rose gold as it is for yellow or white, but there is just a different mixture of alloys used.

 

BIS Hallmarking & Certification 

Hallmarking of gold jewellery is on a voluntary basis under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, in accordance with the Vienna Convention’s international criteria on hallmarking.  

 

A Hallmark consists of five components -

The BIS Mark

The fineness number (corresponding to given Karatage)

The Assaying and Hallmarking Centre's mark

The  jeweller's mark

The year of marking denoted by a code letter and decided by BIS (e.g. the code letter 'A' was approved by BIS for the year 2000, 'B' being used for the year 2001 and 'C' for 2002).

The marking is done either using punches or laser marking machine.

The BIS hallmark, a mark of conformity widely accepted by the consumer bestows the additional confidence to the consumer on the purity of gold jewellery.

A jeweller desirous of obtaining a license can apply to the BIS for use of the Hallmark on their jewellery. After registration, BIS officials conduct a preliminary inspection for verification of retailing/manufacturing premises, testing facilities and competence of testing personnel. A sample is drawn from the jeweller’s retail/manufacturing premises for independent testing. Based on a satisfactory preliminary inspection report and test report of the sample drawn during inspection, a license is granted to the jeweller.

Once licensed, the jeweller has to follow a BIS approved scheme of testing and inspection on a continuing basis to confirm the homogeneity and purity of the gold jewellery offered for hallmarking.

A BIS certified jeweller should register with any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres to have his jewellery hallmarked.

BIS maintains surveillance on certified jewellers at a defined periodicity. Market surveillance involves collection of hallmarked gold jewellery from licensee's retail outlet/manufacturing premises and having it tested for conformity in BIS recognized Hallmarking Centre.

Deviations in degree of purity of fine metal and observance of operations not in conformance to the system may result in cancellation of BIS license, and invoke legal proceedings for penalties under the BIS Act, Rules and Regulations.

The principal objective of assaying and hallmarking is to protect a consumer against victimization of irregular gold quality.

 

Price of Gold Jewelry

In addition to the karat weight and market value of gold, several other factors determine the price of Gold jewellery. These factors include, but are not limited to, total weight of the jewellery, design and construction, and ornamental detailing such as engraving and the finish of the metal. Although nearly all Gold jewelry today is made with the help of special machines, some hand work is almost always involved, and the more hand work that is involved, the higher the price.

 

Care

If treated carefully, the gold jewelry item you purchase today could last a lifetime and might even be handed down to future generations. So here are some tips that will help preserve the beauty of your gold jewelry.

First of all, gold is lasting and durable but can get scratched or dented if treated roughly. This is particularly true of items worn on the hands like rings and bracelets that are prone to a lot of knocks. So remove these pieces before any type of strenuous activity.

Second, beware of chemicals. Gold's worst enemy is chlorine. Repeated exposure can weaken gold's structure, eventually leading to breakage. So keep your gold jewelry away from chlorinated cleaning products and out of swimming pools and jacuzzis.

 

On a related note, acids, abrasives and other harsh chemicals found in some common household cleaning solutions can weaken your jewelry or damage its finish. So it's best to cover up rings and bracelets with rubber gloves while doing heavy-duty cleaning. Or better yet, take them off altogether.

 

Gold can lose its luster over time if repeatedly exposed to dust, moisture, perspiration and makeup. So make sure to clean your jewelry regularly. You can use a cleaning solution of sudsy, lukewarm water, or bring it to your local jeweler and have it professionally steam-cleaned. After cleaning and rinsing, always dry and polish jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth to avoid scratches and bring out its shine.

Proper storage is as important as cleaning. Protect your gold jewelry by storing it safely in a jewelry box or keeping it wrapped in a soft cloth when not being worn. Furthermore, keeping pieces stored separately will prevent them from getting tangled or scratching one another.

Finally, always inspect your gold jewelry for weakness or damage and bring it to a professional jeweler you trust for immediate repair. Pay particular attention to clasps (to ensure they catch easily but are still secure); prongs (to ensure they haven't cracked, bent or loosened, which could cause the stone to fall out); bracelet and neckchain links (to ensure they don't kink or bend); pin backs and earring posts (to see if they are bent or loose); and wedding bands, pendants and charms (dangling pieces and items worn every day for a long period of time) are subject to wear and can thin out and eventually break. Your jeweler will be able to handle these and many other repair jobs and ultimately restore your gold jewelry for you.

Ring Buying Guide

Finger rings are the most commonly worn pieces of jewellery, and many have significance beyond ornamental. Some rings are by their nature symbolic, while others take on added symbolism depending on the finger you wear them on. Apart from the most popular engagement and wedding rings, and the everyday casual and party rings, there are special rings for friendship, motherhood, affiliation, office and commemoration.

 

While being so universally used, rings also require the most care in choosing. You must decide upon the best style and size for your finger, and select your preferred design, metal and stones keeping in mind your allocated budget.

 

The Different Kinds of Rings

 

Engagement Rings

A ring given to and worn by a woman signifying her engagement to be married. Typically a man will spend one or two months’ salary on a ring and purchase the ring in advance. Or, as part of an increasing modern custom, a couple will choose the engagement ring together. Whilst this may spoil the surprise, the future bride has the opportunity to select the correct size of her ring as well as her preferred gemstone, setting and band.

Wedding Rings

A ring presented in a marriage ceremony to signify marital commitment. Originally worn only by the woman, it is now common for both spouses to wear such a ring. The wedding ring is usually worn on the third finger on the left hand and can be made from gold, white gold, silver or other metals such as platinum or titanium. Men’s wedding rings tend to be larger and weigh more than women’s wedding rings. As these rings are designed to be worn for life, it is important that you choose a metal that you are comfortable wearing. Also consider engravings or inscriptions on your wedding rings. These can be simple engravings such as your names or the wedding date, or a personal message for you to cherish.

Eternity Rings

Forever, for eternity, this special ring is reserved for everlasting love. The eternity ring is easily identified by a circle of gemstones all around the outer band of the ring. A half-eternity ring has gemstones covering half of the outer band – these are more readily available and are popular gifts between family and close friends. Eternity rings can be worn on any finger but are mostly found as well as, or instead of, an engagement or wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand.

Cocktail Rings

A dress ring, dinner ring, cocktail ring or fashion ring can be worn every day and for any occasion. Although dress rings are typically large and vibrant, set with glittering precious and semi-precious gemstones, some dress rings are more subtle and reserved with plain bands and simple designs.

 

Wishbone Rings

The wishbone ring takes its name from its likeness to the chicken wishbone. It is similar to a circular ring, however has indentations. The wishbone ring is also known as an “M” ring or “W” ring, depending on how it is worn. Wishbone rings can be plain or contain gemstones and are popular with women as their unique shape can be flattering and appear to elongate the hand. Wishbone rings can be interlocked together to create a beautiful and glamorous effect.

Earring Buying Guide

 

Earrings spice up any outfit and add elegance to your appearance. The right earrings have the potential to completely change your appearance. Whether you adorn simple studs or cling on to dazzling danglers, their sparkling gems and precious metals brighten the face instantly. Besides the common types of earrings and their backings, this guide will help you home in the right pair based on your facial features, skin tone and more.

 

Types of earrings

 

Stud Earrings

Studs are earrings worn close to the ear. Studs usually have a stem which is pushed through the piercing in the ear. Studs are held in place by removable backings. Some studs are threaded and have a screw type of backing to secure them, while some are secured with a push-on clip. Studs are the idea designs for Big, expensive gemstones.

Drop Earrings

Earrings that drop just below the ear lobe are called drops. Drops usually have a wire hook, and an ornamental piece from which the gemstone drops. Drops are versatile and suit all age groups.

Charm Drops

Charm drops are a type of drop earrings. These trendy earrings come in different shapes, colours and lengths and typically hang from hooks or simple chains.

Danglers

Danglers are earrings which hang from the ear. They can be one centimetre in length or go down to brush the shoulder! Danglers usually have hooks or can have a small metallic stud with a push-on or a threaded screw back. Diamond danglers are considered to be extra special!

Hoop Earrings

Hoops resemble rings and are typically circular or semi-circular in shape. Hoops use a tube kind of backing which attaches one part of the circle to the other, called the saddle or latch backing. In hoops where the circle is not complete, normal backings (such as those used for studs) are used. Hoops are stylish and complement any kind of clothing.

Huggies

 

Huggies as the name suggests Huggies 'hug' the ear. These earrings are worn close and they encircle the ear. Huggies are popular and come in many shapes and sizes.

Bracelet Buying Guide

 

A bracelet/bangle is the easiest piece of jewellery to wear – it needs no piercings, is forgiving of sizing, and adds panache and glamour to any outfit. Whatever your style is, there are bracelets/bangles out there to match it that will fit you, whatever size wrist you may have.

 

How should you choose the bracelet/bangle that suits you best? Consider the size of the wrist and the tone of your skin.

 

If you have long slender arms and wrists, chunky bracelets/bangles and cuffs will highlight them. If you are bigger boned in the arms and wrists, wired styles will slenderize them.

 

When choosing a bracelet/bangle, keep in mind your wrist size. The standard women's bracelet length is 7 inches. Women's bangles are 7 inches in length with a 2.5-inch diameter. Longer and shorter bracelets are also available. A bracelet that fits well will drape around the wrist without slipping onto the hand or getting in the way.

 

The tone of your skin can be complimented by the right gemstones and metals.

 

Determining your skin tone is simple. Locate a body area where veins are visible - the wrist serves the purpose. Based on the colour of the veins, skin tone is generally classified as cool, warm or neutral.

 

Cool Skin Tone: If you identify bluish coloured veins and pink or rose red undertones, then you have a cool skin tone.

 

Warm Skin Tone: Green veins and yellow or yellow or golden-apricot undertones define warm skin tone.

 

Neutral Skin Tone: This is characterised by predominant pink, yellow or olive undertones.

 

Jewellery that matches your Skin Tone

 

Cool: You can play it safe with white gold, platinum and silver jewellery. Diamonds and pearls work best, as do gemstones of pink, purple, blue, red and magenta.

 

Warm: Choose gold jewellery or gold toned pearls over white gold or platinum. Gemstones with earthy tones in brown, orange, green, yellow, peach and turquoise are a good choice.

 

Neutral: Lucky for you! Gold, platinum and white gold can be worn, but try to avoid too much yellow or too much blue. Gemstones in white, green, rose pink, brown, soft grey can all be worn without any hesitation. 

 

Types of bracelets:

 

Tennis Bracelets

The in-line thin diamond bracelet that features a symmetrical pattern of diamonds is called a tennis bracelet. In 1987 Chris Evert, the former World No. 1 woman tennis player and the winner of 18 Grand Slam singles title swore an elegant, light bracelet, made by George Bedewi, which accidentally broke and the match was interrupted to allow Chris to recover her precious diamonds. This "tennis bracelet" incident sparked a new name for the item and sparked a huge jewellery trend.

Charm bracelet

A charm bracelet carries personal charms: decorative pendants or trinkets which are signifiers of important things in the wearer's life. Recently, Italian charm bracelets have become trendy. While traditional charms dangle, Italian charms feature individual pieces soldered flat onto the surface of the link.

Bangle

Bracelets that are in firm, solid form are referred to as bangles or bangle bracelets. They can be smooth, textured or set with stones.

Link bracelets

These bracelets are made from connecting or linking various or similar components or jewellery findings. Link bracelets can be made of a variety of materials included metals and gemstones.

 

Penadant Buying Guide

A pendant is a piece of jewellery that hangs from a chain around the neck, different from a necklace which refers to a decorated chain. Pendants have an age old place in history and fashion.

 

A pendant can drape against your collarbone or nestle lower on your chest, accentuating and accessorizing outfits. A pendant also lends itself to a romantic ceremony of putting it on and taking it off with the help of a special someone.

 

Pendants are available in various shapes and sizes. The different use of precious materials renders a pendant into an enchanting piece. Remember your preferred style - pendants can be fun and different or elegant and sophisticated. Consider also the pieces you already own, and if you would like something different.

 

Pendant come in various shapes and can be broadly classified as follows:

Diamond solitaire pendant - a staple in the jewellery wardrobe of most women. It usually showcases a single an oval, round brilliant, or pear cut diamond which can be as heavy as 4 carats.

Three-stone diamond pendant – with three diamond stones arranged vertically or in a pyramid form with two base stones and one top-stone , usually round brilliant cut diamonds.

 

 

Heart diamond pendant – a heart shape embedded with a single or several diamonds.

 

Cross diamond pendants - traditional diamond pendants displaying round brilliant-cut diamonds in a prong setting.

 

Letter diamond pendants - in the form of the different letters and numbers studded with diamonds. It's customisable.

 

Men’s pendants - a blend of contemporary and macho designs. Men usually wear a pendant as a style statement, to convey an image of being hard and strong. The designs are bold and the look is chunky, conveying a sense of wealth and power, and go well with both classic and party wear. These are all customisable too.