Amanda Gizzi: Hi I am Amanda Gizzi with Jewellery Information Center. Today I am here to provide you with some tips to become a savvy shopper of fine jewellery. Shopping for fine jewellery can be daunting if you are not prepared. So arm yourself with knowledge beforehand and your experience will be fun and exciting. The most important step is to know where to shop. It's vitally important to shop at a well established professional jeweler. Ask a friend for recommendation just as you would for a doctor or check with a Chamber of Commerce or better business bureau. Then ask if they are affiliated with the trade association such as Jewelers of America. That requires high ethical standards of its members.

Don't be dazzled by discounts. Be cautious if a venue is routinely offering unbelievable discounts of 50% or more. If a deals sounds to be good to be true, it probably is. Savvy shoppers may find that the drastic discount price is actually the normal price elsewhere. Look for a liberal return policy with a full refund. Be sure to note the window of time in which the jewellery may be returned. Ask for the original packaging and an itemized receipt. That should include the metal rate and any and all karat rates. When buying diamonds or colored gemstones over one karat in size, ask for a grading report from an independent Gemological Laboratory.

It's also important to use precautions when shopping online. As with Brick and Mortar stores, it's important to know where to shop. Shop on sites you know to be secure and always use a credit card rather than a debit card. This way if anything goes wrong, no money has actually left your account and you will have full recourse. Follow these simple steps and shopping for fine jewellery, will be a fun process.