subject: Top Tips on Buying a Quality Necklace [print this page] Top Tips on Buying a Quality Necklace Top Tips on Buying a Quality Necklace
Buying a necklace, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else, can be a bewildering experience. There are so many to choose from! The term necklace covers a wide range of jewellery including chokers, strings of beads, chains, collars, pendants and lockets. And each variation comes in a huge choice of styles, materials and prices.
Deciding that you want to buy a top quality necklace will narrow the field, but you'll still have a lot of decisions to make. Take your time and don't settle for anything that's less than perfect. Here are some of the points you should consider:
Personal Style
If you're buying for yourself let your instincts guide you. Buy the necklace you fall in love with, the one you think is the most beautiful in the jewellery shop and can imagine wearing all the time.
Buying for someone else is trickier. Think about their personality. Are they introvert or extrovert? What style of clothing and jewellery do they normally wear? What are their favourite colours?
Design
A quality necklace is one you or the lucky recipient of your gift will want to wear again and again. Avoid gimmicky fashion designs that will quickly date and choose a timeless design that will still be admired 10, 20 or more years into the future.
If you already have a favourite jewellery designer you'll probably want to look at his or her necklaces first. Otherwise, try local jewellers who make their own designs that you won't find in the bigger jewellery chain stores.
Materials
A top quality necklace has to be made from the finest materials. Whether you choose silver, gold, platinum, diamonds, rubies or opals, insist on the best. Solid gold is better than gold-plated: a small, perfect gemstone is more desirable than a larger, flawed stone.
If you don't understand what the hallmarks on a necklace mean, or you want to be sure that the pearls you like are genuine, ask the advice of a professional jeweller. An expert with a good reputation to maintain won't try to sell you a fake necklace or pressurise you into buying one you don't really want.
Uniqueness
If you can't find a necklace that's exactly right, consider having one custom made. A qualified jeweller, experienced in hand making all types of jewellery, will be able to create a unique necklace using your own ideas. This could be the perfect solution if you want a necklace to celebrate a special occasion, perhaps incorporating symbols that have a personal meaning to you, or the wearer.
You can buy necklaces almost anywhere these days, even in supermarkets along with your weekly groceries! But when real quality is important it's worth seeking out a specialist who won't offer you anything less.
