BY-Saurabh Khandelwal, Owner at Dhanvi Diamonds
When it comes to shopping for jewellery, people often get scared of fraud and cheat and stop. If you are the one who is hesitant to step out and shop, you need to understand that we all learn from mistakes, so worry not and go ahead. To make it an easy experience for you, here we have listed a few guidelines that can be kept in mind to avoid fraud and indulge in a good deal.
Authenticity and purity
An easy way to check the authenticity and purity of jewelry is to look for hallmarks by BIS. The BIS logo indicates that the jewelry piece is pure and is verified by one of the licensed laboratories. Also, at the time of shopping jewelry, make sure to check the weight, price in accordance to weight for the particular day, and then decide to purchase.
The Four Cs
Apart from this, experts have coined four C’s — Carat, Colour, Clarity, and Cut that are often used to check the purity and authenticity of the product. You can use these to be a smart buyer.
1. Color
Diamond comes in carried color, it all depends on your taste and budget. Generally, people pick a stone with a purer white color (Grades D-F), but you will be surprised to know that there is a very subtle difference in colors and you can easily select as per your choice.
2. Cut
Cut of diamond comprises depth, width, and facets. It is a means via which light shines through and is reflected off the diamond. Apart from certification, an easy way to check diamond is to see a prism of colors when the light passes through it. Be sure of the quality before you buy a diamond.
3. Clarity
It refers to the imperfections and blemishes that are naturally caused to the diamond either externally or internally. These flaws are visible only under a microscope and lead to the grading of diamonds as VS1 and VS2. While a flawless diamond is a dream, their grades are the mark that can help you decide which one to buy keeping the rate and choice in mind.
4. Carat
Pay due attention to carat while buying a diamond. It refers to the weight of a diamond, and it determines the price of it too. Remember that polishing results in loss of weight (carat), so keep a close check on it at the time to purchase, after all, value for money is important.
Fix your budget
The ideal way to shop for jewelry is to first decide what you want to buy and then fix a budget for it. This makes your shopping easier and viable too. Also, while fixing the budget, keep a cushion of 3-4 k to make it a smooth drive.
Buy from a certified seller
When it comes to jewelry, always go for certified sellers. In most of the cases, it is advisable to look for brands, as they are certified and provide you with certificate and purity tags also. When it comes to online platforms too, go for certified brands and never compromise for some penny. After all, jewelry is a wise investment that can give you good returns, only when bought from a certified seller.