Introduction
Are you trying to build a rich gemstone collection but are a total newbie? Well, today might be a lucky day for you since you stumbled on the right article. If you are thinking buying gemstones is a piece of cake, then, my friend, it’s not. Let’s present some factors considered while purchasing a gemstone in front of you.
Now, carefully read and absorb the further points mentioned so that you don’t make a rookie mistake while buying such precious stones. Here’s a complete gemstone shopping guide that you need to take a look at before buying.
1.Decide Where to Buy From
An important point is to decide whether you want to buy the stone online or offline. It all depends on your convenience. If you find it comfortable to go gemstone shopping offline, then so be it. Shopping for gemstones online might look a little weird to a few readers, but trust us, it’s just as simple and safe as buying the gemstone offline. Nowadays, there are even many sellers who sell wholesale gemstones online. The guide to shopping for gemstones online is not much different than the one for shopping offline.
2. Do Some Research on Your Seller
No matter whether you buy offline or online, you need to know a little about your seller. If shopping online, then make sure you check out their website and read reviews and ratings. Get some information about the seller. Get to know the basic points like, “How long have they been in the business?” “What different stuff do they have to offer me?”. By doing this, you will increase your confidence in the seller and simplify the procedure.
When purchasing offline, do the same. Walk into the store, ask around, and get to know their history a little. Ask them for some reviews from their customers.
3. Learn About the Four Cs of Gemstones
You might have heard about the three R’s, but never about the four C’s. Don’t worry, we are not just making up random short forms; there is actually such a thing as the four Cs when buying gemstones. The four Cs stand for clarity, cut, color, and carat.
Clarity: By clarity of a stone, we mean looking for inclusions in the stone. The nicer the stone, the fewer inclusions there are. Always look for inclusion; you wouldn’t want an internally fractured piece.
Color: The color of the gemstone plays an important role in deciding the price of the gemstone. The intensity and saturation of a stone’s color tell a lot about the stone.
Cut: Another important factor is the cut of the stone. By “cut,” we refer to how the stone is divided. What’s the shape of the stone? There are various cuts like round, oval, pears, emerald, hearts, half moons, triangles, hexagons, and octagonal cuts. You can choose the cut you like and that you think would suit your face and body structure.
Carat: Another price-deciding factor is the carat. The term “carat” refers to the gemstone’s weight.
You must be wondering that when shopping offline, one can take care of the four Cs, but how is one supposed to do the same online? Well, the online sites that you’ll buy from have their own detailed and proper structure, which makes it easier to decide. They give you a lot of color options with proper images and videos to help you make your choice.
4. Decide What Stone is Right For You
Picking up the right stone for you can be a little challenging. You need to know that each stone holds some healing benefits, and the stones are astrologically connected to us. You can easily find enough information online about the stones and their benefits to help you decide which stone to go for.
Gemstones are a gift from Mother Nature that help us find balance that’s missing in our emotional, physical, and spiritual bodies. There are gemstones for every month of the year known as birthstones. You can refer to a birthstone chart and choose the gemstone of your month.
5. Set a Budget
Just because you are building a gemstone collection doesn’t mean that you have to go overboard with the budget. You can smartly build a gemstone collection while staying on a budget. Setting a budget and not budgeting from it is going to help you pay the right price that suits you and not the one that soothes the seller.
6. Compare
When you just casually shop for clothes, you don’t stop at the first dress you see and just buy it, right? You wait to see if any other store gives out the same dress for a better price. So, this exploration of a few options before buying is a good thing. It gives you an idea of the prices and allows you to understand the quality of the stuff in accordance with its price.
Similarly, while shopping for gemstones, you need to do the same. If shopping online, then surf some other sites, compare the prices, and then choose the best deal. If shopping offline, then get ready to do some leg workouts because you’ll want to run to at least 3–4 stores before buying the gemstone.
7. Gemstone Authenticity
Being scammed by getting a fake gemstone instead of a real one is very common in the gemstone world. To avoid getting scammed, you should always ask for the stone certificate. The stone certificate tells us that the stone is 100% authentic and also tells us its place of origin. Gemstones’ prices are affected by their place of origin.
8. Return Policy
Imagine spending a lot of money on a piece of jewelry, and then, for some reason or another, you want to return it. So to make sure that the store accepts it hassle-free and initiates a quick refund process, you need to go through the return policy beforehand. So, always make sure to ask the seller about their return policy before buying stones.
Conclusion
These were some of the basic steps that you should take care of before swiping your card to get some gemstones. Whenever you decide to get your hands on the gemstone, go through the article over and over again to avoid all the rookie mistakes that several people make. Shop smart!