Category: Education

Used Gemstone Rings: What to Look For When Buying Gemstones

Buying a ring is a big purchase, whether it is “the ring” for your future wife, a present for a loved one, or simply a splurge for yourself. Buying used gemstone rings is the best way to find a gorgeous piece, for a price tag you’re just as happy with as the piece itself. That being said, you want to be extra careful when buying used gemstone rings online

We want you to feel confident and secure in your purchase. That’s why we put together a quick list for you. If you follow a few pieces of advice, you will have peace of mind that you’re not only buying a beautiful ring, but one that is genuine and going to last a lifetime.

Advice For Buying Used Gemstone Rings

You’ve been browsing online and found a ring you are very interested in. Before you click “Add to Cart,” there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. Consider all of the following criteria before you officially make our purchase:

Look for the Carat Weight and Color

Especially when shopping for a diamond ring, you’re going to want to keep the carats in mind. Two stones that look similar can have different carat weights, and vice versa- two stones that look very different can be listed with the same carat weight. This is because of their cut. A stone that is shallow and wide will look just as big as one cut deeper. 

There’s no wrong choice here, but it is important to remember when shopping because it will affect the value of the diamond and therefore the final price you pay.

Consider the Durability

Some gemstones are more durable than others. You’ll want to consider this, especially if you plan for the ring to be worn often or even every day. Some gemstones, such as sapphires, rubies, and garnets, are well-suited to an active daily life and work well in rings. Others, such as emeralds and pearls, are better to be worn in an earring or necklace. They are actually very soft, so to keep them beautiful you will want them out of harm’s way.

Select What You Consider Beautiful!

Particularly when shopping for colored gemstones, you will hear a lot of terms like “hue,” “tone,” and “saturation.” We could spend a long time delving deeper into this topic, but the truth is that you’ll only be happy with the ring if you like the way it looks. These are very subtle differences in the tone and hue of the used gemstone rings you are considering. Rather than obsessing over inclusions and the intensity of the color, look at several and then select the one you prefer.

Buy Gemstone Rings Online

There’s really no right or wrong answer when it comes to shopping for a new-to-you ring. Whether you have your eye on this Platinum Diamond Ring for someone special, like the idea of giving your mom the Cartier 18K White Gold Signature Ring for her next birthday, or simply feel you deserve the .90ct Sapphire Diamond Cluster Platinum Cocktail Ring, go ahead and pick whatever ring is your favorite. Because you’re shopping on our website, you will always know these rings are beautiful and backed by our Authenticity Promise.

What is Second Hand Luxury Jewelry?

If you love jewelry, you’re not alone. Jewelry has been prized for thousands of years, both for its sentimental value and how pretty it is. In fact, other than the price tag, not much has changed in regards to jewelry for a very long time. The gold, diamonds, and other precious metals and stones that were beloved by royalty in the medieval times are style popular now!

That’s not to say that all jewelry is high-quality. A true jewelry lover like yourself doesn’t want costume jewelry and fake trinkets; you want top-tier pieces. If you choose to buy second hand luxury jewelry, the pieces will be so affordable that you can purchase twice as much! Go ahead and add a bracelet to your shopping cart, along with your new necklace. 

Before we go further into that, let’s first discuss what makes “luxury jewelry” not only different, but better than the rest.

What Makes Jewelry Considered to be “Luxury?”

By far, the number one difference between cheap costume jewelry and luxury pieces are the materials they are made with. Costume jewelry is made from plastic, brass, copper, aluminum, glass, and crystals. Only genuine silver, gold, and platinum are used in luxury jewelry, as are the finest diamonds and other precious stones.

One major factor that drives the value of luxury jewelry is the exceptional materials used to make them. When it doubt, go with a top jewelry designer known to create fabulous pieces. You’ll never regret buying a Cartier or Tiffany & Co. necklace!

How Does Second Hand Luxury Jewelry Work?

Now that we’ve established what makes a piece of jewelry a luxury purchase, we can let you in on a little secret- you don’t have to pay a lot to own the genuine pieces you have your eye on! Second hand luxury jewelry is just as genuine as just as beautiful as anything you’ll find in a jewelry store, but for a fraction of the cost!

It actually works in a very simple way. People decide they don’t like the piece of jewelry they own for a variety of reasons, and sell it to us. We go through a rigorous process of authenticating the piece as true second hand luxury jewelry. We guarantee it with our Authenticity Promise. 

From gold to diamond engagement rings, you will find it all here. You shop our website to find your favorite new items, whether it’s a Rolex watch or pair of diamond stud earrings. You order it, it arrives at your doorstep soon, and you wear it the next time you look fabulous. It really is that easy. It’s up to you whether you want to brag to people that you bought your jewelry at such a steep discount!

Which Luxury Bridal Earrings go Best with a White Wedding Dress?

To say that you want to look perfect on your wedding day would be quite an understatement. You’ve been dreaming of this day since you were a little girl. You’ll be looking back on these pictures until you’re an old woman. That puts a lot of pressure on getting your look absolutely right.

A big part of this is your dress, of course. It would be a mistake to think of your jewelry as just an afterthought. You don’t want to regret your choice in luxury bridal earrings every time you think back to your big day. In order to avoid this, you’ll want to find the perfect pair of earrings to match your white dress.

What Color Jewelry Goes Best with a White Dress?

If your gown is white, you will look the prettiest with platinum, pearl, or silver pieces. These metals elegantly finish a white wedding dress. If your dress has any sort of embellishment details, you can try to find metallic pieces to match the finish. For instance, rose gold embroidery on your chest would be gorgeous with rose gold earrings. If the dress is plain white, the sky’s the limit! The simpler the design of the dress, the more ornate the jewelry can be.

Don’t Forget the Cut too!

The neckline of your dress will play a big part in which style of luxury bridal earrings and necklace you wear, and even if you should wear one at all. If your dress has a sweetheart or strapless neckline, consider wearing a choker and long, dangly earrings. If your dress has a v-neck, pair it with a pendant necklace that fits perfectly on your chest and stud earrings. If your dress has a halter, scoop neck, or a high neck, then you should skip the necklace all together and go for statement earrings alone.

Our Favorite Options for Luxury Bridal Earrings

Now that you have a few parameters in mind, it’s time to start shopping! This is the most fun part. It can feel like there’s thousands of options, so it’s tough to narrow them down. With this in mind, here are a few of our favorite options for luxury bridal earrings:

Pearl Earrings

Platinum Earrings

Silver Earrings

This list is only the beginning! We know once you get started shopping on our website, you will find the perfect pair of earrings to wear on your wedding day. You’re going to love the way you look!

 

5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Buying Jewelry as a Gift

If you’re buying a special someone a gift, you can’t go wrong with jewelry. Whether it is a Rolex watch for your husband, a pair of Tiffany and Co. earrings for your mom, or the most special jewelry of all- an engagement ring, this is a present they won’t soon forget. 

Of course, it’s also a lot of pressure. How can you know for sure that you’re choosing a piece of jewelry that your loved one will want to wear? We recommend you ask yourself a few important questions when buying jewelry as a gift. These will ensure you tackle the challenge of how to buy jewelry as a gift.

1. Does this person even wear jewelry?

You would think that this first question would be too obvious to need to be said, but you’d be surprised how often well-meaning friends and family fail to consider it. While we sell rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and watches for men, not all men like to wear jewelry beyond their wedding ring. He may like cufflinks instead.

On the other hand, not all women want a big diamond necklace or something flashy. Some prefer fine jewelry pieces that are dainty and ideal for daily wear. It is therefore a good idea to consider the future wearer’s preferences to tackle the mission of how to buy fine jewelry.

2. Do you know their ring size?

If you’re buying a ring, know which finger it is meant for, and its size. Go for the larger size if you’re unsure. If you end up selecting the wrong size, it is much easier to get the ring sized down rather than up.

3. Are their ears pierced?

Not everyone’s are pierced, particularly older women. You don’t want to make that mistake and purchase a high quality and expensive pair of earrings for someone who can’t wear them. If you’re not sure, it’s better to stick to a necklace or bracelet instead. A vital step for knowing how to purchase jewelry is ensuring you get a piece they can actually wear.

4. Do they like gold or silver more?

Before you know how to buy gold jewelry or silver jewelry, you first need to know which type of metal you should be shopping for.

Nearly everyone has a preference. You’ll know by taking notice of which hue they wear on a regular basis. What color is their wedding band? What color of earrings do they usually wear? 

If they like silver, you can get away with selecting platinum. Now, if they prefer yellow gold pieces, you could also expand to rose gold as well.

5. Is there a special occasion you’re buying for?

Obviously, if this is an engagement ring you’re probably going to settle on a diamond ring. What about another big event, though, like a birthday, anniversary, or holiday gift? Whatever the occasion, consider what would make the most appropriate gift. Someone’s 34th birthday probably doesn’t require something as special as a 50th wedding anniversary. 

Are you afraid you will give a jewelry gift that might not meet their exacting tastes? Giving the gift of high-end jewelry can feel difficult. Whether or not they will like it depends highly on their personal taste, which is hard to describe and even harder for someone else to understand. This list is only the beginning, to get you started thinking the right way to buy jewelry as a gift. We hope this guide helps with your concern of how to buy jewelry.

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Does Jewelry Go Up in Value?

You’re looking to make a wise investment in something that is not only beautiful but actually increases in value. Unlike a piece of artwork like a painting or sculpture, the benefit of investing in luxury jewelry is that you can actually wear and enjoy it without compromising its value! As long as you select the right jewelry and care for your pieces properly, your jewelry will appreciate in value for years to come.

Before you commit to an investment piece, it’s crucial to understand the quality and durability of fine luxury jewelry. What specifically makes it worthy of buying it and keeping it as an investment? How can you ensure your jewelry goes up in value? Keep in mind a few pieces of advice:

#1 You don’t need to buy new in order to make an investment. Pre-owned luxury jewelry can and will appreciate in value. In fact, due to the fact that this jewelry is going to be much less costly for you up front, you can actually make more money in the long run. You can find designer pieces for a low price, enjoy them for years, and be slowly making more money. It’s the perfect investment! Speaking of designer pieces, this leads us to our next point…

#2 Select jewelry made from well-known and reputable designers. Jewelry does not necessarily need to be covered with diamonds to be a worthy investment. Many times, the name brand is what gives the piece value. Chanel and Rolex are two perfect examples of this. They are both widely recognizable brand names that increase the overall value of the piece and continue to increase over time. The high-quality materials and craftsmanship, combined with the respected brand name, means designer pieces can be even more valuable in the future than their current retail price tag.

#3 Select high-quality, unique pieces. Jewelry has an intrinsic value no matter who makes it, as long as it is genuine. Pieces made of gems like diamonds, emeralds, rubies, pearls, and sapphires that are set in platinum, gold, and silver are valuable in their own right. This will not change any time soon! The pieces with the most investment potential have a level of craftsmanship in addition to scarcity that makes them stand out from the rest. Anything that is unique will appreciate beyond the value of their metals and gems alone. 

#4 Gold is a sensible investment. Even if you weren’t someone who particularly cared for jewelry, you’d be hard pressed to ignore the long-term value of gold. The demand for gold does not fluctuate. Instead, its value has steadily increased over time. In 1975, one ounce of gold was worth $79. Today, it’s worth $1,790 an ounce. Even adjusted for inflation, this is nearly a 200% increase! 

Certain luxury jewelry, including rings, bracelets and earrings, can be a great investment. We encourage you to shop our collection of pre-owned luxury jewelry and select a piece you will wear now and save as an investment for a future time.

What is the Difference Between Costume and Fine Jewelry?

Whether you’re buying an engagement ring, a Rolex watch, a pair of Tiffany and Co. earrings, or diamond cufflinks, you have one thing on your mind- knowing this is “real” jewelry and not a knockoff or fake. When you shop with us, we don’t want you to ever wonder if you’re buying the real thing. That’s why we want to go over a few things with you, like what does fine jewelry mean? What is considered fine jewelry? Or how to tell genuine fine jewelry from costume jewelry.

The term costume jewelry describes pieces of jewelry that are usually constructed of mass-produced, inexpensive materials. Most of it is constructed with plated metal, meaning only a thin coat of the expensive metal is applied on another, less expensive metal. In general it is not hard to tell the difference between this and the better-quality items, as long as you know what you’re looking for.

How can you know for sure? What’s the difference? By far, the number one difference between costume jewelry and fine jewelry is the materials the piece is made with. Costume jewelry or fashion jewelry is made from base metals or materials such as plastic, brass, copper, aluminum, glass, and crystals. Silver, gold, and platinum are used in luxury jewelry.

But what is fine jewelry? When the yellow or white gold is at least 10 karats or higher, then it can be classified as fine jewelry. It all comes down to the quality of the metal that is used in the piece. If a piece isn’t real and solid gold, it isn’t fine jewelry- plain and simple! Fine jewelry is always made up of high quality materials and precious metals.

Diamonds and other precious stones are found in fine jewelry as well. Costume jewelry pieces may also have simulated stones created in a lab to look similar to the real deal. Real diamonds consist of pure carbon, whereas synthetic stones are often made of cubic zirconium, glass, and quartz. So, is fine jewelry real? Yes, fine jewelry a type of jewelry that only contains genuine materials and stones. Stones are considered fine jewelry when they are natural and possess all the visual, physical, and chemical properties of mined gemstones. Naturally formed pearls are categorized as fine jewelry. Cultured pearls also fall in the fine jewelry category, because they are cultivated in the oysters and are therefore considered to be natural.

When you buy fine jewelry, you can pass down these pieces to family members, as they will last for generations to come when they receive proper care. Costume jewelry isn’t made to last. These pieces will be broken or tarnished in just a few years, if they even last that long. That is why they are far less expensive.

You can always buy with confidence when you shop on our online jewelry store, because these pieces are authentic fine jewelry. We don’t just say it; we promise it! Our Authenticity Promise means you can focus on the stunning pieces and not whether or not it is a cheap costume knockoff. This confidence is something we are proud to give you!

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What do I Look for When Buying Gemstones?

We sell numerous different types of jewelry on our website, including those with gemstones. Whether you have your eye on a pair of gold and ruby earrings, emerald ring, onyx cufflinks, or nearly anything else, you can find it in our catalogue! We know you’re excited to buy gemstones, and we’re excited for you. At the same time, it can feel a bit risky to make such a large purchase. Do you feel as if you’re not sure whether or not you’re buying the right thing? Do you feel confident in the quality of your purchase? We want to ensure you have the peace of mind you need to feel nothing but excited about buying gemstones from us, which is why we put together a quick guide.

When you’re buying gemstones online, you’ll want to ask yourself a few key things:

#1 Why is this gemstone cut and/or set in this particular way?

Gemstones are typically fashioned in certain cuts or settings based on their specific characteristics, particularly if the type of gemstone is susceptible to damage. An emerald is most often presented in a rectangular shape with truncated corners because this suits its brittle nature. That’s why the shape is called an “emerald-cut” even if another gemstone is cut into it! Opals, which are very soft, are often sold with a bezel setting to protect the stone. You wouldn’t want to buy a soft gemstone that is set in a way that will quickly lead to irreparable damage. 

#2 What factors make this gemstone the right choice for me?

Buying a piece of luxury gemstone jewellery should reflect your personality and tastes. Why does this particular gemstone feel so right to you? Do you simply like its color and clarity? Is it a particular birthstone? Does it match a special outfit you have planned? Choosing the “best” gemstone is more subjective than choosing a diamond, so be prepared to follow your instincts and select a piece that you love.

#3 Do I really know what I’m buying?

You may be surprised to know that there are more than 15 gemstones in the market today. Learning their names is important, because you may come across gemstones that are known by two names. The “Balsa ruby” is actually red spinel and an “evening emerald” is peridot. Familiarise yourself with gemstone names so you aren’t fooled into paying more because of a clever name change.

Luxury jewelry is a significant purchase. As a buyer, you need to have comfort that you are getting fair value for your money. Hopefully, this simple breakdown helps you to feel more confidence in your purchase. If at any time you are feeling unsure, our team is here to help! This is why we are so proud of our Authenticity Promise. TrueFacet therefore promises that if you are not fully satisfied with the authenticity of your purchase, we will be here to help you and work with the seller of the item to accept a return of the item and refund your money back.

How to Know if a Gemstone is Real or Fake

The history of humankind is also the history of gemstones. In fact, the earliest gemstone jewelry stretches back to 25,000 years. That’s amazing! Clearly there is something really special about gemstones, or else they wouldn’t have been so sought after for thousands of years.

Sadly, the fact that they are so valuable is exactly why some people have made fake gemstones in order to fool other people. When shopping online for jewelry, this is something to be aware of. You need to know how to spot a fake gemstone from a real gemstone in order to buy online with confidence. Here’s everything you need to know!

Tip #1 Focus on the credibility of a seller. Shopping online for jewelry and finding the right gemstone can be difficult. The first step is to find a credible seller, someone who can educate you about your gemstone. You want to find the quality, cut, and type of gemstone for your needs. Are you looking for something like this Emerald Diamond Platinum Ring or perhaps these 7 CTW 14K Solid Gold Ruby Earrings with Briolette Dangling Rubies? A credible online retailer will be happy to tell you everything you need to know and answer all of your questions!

Tip #2 Don’t try to find a perfect gemstone. An important thing to remember is that real gemstones are natural and because of this they are going to have flaws. Synthetic gems will look more perfect. Also, fake gemstones tend to sparkle and shine better than real gemstones, because real natural stones have been worn down through the environment. If a gemstone looks so perfect it could be fake, it probably is! 

This is especially true for pearls. Fake pearls are going to be smoother and will look more perfect. Real pearls are going to have a gritty feel, because they are actually a piece of grit. Try it out with the South Sea Pearl Gold Earrings and you’ll feel the difference!

Tip #3 Test it’s strength. The real test of a diamond is whether or not it can cut glass. A genuine diamond should be able to cut through glass easily, while fakes cannot. Sapphires come in right behind diamonds in terms of gemstone hardness. Since it is just a strong and durable stone, there should be no scratches. If there are nicks on the stone, then it is most likely a fake gemstone. As stated in number two, a sapphire ring should have imperfections but not actual scratches.

You want to be able to buy with confidence. High demand for precious stones has led to people being duped into buying fake ones that come in similar sizes, shapes, and colors. When you are shopping online for jewelry from us here at TrueFacet, you don’t have anything to worry about! We guarantee the authenticity of our products so much so that we offer an Authenticity Promise. If you are not fully satisfied with the authenticity of your gemstone purchase, our team will be here to help you and work with the seller of the item to accept a return of the item and refund your money back.