A gift of jewelry can be expensive. Asking friends, family and co-workers if they can recommend a website, brick and mortar store or local crafts person can help. Checking with the better business bureau is also a commendable approach.
When you are shopping, ask the salesperson to write down any information you might rely on to make your purchase and before you buy, ask for the store's refund and return policy. When ordering online, keep printouts of the web pages with details about the transaction, including refund and return policies if you're not satisfied.
Six Smart Shopping Tips for Mother's Day and Beyond
1. There's a big difference between 14 karat gold and gold-plated jewelry. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. Gold-plated describes jewelry with a layer of at least 10K gold bonded to a base metal. Gold plating eventually wears away, depending on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
2. If you're buying a watch, determine whether you want one that runs on a battery or one that must be wound daily. Ask if a warranty or guarantee is included, how long it lasts, and what parts and repair problems it covers. Also ask how and where you can get the watch serviced and repaired.
3. Know the difference between laboratory-created gemstones and naturally mined stones. Stones created in the lab are visually identical to stones mined from the earth. The big difference is in the cost: laboratory-created stones are less expensive then naturally mined stones. But because they look must like stones mined from the earth, they must be identified as lab-created. If you want a naturally mined stone, ask if it has been treated. Gemstone treatments- such as heating, dyeing or bleaching- can improve a stone's appearance or durability. Some treatments are permanent; some may create special care requirements. Treatments also may affect the stone's value.
4. Ask whether pearls are imitation or real. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks; imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks with human intervention; and irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow. Real pearls that are not cultured are fairly rare and expensive. The cost depends on the size, usually stated in millimeters, and the coating or "nacre" on a real pearl, which gives it its iridescence.
5. When you're buying a diamond, consider four criteria: cut, color, clarity and weight, usually stated as carats. Each factor affects the price. Color is sometimes "graded" on a scale. However, scales are not uniform: a "D" may be the best color for one scale, but not for another. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color of the diamond you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface cracks or other imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
6. One final tip, Mom's love longer (i.e. 24") gold or sterling chains with gemstone pendants. And you can almost never go wrong with the very popular omega-style chains in various widths in sterling silver or gold.
Are you still thinking about what to give your mom for Mother's Day? She may not need any more candles or picture frames this year. Giving her something more personal that is just for her is what she will love. Why not send her to a bed & breakfast for the holiday this year? Even if she can't go that weekend she can plan to go in the near future. It is a perfect getaway that she will really appreciate.
This is a holiday that shows the appreciation we have for our mothers. They do so much for us that it can be hard to find a gift that reflects that. We may realize now how much she did for us and that we didn't see at the time. Most mom's go about what has to be done without complaining as they love their role. This makes the holiday more important and something you need to make very memorable for her.
Most mothers have sacrificed their free time and their personal space to take care of their children. They know it is a hard job at times but one they really want to be able to do well at. They never seem to give up when they get tired or when children throw things on them at the last minute to accomplish.
Not all bed & breakfast locations have gift certificates but most of them will work with you to do something special like this. You can agree to pay for the cost and then even give mom a card that tells her what her gift is. Moms of all ages will really love this personal gift from you. It doesn't matter if their children are still young and at home or all grown up and on their own.
Deciding on the right bed & breakfast location for you mom may be difficult. You can make it easier by figuring out if she would rather stay local or go out of town. You can also get everything arranged for her. If you aren't sure when she will be able to go to the bed & breakfast just pay in advance. She can call to set up the reservation at a later date. This shouldn't be a problem as most of these businesses work hard to accommodate any such requests.
One of the best ways to find the different bed & breakfast locations out there is to explore them online. You can narrow down your search by location, by price, and even by the style of the business. This way you can offer your mom what you think she will like the best and that you can afford. With wonderful pictures online you won't have to worry about what she will find upon her arrival.
A stay at a bed & breakfast is a wonderful way to show your mom how much you appreciate her. This may be something she always wanted to do but never took the time for. She will love that you remembered and that you tried so hard to make her Mother's Day such a special occasion. You can be sure she will have a great time and be thinking of her wonderful family while she is there.
It can be difficult to give mom a gift for Mother's Day that is worthy of her. Why not give her a weekend at a bed & breakfast? There are very few moms out there that wouldn't be eager to explore such an adventure. With so many wonderful bed & breakfast locations out there you can certainly find one that will treat her right!
Both Sam Serio & Patti Rob are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sam Serio has sinced written about articles on various topics from Jewelry, Shopping and Jewelry. Sam Serio is a Marketer and writer. For more on jewelry and gemstones, visit to get your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Withou. Sam Serio's top article generates over 201000 views. to your Favourites.
Patti Rob has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bed and Breakfast, Travel and Leisure and Renovation Ideas. Patti Rob - Bed & Breakfast writer, entrepreneur and enthusiast. Visit to read more before you make an offer on a. Patti Rob's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.