If you are planning to purchase jewelry for your loved ones or for yourself then it is very necessary to compare the quality and price before spending money. Today, the market is full of jewelry in various shapes and designs and since there are so many variations in the prices, buyers should be very careful before they spend their hard earned money.

If you are planning to gift jewelry to someone then it can be a very expensive affair. In case you are purchasing jewelry for the first time and you do not have any idea about the local jewelry shops, then ask for help from your parents or friends. Even your boss could recommend a good jewelry store to you.

If you want to buy something from an online store, but you are not sure about the reputation of the seller then check the feedback section on the store's site to know what other buyers feel about the quality and variety offered by the store. When you buy anything, make sure that the salesperson of that store has information that could be relied on for making other purchases.

Before making the purchase, don't forget to ask about the return and refund policy of the store. If you have bought something from an online jewelry store then make sure that you have kept all the important papers like print outs of the transaction details with you including the polices related to return and refund, in case you are dissatisfied. There are few pointers given by the Federal Trade Commission to help people who want to shop for diamonds, gold jewelry, gemstones, watches or pearls.

There are no similarities between gold plated jewelry and jewelry made out of 14 carat gold. In 14 carat jewelry, 14 carat is gold which is mixed with 10 parts of base metal. Any gold plated jewelry means jewelry that has a layer of maximum 10 carat gold and it is bonded with a base metal. Gold plating does not stay for a long time, especially if you are bringing it in contact with water everyday. It also depends on the thickness of the plating and how often you intend wearing that piece.

When you buy a watch you will have to decide whether you are looking for one that runs on battery or a watch that needs to be wound daily. Do not forget to ask the salesperson if there are any guarantees or warranties included, what repair problems and parts will be covered and how long the battery of the watch will last. Remember to ask them about the location where the watch will be repaired. Make sure that you have all the required information before you spend money.

As a buyer you must know how naturally mined stones and gemstones created in laboratories are different. Cost is the major difference. Stones that are mined naturally cost more as compared to the ones created in a lab.

Do not forget to ask if the pearls you are buying are real or imitation. Mollusks or oysters are what real pearls are made of while imitation pearl is made by man.

Buyers should keep in mind the four criteria of diamonds-cut, carat, clarity and color. These are the factors that determine that price of diamonds so make sure that you consider these.