When a man decides to please a woman with a gift, the chances of being successful is high when he buys her jewelry. Flowers are nice but many women are picky with flowers. On the other hand, jewelry, especially if it is in a set, will certainly be appreciated. This is because earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, according to a mysterious feminine logic, are considered necessities, along with makeup and shoes. But fake or cheap jewelry will not impress the sophisticated female. To avoid being taken in by phony jewelers, here are some tips to remember when buying the most sought after types of jewelry: gold and diamond.

Gold

When buying gold, the first thing to learn about is the word karat. The karat is the unit used to represent the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry. Pure gold is set at 24 karats but there is no 24-karat gold jewelry because pure gold is too pliable to be fashioned into any form of jewelry. The popularly sold gold jewelry are 18-k (75% gold), 16-k (66.67% gold), 14-k (about 58% gold), and 12-k (50% gold). The smallest karat value for a piece of jewelry to be considered gold is 10-k (42% gold). If a piece of jewelry has less than 10-k, it cannot be considered as gold. Professional jewelers call these low-karat gold pieces as gold-plated or gold-overlay.

Diamond

When buying diamond, there are four aspects that must be considered. These are the cut, the color, the carat, and the clarity of the diamond. Of these four aspects, the most important is the cut of the diamond. Diamonds can be hand-cut or machine-cut but it does not really matter whether the diamond cutter is man or machine as long as the diamond is cut to achieve the greatest symmetry and brilliance. A diamond cut does not refer to the size or shape of the diamond. It refers to depth and width, symmetry, and polish. If the depth and width of the diamond were precisely and ideally cut, they direct light to travel deep into the bottom part and then bring back that light to shine brightly on the surface. The facets of the diamonds should be balanced and this is called symmetry. And finally, the cuts should be made through specific lines to avoid chipping off the surface.

There is also the issue of diamonds being mined in Africa to finance and support the various conflicts in this continent. Such diamonds came to be known as blood diamonds. Blood diamonds may not be suitable for a jewelry which is intended to express love. Fortunately, the reputable companies involved in the diamond industry have established a tracking system for diamonds to reveal the area where they were mined and the store where they were sold. To ensure that the diamond jewelry is in no way related to any African conflict, there must be a written guarantee that will accompany the invoice of the jewelry.

And finally, whenever buying jewelry such as gold, diamond, or any other gemstone, it is best to deal with jewelers of good reputation. They would be upfront and honest about the jewelry that they are selling. It is also a prudent idea to avoid huge discounts. Jewelry is unlike clothing or appliances. The value of jewelry does not depreciate and therefore, the original price found on the sale tag is not the actual value of the jewelry.