Page 23 - Leisure Living Holiday 2015

The “Apples And Oranges”
Of Jewelry Selection
By Gerry Gonya, Harvey Oaks Jeweler, Fremont www.harveyoaksjewelers.com
With the Holidays fast
approaching and that feeling
of gift giving in the air, our
thoughts many times turn to a
gift of an expression of our love
and admiration to someone
very special to us. What better
way to express that feeling than
a lasting gift of fine jewelry?
But what does she like or what
color of gold would she prefer
or maybe she wants sterling silver? This question can easily be resolved by something known as a wish list (Harvey Oaks Jeweler keeps those on file). More importantly you must ask yourself when you go out shopping for fine jewelry, am I comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges?
In today’s ever demanding consumer oriented society and internet shopping sites, do you find yourself purchasing jewelry strictly on price or quality or maybe a little of both? Do you compare items? I mean really compare! Are you comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges? When making a fine jewelry purchase ask yourself the following questions to see if you are really comparing.
• Looking at earrings: Are they 10 karat, 14 karat or
18 karat gold? Or are they gold filled or gold plated
with only a 14 karat post?
• Wedding bands, engagement rings, mountings for pendants or rings, fancy rings: Are they die struck, cast, or custom made? How are they finished? Are the stones genuine, synthetic, or lab created? What quality are the stones? Are the diamonds so flawed that you can see the flaws with the naked eye? Are the diamonds colorless or do they show a tint of yellow or brown? Have you examined the diamonds under the microscope and do you know what to look for? Are those blue sapphires that you are looking at so dark they look black or opaque?
• Chains and bracelets: What karat finess are they or are they plated? Are they hollow or solid, handmade or machine made? Do you really want a $800 tennis bracelet and then wonder what you bought?
Top left: 14K white gold lady’s diamond engagement ring with 1/2ct. round diamond in center
Top right: boulder opal pendant with custom made bezel in 14K yellow gold
Bottom: black tip mollusk shell earrings set in sterling silver with oval peridot
Does the sales person know what they are talking about and what kind of training do they have? And last but not least – who will service your purchase when it needs repair?
My list could keep going on, but I think you get the picture. We at Harvey Oaks Jeweler can and will show you these differences so you can make an informed decision about your special jewelry purchase and it will become that cherished gift you were looking for. Remember – APPLES TO APPLES and ORANGES TO ORANGES!
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