12 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Jeweler
Who's going to be your next jeweler? When I blogged about How to Choose Your Jeweler, I looked at the 8 types of Jewelers. As a Santa Barbara Jeweler, this is how I see it. If I've left out questions you feel should be here for more completeness let me know. Now it's time to ask yourself some questions to help you make a great choice. Who's going to be your next Jeweler?
The Twelve Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Jeweler
1. Does the Jeweler listen to you? Does he or she really get what you have to say?
2. How long has the Jeweler been in business and what are the chances that they’ll still be there five years from now? Will they be around if your ring needs fixing?
3. Do they repair jewelry? If so, how skilled are they? Would you trust them to repair your inherited diamond ring from your mom? Can they match the antique diamonds from your aunt?
4. Do they treat your jewelry that needs repair with respect? Or say it can’t be done and try to sell you something else?
Does Your Chosen Jeweler Have Jewelry Making Staff?
5. Does the staff seem knowledgeable?
6. Can you trust them with some of your most valuable gemstones?
7. Can they speak about different kinds of settings? Different kinds of gems and their properties?
Vintage, Inherited Ring Restored to its Former Glory and Worn Anew as a Wedding Ring
8. Are they a truly Personal Jeweler? If they don’t have what you want, will they search for it and show you samples at a later date? Will they go that extra mile to help you get what you really want? Or are they just trying to sell the jewelry they stock in the display case?
9. Can they design and make custom pieces of jewelry? Can they make something from a sketch you drew on a napkin while you ate at the Olive Garden?
Working Out Details in CAD
10. Is the Jeweler nice? Is he or she personable? Do you enjoy interacting with him or her?
11. Will they readily recommend another Jeweler if they can’t provide you with what you need? Or do they put down and malign the other Jewelers in the area?
Showing Different Shank Thicknesses and Shapes for Choices
12. If you had a sad and broken piece of antique jewelry or inherited jewelry with a small, antique diamond, would your Jeweler respect it or tell you to melt it and buy something else? Find a Jeweler who’ll respect meaningful and sentimental jewelry, because when you love it, it’s priceless.
Find a Jeweler Your Friend Trusts
If You Love Their Rings Find Who Their Jeweler is
Ask your friends if they can recommend a trustworthy Jeweler - especially someone who’s jewelry you admire. Where did they get that amazing ring? Who set that fabulous amethyst? Who re-sizes their rings?
Find a Jeweler You Trust
Do You Feel Heard by Your Jeweler?
Trusting and having a great relationship with a Jeweler gives you a good feeling. If you don’t feel right with someone go somewhere else.
What About a Jealous Jeweler?
A truly wonderful Jeweler is not a jealous Jeweler. A great Jeweler never gives you a sad face if you've bought jewelry elsewhere. Your Jeweler should be excited to see the jewelry you'd like work done on, changed or cared for, whether it's from them, their competition or some fabulous trip you took.
The Internet Can Help
Search online in your local area for good Jewelers. Look for reviews on Google Local or other review of business sites, like YELP Insider Pages, Superpages, etc.
If the Jeweler you are looking into is on Facebook as a business, you can see what people have to say about them online. You do not have to be a member of Facebook to see the jeweler’s public business page.
Read the comments written by people who go to their page. See what they do and what their reputation is. Local business review sites also often have comments about the jeweler you are looking into.
A great way to check out a jeweler you are considering is to go on Google and in the search window, type in the jeweler or jewelry store’s name and then a dash and the word reviews. It like this: ABC Deluxe Jewelry – reviews. That dash review that you type in, will pull together all the review sites at one time to show you what other people took the time to write about the jeweler you are checking out. This is how to choose a jeweler!
Go Forth, Choose a Great Jeweler, and Have a Decorated Life!
Article About Calla Gold Jewelry in Coastal View News
You deserve to be heard. Your jewelry deserves respect. And you deserve to get maximum joy from your relationship with your jewelry. That means you deserve a nice relationship with your jeweler.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Wow this is a very helpful article. Thank you
Laurence
This is a great little article. Thanks.
Thank you Laurence and Mark for taking the time to check it out. May your experiences with your Jeweler be fantastic!
Wow,Calla! You had a lot of information to think about when looking for a personal jeweler! I wouldn’t have thought of all those aspects, but what a great help! And you know what? YOU have all those positive attributes! I pick YOU again, and again, and again…
Sue, thank you so much for your kind words. I look forward to our next project. I will serve you again and again and again!
This is such a great blog Calla. I am going to make sure all my male friends know to use you as a resource.
Jeremy, I love that. Thanks!
I have a beautiful necklace that has recently broken. I want to make sure that it is repaired by a jeweler that I can trust. Like you said, asking friends for a trustworthy jeweler that they can recommend is a great way to find the right person.
Dear Annika,
Thanks for weighing in with your smart words.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I loved when you mentioned how you can always consult with your friends when looking for a good jeweler. It is important to remember that taking the time to do some research can help you find the best one that can provide the quality items that will help you look the best. As I see it, taking the time to read online reviews and ratings can also help you find the best quality jewelry that can provide the type of items you are looking for.
Hello Marcus,
You are right that asking friends and looking at reviews is very helpful. Finding a jeweler who you feel comfortable with is super important because the experience you have designing or buying jewelry is part of the story of that piece of jewelry. And infuses it with feeling. Just my thoughts there.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I like that you talked about finding a jeweler that will fix broken jewelry that matters to you. I broke my grandmother’s wedding ring recently. I can see how it would be good to have someone fix it. That way my parents won’t be as mad when they find out.
Hi Scott,
Sometimes with older jewelry it can break more easily due to its age and the wear of years.
Often people come to me with a Grandmother’s ring and they want to size it, polish it and size it so they can propose. I’ll always inspect it and explain the cracks, thinness or worn areas I see and let them know what can be done to strengthen it for daily wear.
It’s good to find out these things before they break.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I really like that the article encourages readers to ask about whether or not the jeweler they choose can make custom pieces. When you’re choosing an engagement ring or some kind of anniversary piece you want it to be special after all. If the jeweler you choose can provide you with a custom design then it will make your jewelry that much more special.
Dear Callum,
Thank you for weighing in on choosing a jeweler. Finding a jeweler you feel hears you, and has the skill to create just for you is a wonderful thing!
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla