What to Look For in a Good Jeweler; Knowledge, Skills, and Likeability
How do you really know if Cindy, manning the store jewelry counter in the mall, is worth her salt? Does she really know what’s best for your twenty-five year old wedding ring?
How Do You Find a Good Jeweler?
Can Cindy speak intelligently on the strengths and weaknesses of particular engagement rings? How experienced is she? Should you trust her? Should you work with the girl?
Starting with gemstones, I’m going to help you in the evaluation process.
Their Gemstone Knowledge Should Include…
A good jeweler should know about different kinds of gemstones. They should be able to speak to their colors, hardness’s, and different qualities.
Although they may not have a certificate from the GIA, (Gemological Institute of America), a good jeweler should be well versed in the 4C’s of diamonds and be able to speak about the pros and cons and prices of different grades of diamonds.
A good jeweler should know the difference between carats and karats and be able to procure and replace gemstones.
Finally, a good jeweler should always have a loupe. A jeweler without a loupe is like a chef without a knife.
Their Grasp of Your Ring Needs Ought to Encompass….
A good jeweler should be very knowledgeable about wedding and engagement ring design.
They should know what features you’re going to need to consider, both aesthetically and durability-wise. Properly sizing a ring should be second nature to a good jeweler.
They should also be able to offer solutions to rings that spin and rings that are hard to get on and off.
Jewelry Repair Should be a Focus Not an Afterthought
A good jeweler should be able to look at your jewelry and be able to tell you specific areas that need fixing.
Six Things Your Jeweler Should Look for in Your Ring Upon Inspection:
- worn prongs
- cracks in gems
- weakness in shanks
- chips in your channels
- broken or compromised clasps in bracelets and necklaces
- any areas that look thin or worn that look like they might break in the near future
A good jeweler should be able to have your jewelry fixed. A good jeweler should also be able to offer solutions on what to do with old, inherited jewelry and jewelry you no longer wear.
Six Things Your Jeweler Should Know About Earrings
A good jeweler should be able to address problems with ears and earrings. Problems like:
- earrings that hang wrong or point toward the pavement
- choosing earring wearing solutions if you have enlarged ear holes
- what to do if you have the wrong kind of earring backings
- how to handle broken earring posts
- what to do with clips that are too tight or too loose
- what earring choices you have, wire backs, french clip backs, posts and lever backs
These are just some of the issues a good jeweler should be able to deal with.
Miscellaneous Things Your Good Jeweler Should Know About
A good jeweler should know about the different kinds of finishes on jewelry, including: matte, shiny, antiquing and hammered finishes.
A good jeweler should be able to replace broken clasps and suggest replacements for inappropriate or uncomfortable ones.
A good jeweler should be able to address restringing pearl and beaded necklaces. They should know about knotting versus no knotting, and French wire finishes.
Bonus Section! The Exceptional Jeweler
An exceptional jeweler has superior fashion sense and knows what looks good on you.
A really good jeweler has an informative and easy to navigate website.
I’m not sure this is really a “bonus” and not a requirement, but a really good jeweler should be likable and easy to communicate with. Who wants to work with someone they can’t along with and don’t like?
Finally, it doesn’t hurt if your jeweler has a bit of a romantic streak in them. Because you love your jewelry and a lot of jewelry is given with love.
May you find a good jeweler!
To Help You Find a Good Jeweler, Here Are Two Helpful Posts:
Twelve Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Jeweler
Calla Gold
I really like the points a good jeweler needs to know about inspecting your jewelry, repairing your jewelry and that they need to have fashion sense to do custom designing.
I gotta say I’ve seen some pretty hideous and dated ‘new’ custom designs recently and now I know how to characterize those designing jewelers – NOT good jewelers.
This is really good advice.
Hello Tracey,
Thank you for weighing in on your experience lately with the good, the bad and the ugly. Good Jewelers will save you from the last two!
Calla Gold
I like Calla Gold Jewelry and Calla Gold is a superior jeweler. If you read about what to look for in a jeweler, she has the attributes you want.
She has helped me select the jewelry I reach for.
Calla has fixed my jewelry for years and redesigned a couple of inherited pieces. Needless to say I wasn’t wearing them and I am now.
I recommend Calla Gold and Calla Gold Jewelry.
Sue M. in Santa Barbara, 25 year client of Calla Gold Jewelry!
Hi Sue,
Way to completely make my day. Thank you for being my long term client and sharing your jewelry collection with me and letting me help you add to it!
Your Happy to be a Longterm Jeweler,
Calla
A friend of mine will soon be getting engaged and he is looking to find a good jeweler to select his sweetheart’s engagement ring. Thank you for informing me that the ring should be fully inspected before leaving the shop. I will inform my friend. Another thing to think about is if the person really cares about what you are looking for in a ring.
Hello Jade,
You make a good point here. Hopefully he knows what to look for and cares about the quality.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Thanks for pointing out that a good jeweler should be very knowledgeable about wedding and engagement ring design. My fiance and I are trying to find the right jewelry store to go to to pick out our wedding rings. I think that it would be nice to have someone who knew what they were talking about to help because I honestly don’t know that much about jewelry. Thanks for the tips on how to choose a good jeweler.
Hello Steele,
I wish you the best of luck in choosing wonderful wedding jewelry. May you find a nice jeweler to walk you through the process.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
It’s good to know to look for a jeweler that knows a lot about finishes such as antiquing and matte. I am trying to have a necklace repaired so that it can maintain its value and need to find a jeweler that knows a lot about this particular type of necklace. I hope that I can have the necklace repaired by someone who knows what they are doing and can offer me excellent service.
Hello Stefan,
I’m glad you are now armed with the knowledge to be discerning in your search for the right jeweler. The antique finishes are what make vintage jewelry look unique and beautiful.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I had no idea that there even was a difference between carats and karats. I’m planning to propose to my girlfriend and I want to choose the best ring for her, but I have very limited knowledge of gemstones and jewelry in general. I’m glad that there are people who can help me through the process of choosing a good ring.
Hi Randy,
Having a knowledgeable jeweler can make the process fun and memorable. Choosing the right ring or designing the right ring makes the story of your proposal special.
May the ring you propose with bring you both years of happiness.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
My wife’s wedding ring might need to be restored because it is losing its luster, and I would want to find a reliable jeweler to help us out. I appreciate that you mentioned that you should look for a jeweler who has a good amount of experience. If we decide to get the ring restored, I will be sure to look for an experienced jeweler.
Hi Glenn,
I’m glad you’ll be looking for experience. Some stores these days are only into selling jewelry and really don’t understand how the pieces are made.
That sounds like a great idea to get your wife’s ring in to be restored. I’m sure she’ll feel happy about that.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I hadn’t thought about jewelry repair in terms of specifics but I like how you point out that a good jeweler will be able to identify parts that need work. I’ve wanted to repair my wife’s favorite necklace as a birthday present in a few weeks. Thanks for these tips on finding a good jeweler.
Hi David,
I love that you’ll fix your wife’s necklace for a gift. It’s sad when your jewelry is out of your rotation because something broke.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I like that you said that a professional jeweler can help you decide which jewelry fits your style. My sister is getting married and she said she was worried about the marriage rings. I’m going to let her know that some jewelers can advise her on what rings to buy.
Hi Ron,
It can be daunting, trying to find the perfect jewelry that suites you in look and lifestyle, thanks for helping your sister.
Your Perosnal Jeweler,
Calla
It made sense when you said that jewelers should be knowledgeable about different types of gemstones. I need to have my jewelry repaired soon. Thanks for teaching me how to identify a good jeweler for the job!
Hello Eileen,
My goal in writing this was so that you’d have the best care for your jewelry, wear it and love it.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla