Buying Jewelry: Five Common Mistakes to Avoid

When I worked behind a department store jewelry counter, I saw a wide range of jewelry buyers. Some knew exactly what they wanted and purchased it without hesitation. Others were clueless and bought whatever was suggested to them. There is an art to buying jewelry, but you don't need to be a jewelry expert to pick out the perfect piece. Here are the top five jewelry buying mistakes, and how to avoid them.

Jewelry Buying Mistake #1: Not Doing Research

To the uninitiated, buying jewelry can be intimidating. However, with just a little research, you can make it a lot less scary. Even if it's just a quick internet search, some information is always better than none. Take some time to learn about different types of jewelry, and which chains hold up the best. Learn about karats in gold, and what that means. Learn about diamonds (the four "C's," and what it means for a diamond to be "conflict-free") and gemstones. Learn the ways a gem can be cut and the different types of settings, and how the prongs should look.

Making an informed decision is always a good idea, but often people forget that when it comes to jewelry. You should never buy something just because it looks nice, but rather make a judgment based on the research you have done.

Jewelry Buying Mistake #2: Not Doing Reconnaissance

I will never forget the year my father spent a lavish amount of money on a pair of earrings as a Christmas gift for my mother. They were perfect, white gold and brilliant diamonds. There was just one problem -- my mother doesn't have pierced ears. Believe it or not, this is a mistake a lot of people make when buying jewelry. You need to do a little spying or asking around to figure out what the intended recipient can and will wear. Does the person wear watches, bracelets, necklaces or earrings? Do they prefer white or yellow gold? Do they have a favorite gemstone? Does their job allow them to wear jewelry? Do they prefer a classic style, or something a bit more flashy? Do they even like jewelry? These are the questions you'll be asked when trying to pick out the perfect piece, and the answers are important.

Keep in mind that many people are allergic to the metal nickel, which is used in many pieces of jewelry. Many people with a nickel allergy are able to wear 10k gold, but many cannot wear any gold piece under 14k. It seems as if most of the returns that made after Christmas were because the person simply couldn't wear the piece.

Jewelry Buying Mistake #3: Buying from the Sales Flyer

Coming in to the jewelry store on Christmas Eve with a sales flyer in hand screams "I don't want to make an effort." Unless the recipient has expressly stated that he or she wants something from the flyer or you see something that captures everything they want in an item of jewelry, don't bother with it.

Generally the items in the flyers are the items that the store is trying to get rid of. In many (but not all!) cases the quality is not great. Plus, think of how many other people will be walking around with that same piece of jewelry. Try for something unique and special, not something that is shipped out in every Sunday paper.

Jewelry Buying Mistake #4: Assuming All Women are the Same

I don't want to pick on guys here, but my number one pet peeve while working at a jewelry counter was men asking me what piece of jewelery I would want if I were their wife/girlfriend/daughter. Everyone has different tastes, and I could no more tell you what another woman wants than I could guess her favorite movie! This is where your reconnaissance should come in to play.

I realize that many people are overwhelmed by the thought of jewelry buying, and want an expert opinion. That's fine, but you should have a say as well! Don't ask the salesperson to do your shopping for you, but rather give him or her information about the recipient in order to find the most suitable match.

Besides, most sales associates get paid on commission. Whether it's right or not, if you ask most salespeople which piece they prefer, it will be the more expensive one.

Jewelry Buying Mistake #5: Not Inspecting the Pieces

Just because you aren't an expert in jewelry doesn't mean that you can't tell a good piece from a bad piece. After doing a little bit of research, you should be able to distinguish a nice diamond from one full of occlusions and you should be able to tell if a stone is set well. All jewelry stores have jeweler's loupes which they will most likely let you borrow if you ask.

If you see anything wrong with a piece at all, ask to see another. Many jewelry stores, especially chain stores, will have multiples of pieces that are not on display. If you have any doubts about a piece of jewelry, don't buy it. When shopping for jewelry at family-owned jewelry stores, I've had the clerk offer to switch out the stones when I expressed concern over the quality. Jewelry is a big purchase, and you shouldn't buy anything that you aren't 100 percent thrilled with.