Buying Fine Jewellery, whether it's for yourself or someone else, is something of an investment. You're going to be spending a fair amount of money, no matter whether you're buying something new or you're looking at vintage jewellery. So it's important to get it right if you want to make sure that you use your money wisely and make a decision that you're happy with. There are a few things that you'll want to contemplate before you decide exactly what it is that you want to buy. When you're looking at options for a new ring, necklace, earrings, or anything else, think about the following things.

Set a budget

You can discover a huge range of prices when you're looking at Fine jewellery. Prices can depend on the type of jewellery you're buying, the metal, any gemstones and their size and quality, and the designer or brand. Before you get too far in your search, you should make sure you define a budget. It's a good idea to get a rough idea of what sort of prices you could be looking at first. You need to have a realistic idea of what you will need to spend to get what you want.

Explore different styles

You might have a rough idea of what you want, whether it's a tennis bracelet or an emerald ring. But it's also important to look beyond the basics to consider what sort of styles are available and what you want. There are different sizes and shapes of gemstones, different patterns that they can be arranged in, and the overall style of a piece of jewellery to consider. Take some time to explore some different styles and think about what you want. This might include trying on some different styles or even just seeing what they look like on models.

Know how to assess quality

It's important to be able to assess the quality of a piece of fine jewellery. If you're spending a lot of money on it, you need to know that it's worth the cost. How you assess the quality will generally depend on what you're buying. If you're getting something with a diamond, it helps to have some understanding of the four Cs that are used to assess them. Even if you're buying from an online jewellery shop, you can still assess quality. Take a look at images, look at reviews, and research the company. If they have a physical store, you can also visit them.

Protecting your purchase

When you spend money on something precious, you need to protect it. The first thing that you should do is check the warranty on any fine jewellery that you buy, as well as the returns policy. What if there are any faults with the jewellery or you change your mind? What if the sizing of a ring you buy isn't quite right? Another good idea is to get your jewellery insured. Sometimes you can add it to your home contents insurance, or you can take out a separate policy.

Before you buy fine jewellery, do your research to check that it's the right decision for you.

Liz x

*This is a collaborative post