It’s not exactly like buying a dress or a pair of shoes, is it? (Even if it is from Chanel or a pair of Miu Miu’s.) Because we’re aware of the significant investment involved (not to mention its being an investment in itself down the line), your first purchase of fine jewellery can come with just a little bit of apprehension.
That’s completely understandable, and absolutely something you can prepare for—so before you head over to the jewellers (whether that’s on-site or online), take a few to go through our handy guide for buying jewellery for the very first time.
1. Think about who you’re buying it for.
After all, just because you’re buying jewellery doesn’t automatically make it for yourself. Assuming you are buying a piece as a present, think about the person you’re buying for—what that person likes, that person’s personality, and what you love most about this person.
Try picturing the recipient wearing this piece of jewellery (and the smile of surprise and delight coming your way when gift-giving time rolls round).
2. Think about what it’s made of.
Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or splurging on yourself, let’s get right down to brass tacks and talk about whether you’d like your piece to be gold, silver, platinum or some other precious metal.
Then you’ll probably want to consider gems (don’t forget pearls), not just for their colour but also for what they might mean or symbolise to you.
3. Think about what kind it is.
There’s more to jewellery than just rings and earrings, after all. You might also consider getting yourself (or your loved one) a pendant or a necklace, a bracelet or a bangle, a customised engagement ring, or even a timepiece or brooch. Culture or tradition might also include pieces like nose rings, anklets, or waist chains for your consideration.
Don’t forget that there are different kinds of each kind of jewellery: earrings, for instance, come in basic studs, drops, hoops, or chandeliers, while bracelets can be charms, cuffs, links, or a classic tennis bracelet.
4. Think about where you plan to wear it.
Were you buying a piece or two for your best friend’s boyfriend’s brother’s wedding or to wear every day to your new job? Do you see yourself wearing this in the grand ballroom, the office, or the country club?
The piece you wear in one place may not be in good taste when worn elsewhere, especially during the day or when going about your day-to-day.
5. Think about what you can wear it with.
It might make more sense for you to buy pieces you’ll be able to wear with more things. Diamond stud earrings or basic pearls, for instance, look just as well with a party dress as your workplace clothes or even your stepping-out-with-friends-at-the-mall ensemble.
Conversely, a nine-carat pear cut screaming green emerald statement piece probably wouldn’t go with nine out of 10 of the articles of clothing in your wardrobe.
6. Think about the way you roll.
If you’re the go-go-go type who’s always crossing a busy street, a tennis court, a boxing ring, or an open-plan office, you may want to think twice about getting delicate pieces with flimsy clasps or filigree—at least for everyday wear.
Then again, if your daily routine usually ends with cocktails, a working dinner, or a date, that’ll be something else to factor into your purchase.
7. Think about how you plan on taking care of it.
One might say buying a piece of jewellery is like buying a pet—you’re responsible for it once you buy it. Your super active lifestyle, for instance, may not leave you much time for regular maintenance of your diamonds or pearls, and it certainly won’t do to chuck them onto your dresser at the end of a long day.
Before you buy might be the best time to consider whether you’ll be making time for cleaning your pieces yourself or taking them to a jeweller for professional cleaning every so often.
8. Think about whether you’ll love it forever.
You may be crazy about those chunky gold cuffs and giant gold hoop earrings right now, but do you see yourself still wearing them a few years (or even next year) from now? Or maybe snake motifs are in because it’s The Year Of, but will you feel the same way about your piece when the next lunar new year comes?
A better first-time purchase for you, for instance, might be a piece with your birthstone or feature a gem in your forever favourite colour.
9. Think about how much you’re going to spend on it.
This ranks first on many people’s “to think about” list, and for sure, nobody wants to end up hocking the very first piece of jewellery they buy, right after they buy it. But putting this as one of the last considerations before you buy the first of what could very well be your lifetime collection might help to make that first piece a little extra special.
Because instead of limiting your choices to what you might be able to afford right now, you’ll be able to fall in love with any piece you come across, and then perhaps work out a plan to save up for it if you had to.
10. Think about where you’re going to buy it.
This last thing to think about supposes you’ve been shopping around for that perfect first piece at more than one jeweller, whether that’s online or brick-and-mortar. You will naturally head for a jeweller with a solid reputation that issues certificates for the piece you purchase.
But say you’ve got your heart set on a design, and the kind of jewellery you want, along with the setting and gems, the size and so on. Very few things can be more of a let-down than not being able to find the exact piece of jewellery you wanted to buy.
In which case, the logical alternative would be to head for a jeweller that creates bespoke jewellery—the very same way you would head for a fashion designer if you couldn’t buy the dress you wanted off the rack. So if you’d like a little more insight or inspiration before you take that first plunge, explore your custom jewellery options at Arte Oro, today.