7 Common Jewelry Shopping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

In 2018, Americans spent a total of $82.5 billion on jewelry and watches. However, many people regret their jewelry purchases and make mistakes during the buying process.

If you’ll be going jewelry shopping soon and buying jewelry for yourself or for a loved one, you need to be prepared. Buying the wrong jewelry can be costly and can lead to disappointment. 

In this guide, we’ll tell you about the 7 most common jewelry shopping mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Failing to Stick to a Budget

One of the most common jewelry shopping mistakes of all is failing to set and stick to a budget for jewelry. 

When you see a great piece of jewelry, it can be easy to get excited and feel like you need to have a particular item. Before you go into a store or go shopping, make sure that you set a budget for yourself and commit to sticking to it. If you find a piece of jewelry that you want, either for yourself or for someone else, remember your priorities and keep your budget in mind.

If you decide to re-evaluate your budget and get the item anyway, consider leaving the store first or returning to the store on another day. This will give you plenty of time to think more about the purchase and make sure it’s the decision for you.

2. Focusing Only on the Latest Trends

Many jewelry shoppers are dedicated to staying on top of the latest trends in jewelry. As a result, they end up making buying decisions they regret later on.

Whenever you buy a piece of jewelry, especially an expensive one, make sure that you can picture yourself wearing it now as well as years or decades into the future.

It’s often a good idea to opt for pieces of jewelry that are more timeless. Buying only trendy jewelry may leave you disappointed in a few years when it simply doesn’t feel fashionable enough to wear.

3. Failing to Get a Second Opinion

When buying jewelry, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of always asking a friend or family member for a second opinion. If possible go shopping with a family member or friend. This will help you make sound decisions that you’ll be happy with for a long time to come.

While you may think that a piece of jewelry looks great on you or shouldn’t be passed up, a friend or family member can serve as a voice of reason. They can help you avoid buying a piece of jewelry that isn’t really your style or isn’t as impressive as you think it is at first glance.

4. Not Understanding the Quality

Keep in mind that when buying jewelry you won’t always get exactly what you pay for.

There are many instances when an expensive piece of jewelry won’t offer the level of quality that you expect. Sometimes items that seem high-quality could cause an allergic reaction or have some other issue.

You’ll want to understand the quality of silver and gold. Be sure to understand gold karats and purity and make sure that you’re buying high-quality items.

It may be worth paying more for jewelry that you know is high-quality and that will stand the test of time. However, you don’t have to overspend on jewelry either. At a certain price point, jewelry will only increase in quality in small increments. 

5. Not Doing Enough Research

Failing to research a piece of jewelry you’re thinking about buying or the seller you’re buying from is also a big mistake. There are some scams out there and levels of quality can be misleading.

You should be sure to read reviews on jewelry products online and on jewelry stores that you plan to visit. Make sure to learn everything you can about your buying decisions ahead of time.

Also, be sure to read the product descriptions when buying jewelry. Ensure that you understand all of the details about a piece of jewelry and know what materials you’ll be buying.

6. Choosing the Wrong Jewelry Size

One mistake that people make when buying jewelry is getting different jewelry sizes than they need. Especially when buying jewelry for someone else, it can be tough to get the right size.

Make sure that you take all of the important factors into consideration when buying jewelry. Take out the guesswork and make sure you get the right ring size. Ensure that you’ve used a tape measure to determine the size of the wearer’s ring finger when buying an engagement ring.

You’ll also want to ensure you get the correct size for bracelets and necklaces as well, but you will have a little bit more wiggle room available.

7. Not Understanding Jewelry Care

Another mistake to avoid when buying jewelry is failing to understand how you’ll need to care for it.

Certain types of jewelry will require special maintenance, upkeep, and care, so make sure that you understand what the requirements are for the item that you’re buying. Certain chemicals can cause damage to certain metals and colored gems. For example, you’ll need to take special precautions with gemstone jewelry such as opals, emeralds, and tanzanite.

Make sure that you understand what to expect from a piece of jewelry before you make a purchase.

Avoiding the Most Common Jewelry Shopping Mistakes

If you want to be happy with the purchases you make, be sure to avoid these jewelry shopping mistakes. By shopping for jewelry in a smart way, you’ll avoid regrets and disappointment and will end up with some pieces of jewelry that you’ll love for a long time to come.

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