Whenever you are shopping for fine jewellery at a retail store or online, one of the hardest things to do is assess the true value of the jewelry you are about to purchase. This is particularly difficult when purchasing designer jewelry as the value is inflated by the name and popularity of the label. A 2 carat diamond ring from a well know jeweler like Cartier or Harry Winston will cost a lot more than similar piece from your local jewelry store. But that does not mean that the value of the piece is higher. Keep in mind that when you buy designer fine jewelry, it doesn’t mean that you will have a more valuable piece of jewelry.

In fact, many of the top designers can get away with putting cheaper materials in their jewelry because they know the name is the main reason why people buy from them. Now, this does not mean that all well-know jewelers take this approach. In fact, some of them offer a quality that goes well beyond what you can get from most other jewelers. But you can find a great deal on fine jewelry if the top designers prices above your budget. Keep in mind that quality is what counts the most.

Here are some tips you can use to access the true value of your fine jewelry:

1. Diamonds – If your fine jewelry contains diamonds, they will make up the bulk value of your jewelry. It is important to access the quality and weight of the diamonds in your piece first. Any reputable jewelry should be able to tell you the quality of the diamonds in your piece. You should ask your jeweler for the clarity and color of the diamonds used. If you are buying a solitaire, you should always ask if your diamond comes with a certificate from GIA, EGL or IGI (the 3 main diamond grading authorities). If it doesn’t you may want to think twice about buying that particular piece of jewelry.

2. Metals – If you are buying gold or platinum, you should always look for an engraving on the piece that indicates the type of material used. Look for 10K, 14K, 18K or 24K for gold and 900 or 950 PLAT for platinum. With gold, the higher the number, the more pure gold the metal is. 14K is approximately 54% gold and 46% other metals. 24K is 100% pure gold. Platinum 950 is 95% pure platinum and 5% ruthenium. Also try and get a good feel or even an exact weight of the piece. The heavier the piece the more valuable it is and will be later on.

3. Price – Just because a jeweler is charging a lot, doesn’t mean it’s worth a lot. Jeweler prices are not an exact science. In fact, pricing from one jeweler to the next can vary significantly, even on the exact same item. This is why it is important to shop around and get as many prices from as many differently jewelers as possible before you make a decision. Once you have all your pricing, try and calculate what the average cost of the item is by throwing away the highest and lowest amounts first, then averaging the remaining prices.

If you can put these three tips into affect each time you shop for fine jewellery, you will feel much better about your purchase and find a great value everytime.