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Whether you need a family heirloom appraised or you want to have a precious stone set into a new mounting, a trip to one of your local jewelry stores will be in order. But deciding which one to go to can take some time and research. When finding a store that is trustworthy and will give you value, here are some things to consider. Check the Internet for local jewelers. Traditional search engines are good for putting together a list of prospects. And even though some jewelers might not have a flashy online presence, look past that for things like how long they have been in business. Family-owned jewelry stores will probably give you better service, and they can give you an idea of how their prices and the brands they carry stack up against their other online competitors. In order to whittle down your list, check for any professional affiliations they are accredited by. One of the first things to look for is membership in the American Gem Society. This organization's members meet the AGS' high standards of product knowledge. They also conform to the society's strict ethical business practices when it comes to product representation and prices. Jewelers must maintain their certification annually. Another trade organization is the Jeweler's Vigilance Committee (JVC). They have high ethical and product standards like AGS, and also keep their members apprised of the latest legal compliance rules surrounding the industry. Once you narrow your choices down, be sure to ask questions. For instance, do they have staff member who is a Certified or Graduate Gemologist? Do they have an on-site bench jeweler to perform repairs? How about an on-site jewelry appraiser? If they answer yes to these it is a strong indication that you'll get a higher level of customer service and expertise. Be sure to check their prices as well. If you've done good online research, you'll get a pretty good idea of that. But what's online might be out of date. And often, jewelry stores will have unadvertised specials, or be willing to negotiate a better price than what you might see. Call jewelers on your short list and ask about a specific piece, or size of stone, like a GIA or AGS-certified diamond. Local jewelry stores should be able to come within 10-15 percent of prices offered by an online diamond retailer. This is a fair percentage due to their higher overhead and the personal service they offer. Once you are comfortable with a couple of jewelry stores, go down and see what they've got. When you find a reputable one, you'll be able to go back anytime without the worry of being sold a less than high quality piece. Looking for a beautiful ring or necklace in Overland Park? Jewelry stores like TIVOL carry a wide selection of pieces to choose from. For more information, visit: jewelry http://www.tivol.com.
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