Uncategorized Archives - Jewellery Valuers Melbourne

How to buy a nice gemstone…

by superadminFebruary 20, 2020

I want a 3ct blue sapphire….

Over the years working in jewellery, one of the most common lines I hear is ‘I want a 1.0ct diamond’. Now, I haven’t titled this blog ‘I want a 1ct diamond’ because the market is flooded with those colourless gems (yes, I know they come in numerous colours). Instead, I’ve gone with a sapphire, my favourite gemstone.

What is wrong with the above statement? Well, ‘ct’ (for gemstones) represents weight, carat weight to be exact. So, when we ask for a 3ct sapphire, we could get an 8 x 6mm, we could get a poor cut 10 x 8mm or we could get a fantastically cut 9.0 x 7.0mm (sizes rounded for the sake of this topic). The problem this causes unfortunately is that sapphires are priced similar to diamonds; by colour, clarity, cut and weight, one big factor being weight. Consumers need to readjust their approach. We can’t see weight properly. We can see spread. In fact, if you have a sapphire that has a high carat weight which is deep, not only will this effect the light performance of the stone (how good it looks to the eye), it will have a small spread therefore looking possibly like a 2.0 or 1.0ct stone. A waste of money.

When we buy, we should focus on what we can see and not what we have been told. If you want a sapphire that has a beautiful vibrant blue colour and has a nice size to it, then ask for exactly that. Keeping it simple in the jewellery industry will give you the best results. There is so much on the internet to read that you will give yourself a headache and wind up more confused compared to when you started.

For more advice on this topic, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

George Ojaimi | F.G.A.A. Gemmologist
Lecturer at the Gemmological Association of Australia
Registered NCJV Valuer V0355
Director Jewellery Valuers Melbourne

Which engagement ring should I get? THE SOLUTION!

by superadminNovember 24, 2019

The number of times I have seen men walk into a jewellery shop confused. They don’t have the normal look of intrigue and excitement, it’s a sheer look of loss. It’s beautiful at times, in fact, quite funny because the next thing that happens is the salesperson approaches him and to his relief, guidance has arrived. See, the problem with buying an engagement ring is you think to yourself, what style does she like, how much do I spend, what if she doesn’t like it? We get sisters, friends, mothers and future mother in-laws involved just to help make that decision easier, or, lay the blame on if the decision fails.

What if I told you there was a solution?

When time comes to proposing, usually you would have decided on a reasonable budget. $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $100,000 or more, we usually spend within our means. There remains the problem of what to buy. My advice is to observe, walk around shopping malls, peep into jewellery stores and observe what your future fiancé likes. Does she look at diamonds, sapphires, rubies or other stones? What shape tends to catch her eye? It seems a little complex but it’s not; all you need to do is be attentive, and as a true gentleman should, we need to be listening to our partners. Even if she does not have a big taste in jewellery, she will like something.

If you follow this one paragraph, half of your problems are gone.

Now, style of ring can be hard to choose and we still have that fear that once we propose, she’ll be disappointed with the ring. There are so many designs out there and we need to remember that for the rest of her life, she will be looking at that piece of jewellery. EVERY DAY!

The question I put to you here is, have you thought about proposing with JUST THE STONE? It is an idea that removes almost all your problems. If you propose with the stone, you and her can both go and design the ring and God forbid she doesn’t like it, most reasonable jewellery stores will offer you an exchange. If you were to custom make a piece of jewellery according to the advice of your future sister in law, mother in law or her best friend, there is still a chance she won’t like it. It will be much harder returning something you designed. Proposing with the stone alone will also give you both the journey of designing the engagement ring together. Not only do you reduce risk and stress, you also gain a wonderful time and it makes a stressful time one of the most enjoyable. Sometimes thinking outside the square can not only be the solution, but an added bonus.

Should I Buy Jewellery Second Hand?

by superadminAugust 24, 2019

We presently live in the world of recycling. Find something old and turn it into something new. We do it with houses and we do it with furniture but how about jewellery? The short answer is yes!

When you walk into a jewellery shop, you automatically know that there were several stages for that piece to come from underground (the stone and the metal) to the jewellery shop. First it gets mined, then the stone gets cut, then the wholesalers buy, then the jewellers buy and finally, it is made into a piece of jewellery; each step includes a mark-up. This is when you the consumer come along and buy that fantastic piece. What about if we can remove all those steps; wouldn’t it save us a fortune? Definitely.

Today I’m going to focus on second-hand jewellery. Where do we buy second-hand jewellery from? Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Pawnbrokers amongst many others. Unfortunately, the reality is we live in a high turnover society; we buy, we get bored and we sell; we need money, we sell; divorce, we sell. This is partly why the second-hand market exists.

In all these situations, there are unbelievable bargains out there. Why, because everyone of those above-mentioned steps have been removed. There is simply the seller who no longer wants the item and the buyer who is looking for a bargain?

But I’m worried it’s not the real deal

Generally speaking, there are several payment options out there including PayPal which offer buyer protection. If you were to buy using this merchant, you should be covered. You can simply take your piece to an NCJV registered valuer and get them to assess the piece. They will provide you with a written valuation which will either confirm what you purchased or advise you that it is not as described at which point you can return the item.

I found a diamond ring but I don’t like the design.

Remodel!

Jewellery Remodelling, The Journey of a Beloved Piece!

Eleven years ago, Barry met Carrie! They fell in love, Barry proposed and they drove into the sunset. Unfortunately, Barry and Carrie decided it was over. We all told them that no they should work on it but they just wouldn’t listen. Carrie took off her engagement ring, went on Facebook Marketplace and decided to sell it for $2,000, a fraction of the $10,000 she paid all those years ago.

After days on end searching for that beautiful engagement ring, Jim was finding everything out of his budget until he finally found Carrie’s ring. It was a bargain but not the design him and his fiancé Effie wanted. They simply wanted a normal six claw solitaire diamond ring. Any ideas here? Remodel! For a small price, that outdated ring can be remodelled into the piece of your dreams; all for the fraction of the price you may find it elsewhere. And guess what? It will be brand new; you go from the gloom of spending a fortune on an engagement ring to the groom spending more on the honeymoon!

George Ojaimi | Gemmologist

Lecturer at the Gemmological Association of Australia

Registered NCJV Valuer V0355

B.Bus
Director: Jewellery Valuers Melbourne

Director: Premium Jewellery House