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Questions
Answers Q: How can you be price competitive with diamond wholesalers? A: There are two ways to answer the
question. First, if they are selling to consumers by FTC definition they are
retailers. Often companies will say they import from the source or wholesale
to the public, but in reality, the very complex diamond distribution network
and the law ensures that retailers sell to the public and wholesalers sell to
retailers, and there isn’t any cross-over. Second, in terms of price
competitiveness, we all have businesses to run and required margins to
support those businesses. As a consumer, you should consider more than just
the veneer of the business. What is a company’s perceived overhead? Do
you have rapport and trust developed in this important transaction? Is the
company established and reputable? Q: What is the difference between a GIA diamond certificate and an EGL diamond certificate? A: The Gemological Institute of
America or GIA is the gold standard for the diamond industry. Gemstones are
graded by a panel of 3 graduate gemologists against a set of master diamond
stones to determine color, and are graded by the panel for clarity as well.
Science plays a role in the precise measurement and weighing of a diamond to
establish a plot, which is rendered in the form of a detailed certificate.
EGL and other agencies that evaluate diamonds operate on a for profit basis,
which sometimes begs the question, “Can they be impartial when grading
a retailers diamond?” Austin & Elkins only presents GIA graded
diamonds. Q: How often should I clean my jewelry? A: The answer varies based on the
type of jewelry. While we recommend cleaning your pieces such as engagement
rings and gemstone earrings frequently, these items should also be checked by
a professional twice each year to ensure the security of the gemstones.
Contact us to make an appointment for our complimentary evaluation and
cleaning. Q: Why should jewelry be appraised? A: We strongly believe that you
should have all of your valuable jewelry appraised. Each insurance company
and policy will have different recommendations for their clients on the
threshold of value for which a piece should be appraised. Another reason for
an appraisal is to take detailed information about a piece that would allow
us to recreate that piece or identify it should it be lost or stolen. So
don’t think of an appraisal simply as an insurance document, also think
of it as a record of your personal treasure. Q: What product should I use to clean my jewelry? A: You might not believe this, but we recommend a 3 to 1 ratio of tap-water to Mr. Clean. Use a soft child-size toothbrush and get brushing. Of course if you are cleaning anywhere near your sink, always keep the sink plugged. Rinse with cold water and you will be amazed by the difference. Caution: Do not use this mixture for
organic stones, pearls or any materials that you believe are dyed or
enameled. Q: What are the birthstones for each month and do people really buy jewelry featuring their birthstone? A: The chart below shows the corresponding birthstone for each month. Sure, some people purchase jewelry featuring their birthstone. And some parents will collect their own pieces of jewelry representing each of their children’s birth months. It just depends, and certainly not everyone is expected to love or even like his or her own birthstone. January = Garnet Q: Why is your gallery only open by appointment? A: As a personal and private jeweler
we feel this is the best way to offer you the most focused and attentive
service. During the holidays we extend our hours for your convenience, and we
try to keep our appointment books as flexible as possible. Q: Why would I want 18 karat gold? Isn’t it too soft? A: Actually 18 karat gold, because
it has a higher gold content, is more valuable and also more forgiving. So
when you ding, scratch and dent your jewelry as everyone does, 18 karat often
shows these beauty marks more favorably than 14 karat. We also simply prefer
the warmth and elegance of 18 karat’s luster. Q: Is platinum harder than gold? A: Yes, platinum is the hardest
metal typically used in jewelry making. And it takes a special type of
metalsmith to work with platinum because of its very high heating point and
hardness. Great features of platinum for the consumer are not only its
toughness, but it is a non-reactive metal meaning it will not tarnish upon
contact with chemicals or body oils or most other substances. Q: What does "ideal cut" mean? A: The term ideal cut has become cliché in the diamond industry. However, at Austin & Elkins we support and adhere to grading standards published by the American Gemological Society and the Gemological Institute of America. While you will hear "ideal cut" frequently in conversations, it does mean different things to different jewelers. To Austin & Elkins it means that the diamond is cut with the highest degree of precision ensuring that light entering the diamond reflects internally from facet to facet and is reflected back only through the top. This creates the diamond's brilliance. If a diamond is not cut to ideal proportions, light entering from the top will disperse through the bottom and sides of the stone, resulting in a glassy, dark and dull appearance -- without fire and sparkle -- regardless of its clarity or color. |
Engagement & Wedding |
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© 2002-2011 Austin & Elkins |
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