The purchase of a ring is usually a very big decision, accompanied by a lot of doubts and questions. This post will help you to understand the things to look for when purchasing your ring. Keep in mind as well, that sometimes, more costly is not always the best way to go. A great example of this is beautiful sterling silver rings, which to the naked eye appear the same as gold or even platinum. High quality Sterling Silver Rings can sometimes look just as beautiful and make just as much of a statement as an expensive piece of platinum jewelry. It’s a matter of knowing what to look for. In this article we will explore the quality issues you should look for before selecting your ring.
- Heaviness of walls: You want to look at the ring and make sure that there is enough metal to hold the stones. If you see a very thin “wall” (the area that holds in the stones) then chances are that this ring will not last very long before you start losing stones. It’s not unheard of for stones to fall out though, so don’t freak out if it happens to you. Being pro-active and looking at the metal heaviness on the walls is a good way to avoid going through the pain of losing a stone. See the picture of a sterling silver ring below for a visual. You will notice that the areas surrounding the stone have enough metal so that stones are secure, but not so much that they cover the stones. It’s a perfect example of enough metal to safely and securely hold the stones, while keeping sleek and beautiful lines.
Sterling Silver Ring from www.silverjewelryemporium.com
- Heaviness of Shank: Metal wears. That goes without saying. Purchasing a ring that has a think shank is almost a guaranteed stop in the jewelry shop. Over time, with normal wear and tear, the shank will thin, but if you buy a well made ring, the shank should last for many years. Sadly, many rings on the market are over-polished and start out too thin meaning an unscheduled stop in the jewelry shop.
- Prongs: The pieces of metal that come up and hug the stone are called prongs. You will want to run the ring over you clothing and see if it catches. If it catches, it means that the prongs are not polished well and it’s a sign that there might be an issue. Also, run the prongs over your skin. You will feel the metal, but it should not be sharp or painful. A well finished prong is domed and has a consistent shape. They are big enough to hold the stone securely, but not so big that they cover or take away from the stone they hold. See image below for “perfect” prongs! The sterling silver ring below is an ideal example of beautiful workmanship on prongs.
Beautiful Sterling Silver Ring from www.silverjewelryemporium.com
- Setting Style: When looking at the ring, the stones should be set with an even amount of space between stones. This sounds like an obvious point, but you would be amazed at how may rings are sold with uneven spaces. This simple detail can make your ring look very cheap, which is upsetting especially if you have spent a substantial amount of money. A further tip on this subject is to look at the stone setting not only from the top but from the sides. The stones should sit at the same level so that one is not sitting higher in the metal than the other. Although looking from the top you can’t necessarily see that detail, it effects the way the reflections in the stones play off of each other. See below for another exemplary sterling silver ring.
Beautiful ring from www.silverjewelryemporium.com
- Stamp: It goes without saying that if you are buying a ring of even the lowest quality, it should be stamped. It should contain two bits of information: metal type and manufacturer. If you see no, stamps, then stay away! You should be able to identify the following metals and stamps on the inside of the ring shank:
- 10 Karat-10K
- 14 Karat-585 or 14K
- 18 Karat-750 or 18K
- Silver-SS or 925
- Platinum-PT950, PT925, or PLAT
- Trade Secret: The last tip you will get is a trade secret that only those that work in the jewelry industry know about. Take the rings in your hand and…… SHAKE IT! If you hear clicking or noise, it means that ring has loose stones. Loose stones are bad for obvious reasons which I’m sure you can figure out.
So to summarize the points above, if you want to make buying jewelry a pleasant experience and to feel empowered over making the right choices, educate yourself! The points above are a good start, but you might want to do some reading up on common pricing practices, diamond quality, colored stone quality, and many more. There is no feeling quite as satisfying as being able to speak intelligently to a salesperson when they are trying to push a ring on you. At least now, you can go to the store and probably give the sales staff a few pointers!
To further educate yourself, please check back frequently at blog.silverjewelryemporium.com.
To shop for beautiful, high quality sterling silver rings, click here.
Thanks for reading & happy shopping!
