Bargains on precious and semi-precious gems are plentiful in the quality shops of Nassau, Cable Beach and Paradise Island.
WHAT-TO-DO - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - JAN 2004 EDITION
Nassau and Paradise Island are blessed with a host of outlets for quality gems, jewels and jewellery. They also have a tax, pricing structure and distribution system that makes buying them in Nassau financially rewarding.
But how do you tell the gems from the baubles?
"The average person can't tell a diamond from a cubic zirconia," says Wayne Chee-A-Tow, CEO of Hillside Investments, which owns and operates The Colombian stores in New Providence and Paradise Island.
"The layman has to depend on the reputation of the jewellery store and you can tell that by the brands that it carries."
The four "Cs"
The quality of gems and jewels - the terms are interchangeable - is based on their "cut, colour, clarity and carat (weight)." Their value is based on a combination of rarity, clarity and weight.
Subtle variations in any of the factors can make a considerable difference in the beauty and value of a gem.
Precious stones - diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires - are weighed in carats. A carat is a fifth of a gram (200mg) or about 1?142 of an ounce. A carat is divided into 100 points, so a ruby that weighs 78 points is called a 78 pointer. Size and carat weight are not identical. A shallow cut stone that weighs one carat will seem much bigger than a deep cut stone of the same weight.
Specific gravity
Stones of a different specific gravity are different in size. A one-ct emerald, for instance, with a specific gravity of 2.7 will be larger than a one-ct sapphire with a specific gravity of four.
Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a substance to water. A ruby, for instance, has a specific gravity of four. This means it is four times heavier than the same volume of water.
The demand for jewellery changes with fashion, according to Chee-A-Tow. "Emeralds go up and down in popularity. Ten years ago emeralds were the number one seller. At the moment diamonds are strongest, with the semi-precious tanzanite second and emeralds third."
Number one rule
"The number one rule in buying jewellery is know who you're buying from, and trusting their judgement," says Mary Lynn Pyfrom, jewellery buyer/division head at John Bull.
"You should also know what your recourses are, the store's policy on repairs and returns. We stand behind everything we sell in terms of quality and integrity. All reputable jewellery stores do that" Phillip Gorman, gemologist and island manager for Colombian Emeralds International, says "the branded image" and dealing with stores with more than one location and a long reputation, are a shopper's best guarantee of quality merchandise. An organization's recognition and affiliation with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is further assurance of quality jewellery, gems and service.
Branding and reputation
Susan Millar, jewellery merchandising and marketing manager at Solomon's Mines agrees that branding and a store's reputation are among the most important aspects of developing client trust.
"A store should back up its products with guarantees in writing. A customer needs to look at the sales policy of the store. It gets back to that old adage of ?buyer beware.'
"Stores like most of the bona fide ones here are approved by Jewelers of America and/or the GIA," says Millar. They also sign an annual ethics statement.
At King's Jewellery World on Bay St, gemologist and store manager Harrinand Persaud also says purchasing a gem "comes down to trust and confidence" in the company you're buying from.
"The only sure way to know you're getting authentic merchandise is to leave it to the professionals. We have two certified gemologists on site. They're certified by the GIA, and a buyer can feel confident in taking their word for authenticity and quality."
Georgia Russell of Crown Jewellers, which has three outlets in Nassau, says "most reputable jewellers provide a guarantee certificate with purchases." Crown Jewellers, with a GIA-trained staff, has been specializing in diamonds for a quarter of a century, and provides certified appraisals with all diamonds.
Gorman says tanzanite is now among the hottest selling gems. It is a relatively new addition to the gemstone market. Its purple and blue hues are unique and often stunning.
The rarity of tanzanite has made it one of the most sought after categories of fine jewellery. Its rarity is attributed to its limited source. Tanzania, on the west coast of Africa, is the only country where it has been mined. It was discovered in 1967.
Tanzanite is a variety of zoisite. Some stones appear more violet, and most will display both colours depending on whether it's seen in natural or artificial light.
Tanzanite is more delicate than many other gems and must be protected from knocks that could cause chipping.
All that glitters
All gold items sold at quality shops are stamped. Pure gold is 24kt. The usual jewellery grades of 18kt and
14kt represent alloys containing 750 and 5831?3 thousandths of fine gold, respectively. The word is also spelled "carat," but is not to be confused with the carat used as a unit of weight for a gemstone (200mg).
Rings are stamped on the inside, and the marking 18kt or 750/14kt or 5831?3 should be readily visible. Other gold items, like charms, have similar stamps. In Nassau shops 14kt is the lowest weight sold at good stores, while 18kt is standard for high-end jewellery stores.
Bargains on precious and semi-precious gems and jewellery are plentiful in the quality shops of downtown Nassau, Cable Beach and Paradise Island.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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