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Things To Keep In Mind While Buying Jewellery
Are you planning to buy jewellery for yourself or a loved one? Do you want to buy something that truly adds value and a dash of style to your look? Is sustainable jewellery something you’ve thought about?
Learn everything about the jewellery buying process in the blog below.
1. Is the jewellery ethically sourced?
Learn everything about the jewellery buying process in the blog below.
1. Is the jewellery ethically sourced?
Unethical practices take place in almost all industries globally. When it comes to jewellery, unethical practices contribute to about 20% of the entire industry. Unethical practices in the process of metal mining, product manufacturing and supply chain don’t just have a negative impact on the environment, but also affect the lives and livelihoods of the workers involved in the process.
Making sure that your jewellery focuses on ethical sourcing and ethical consumption of jewellery should be your number one priority. While ethical businesses have higher costs incurred and pass those costs on to you, it’s a fair price to be paid for equality and the health of the planet.
2. Has the jewellery been certified by the relevant authorities?
While the industry is being well regulated now, there are still a few jewellers who prefer making profits over the quality of goods and customer satisfaction. Always make sure your jewellery has the relevant certification attached to it.
When it comes to diamonds and gemstones, it is impossible to know if it is original or not to someone who hasn’t been involved in the trade. This kind of scam is usually played out in tourist cities and hotspots, where a tourist usually does not come back.
If you visit a store physically or a digital store - carry out a background check on them. How long have they been in business? What are their reviews like? Are they being transparent with their customers? What brands/customers are they associated with?
While the industry is being well regulated now, there are still a few jewellers who prefer making profits over the quality of goods and customer satisfaction. Always make sure your jewellery has the relevant certification attached to it.
When it comes to diamonds and gemstones, it is impossible to know if it is original or not to someone who hasn’t been involved in the trade. This kind of scam is usually played out in tourist cities and hotspots, where a tourist usually does not come back.
If you visit a store physically or a digital store - carry out a background check on them. How long have they been in business? What are their reviews like? Are they being transparent with their customers? What brands/customers are they associated with?
3. Are their designs unique?
With numerous jewellery stores around us, plagiarised designs are common. Many manufacturers prefer to copy others’ designs than to make efforts in creating their own. While simple and classic pieces have a universal appeal and we shouldn’t be having problems with those, we shouldn’t be limiting our design choices to just such pieces.
With numerous jewellery stores around us, plagiarised designs are common. Many manufacturers prefer to copy others’ designs than to make efforts in creating their own. While simple and classic pieces have a universal appeal and we shouldn’t be having problems with those, we shouldn’t be limiting our design choices to just such pieces.
For truly unique jewellery designs, there is a way. As the industry has been growing for centuries, many independent designers have found their way into the market.
While some of them have curated collections in their own stores, many still work for jewellers and manufacturers on a contractual basis.
If you’re looking for inspirational & design-focused pieces, you can look out for designers and their designs online and go out to their store or other stores they sell to, instead of showing up at a store and trying to find the perfect piece.
4. What about customer service?
Whether you’re buying jewellery in-store or online, customer service is a make or break. Due to the nature of jewellery in general, customer interaction is inevitable.
When you plan to spend significant time and amount of money into a piece of jewellery, it’s only fair to be expected to be treated in the best way possible.
First interactions, greetings and small talk is what is generally observed, but there are various other factors that come into play and need to be considered.
Is the jeweller being completely honest about their collection, sourcing and pricing?
What about after sale service? Are they clear with their return policy? Will they provide full refunds on damaged goods? Do they treat you well even after completing the sale?
5. How sustainable is their business and products?
Sustainability is undoubtedly the need of the hour, no matter which business it may be. Jewellery is in no way exempt from this.
When demand for something increases, supply should match it. We as consumers should make conscious decisions on where we spend our money and which part of the ecosystem it contributes to.
Sustainable jewellery includes sustainable sourcing, using locally sourced materials, sustainable packaging, reusable jewellery and recycled raw materials.
If all the above points check out, we can together create a better world for ourselves.
6. Ask for transparency with pricing
Great jewellery deserves to be paid high for. But not every piece of jewellery is great.
Always ask the jeweller questions related to pricing, purity of material, quality of stones and gemstones and making charges.
Try to understand exactly why their pricing is the way it is. Is their jewellery truly unique? Do they work with good designers? Is their manufacturing quality top-notch?
Is their jewellery sourced ethically?
Consider the cost of their store maintenance, website costs and other operational costs. It is fair to pay a higher price for a piece of jewellery if you know their rent and other costs are higher than their competitor. But it wouldn't be justified to pay a significantly high price to someone who has lower operational costs compared to a similar company providing similar goods.
Toqn checks all boxes above - Toqn’s key focus is on design, sustainability and transparency. Toqn allows you to own multiple pieces of 18kt Gold jewellery and wear them in different ways. Modularity in jewellery is currently at a very nascent stage and has immense potential for the future. Owning multiple Toqns and sockets will help you make a conscious decision for the betterment of the planet, while not compromising on price, quality and design.
Visit www.toqn.in to learn more about modular, sustainable and fashionable jewellery.
While some of them have curated collections in their own stores, many still work for jewellers and manufacturers on a contractual basis.
If you’re looking for inspirational & design-focused pieces, you can look out for designers and their designs online and go out to their store or other stores they sell to, instead of showing up at a store and trying to find the perfect piece.
4. What about customer service?
Whether you’re buying jewellery in-store or online, customer service is a make or break. Due to the nature of jewellery in general, customer interaction is inevitable.
When you plan to spend significant time and amount of money into a piece of jewellery, it’s only fair to be expected to be treated in the best way possible.
First interactions, greetings and small talk is what is generally observed, but there are various other factors that come into play and need to be considered.
Is the jeweller being completely honest about their collection, sourcing and pricing?
What about after sale service? Are they clear with their return policy? Will they provide full refunds on damaged goods? Do they treat you well even after completing the sale?
5. How sustainable is their business and products?
Sustainability is undoubtedly the need of the hour, no matter which business it may be. Jewellery is in no way exempt from this.
When demand for something increases, supply should match it. We as consumers should make conscious decisions on where we spend our money and which part of the ecosystem it contributes to.
Sustainable jewellery includes sustainable sourcing, using locally sourced materials, sustainable packaging, reusable jewellery and recycled raw materials.
If all the above points check out, we can together create a better world for ourselves.
6. Ask for transparency with pricing
Great jewellery deserves to be paid high for. But not every piece of jewellery is great.
Always ask the jeweller questions related to pricing, purity of material, quality of stones and gemstones and making charges.
Try to understand exactly why their pricing is the way it is. Is their jewellery truly unique? Do they work with good designers? Is their manufacturing quality top-notch?
Is their jewellery sourced ethically?
Consider the cost of their store maintenance, website costs and other operational costs. It is fair to pay a higher price for a piece of jewellery if you know their rent and other costs are higher than their competitor. But it wouldn't be justified to pay a significantly high price to someone who has lower operational costs compared to a similar company providing similar goods.
Toqn checks all boxes above - Toqn’s key focus is on design, sustainability and transparency. Toqn allows you to own multiple pieces of 18kt Gold jewellery and wear them in different ways. Modularity in jewellery is currently at a very nascent stage and has immense potential for the future. Owning multiple Toqns and sockets will help you make a conscious decision for the betterment of the planet, while not compromising on price, quality and design.
Visit www.toqn.in to learn more about modular, sustainable and fashionable jewellery.