Tips for buying jewelery

Don't buy from credit jewelers or any jewelery store in the mall, like Zales or Daniel's. They are rip-offs. They peg you as a sucker just because you walked in the door. They know anyone with any knowledge of gold or diamonds wouldn't bother with them. Independent jewelery stores might seem more expensive, but you aren't getting garbage for your money. Some even make up their own diamond grading systems just to keep you fooled. You can also get the same stuff for half to a third of the price at your local pawn shop. Also, cash for gold companies are also big rip-offs. If you're looking to sell your gold, find a local smelter to sell it to. You'll get paid much closer to it's worth than you will with a mail in company. Furthermore, small diamonds can cost a fortune at the jewelery store, but on the scrap market, they only fetch $20-$60 per carat. Chances are your local pawnbroker is scrapping more than they sell retail. Use this to your advantage to haggle the price down tremendously. The pawnshop is also a great place to get a loose diamonds cheap for a piece that is missing a stone.