How To Spot A Dubious Jewelry Shop: 2 Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Whether you are shopping for new jewelry or want to polish/restore old ones, you need to find a dependable jewelry shop in Bay Area. There are many unscrupulous businesses in this field and before you realize it, you have been duped out of your hard-earned money. So, the next time you are in a jewelry store, and see these 2 warning signs, get out of there and find yourself a better one.

Encourages you to break or redesign your heirloom pieces

Many families have an heirloom piece of jewelry that needs to be polished or repaired from time to time. If you go to a jewelry shop and find the jeweler there trying to convince you that “repairing” and “polishing” your old heirloom is not worth it and that you should melt it down. If it has stones, they will encourage you to take out the stones and redesign them into something new. Of course, it is normal to do so; but only when you want to. A good jeweler will never encourage or try to coerce you into recasting or melting heirloom pieces because they respect history and also the emotional attachment one has with such a piece of jewelry. Even in some cases, they will discourage you if you say you are thinking about melting or redesigning it. It is only the dubious ones that will do it from their own end because many times, they will switch the stones or give you less value for the metal after melting.

The Bait and Switch game

This is another classic scam that you might run into when looking for a jewelry shop. This happens mostly when you are trying to buy diamond jewelry. At first, the jeweler will show you a great piece of diamond jewelry and then when you select it, you will get one that is lesser in value but looks identical. Only those with advanced knowledge of diamonds can spot the difference between two diamonds. If you went there with your own diamonds, and the jeweler takes a long time to set those pieces for you, chances are, they are switching your diamonds! This is why when it comes to diamonds and other precious metals/stones, always shop in stores dealing with brand name jewelry in the Bay Area. Here you will get an authenticity certificate for the jewelry you are buying, and the jewelry will carry hallmark symbols.

So, next time you are doing jewelry shopping, keep these two warning signs in mind when you are in a store.