How to Buy That Perfect Piece of Jewelry Without Paying Too Much

Do you love jewelry but don't have heaps of cash to buy any? Here are some tips to help you afford a nice piece of jewelry without blowing a whole week's wages.

When buying jewelry you need to plan how you're going to wear it. What kind of stone would be perfect for you? Think about your skin tone, and also consider your personality as you choose your favorite pieces.  It's a waste of time buying something that you'll only wear once or twice.

Even when you're not spending a fortune, your jewelry should be durable and long-lasting. Buying inferior jewelry is a false economy. When buying jewelry, only buy from sellers with good reputations, such as Amazon or a reputable offline store. High-quality jewelry is durable and displays excellent craftsmanship. It is important to choose a high-quality piece to ensure that your favorite pieces will last a lifetime.

Think twice before getting designer name jewelry, you will be paying for the name. Some designers have really famous jewelry lines, but is the product actually any better? Once you have decided what styles of jewelry you like from these designers, hunt around and you are guaranteed to find them in other stores or better still, online at a much more competitive price.

You can save a lot of money buying used jewelry. Often these items are nearly as good as new, but are priced significantly lower. You'll end up getting a lot more bang for your buck. Have a look at pawn shops and online stores.

The high price of gold could cause you to pass up a piece of jewelry you really want. If you must have a gold bracelet or ring, why not choose a piece with fewer carats in order to spend less money. A 24 carat gold piece has more pure gold than an 18 carat for example, but is not very durable. Therefor it'll cost a lot less. A 9 carat piece of gold has less pure gold still and is a lighter color. Generally speaking 18 carat is considered the best combination of price and quality.

If you have a long gold chain, why not have it shortened? You can sell the extra gold for a profit. Merely cut a few extra inches off the chain, and sell the excess; you can still own and wear your gold chain. Make sure that your items are real gold before doing this of course and, if you have enough, you can acquire a significant amount of cash from a gold buyer.

Every girl loves diamonds, but not every girl can afford them! I solve this problem myself by buying cubic zirconias instead. Honestly you just can’t tell the difference – unless you're a jeweler of course. I have just found some beautiful stud earrings that cost less than a cup of coffee. Don't believe me? Check it out here.

Some things to consider before buying jewelry...

Ask yourself what kind of statement you want your jewelry to make Is your outfit or the jewelry making the statement, meaning is your jewelry going to be the attention getter, or is it going to be more subtle and in the background and simply complementing the outfit?

It has become quite common to see people wearing both yellow gold and silver jewelry. To do this, have one piece that has both metals in it. A watch will work well for this. Otherwise, the look may seem haphazard and untidy.

Remember to contrast finely detailed or very ornate jewelry with a simple outfit. Otherwise you may look over-dressed. Wear colorful jewelry with a black dress to give it some pizzaz!

Hopefully this will help solve your jewelry buying dilemma - whether for your yourself or for a special friend.

Wondering What to Get Your Girl This Christmas?

Some people are really clever at selecting Christmas gifts and others are not. Here's a few tips to finding that perfect gift for that special girlfriend.

Whether you girlfriend is just a friend or someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. These tips will help you find a gift that will show her you care, without sending too strong a message.

First here's some gifts NOT to buy (unless you're in a very special relationship!)

Underwear of any kind – Underwear is not appropriate for someone you're trying to get to know better. It doesn't matter how pretty it is or how much it cost. It may embarrass her. Of course if you've been married for ages, that's fine. But then you wouldn't need to be reading this...

Something for the kitchen - Kitchen gadgets are simply not Christmas gift material! Unless your girlfriend's a super whizz bang cook and requests the latest blender, just don't do it. She may think you expect her to be a domesticated drudge!

A gift voucher - It's just too impersonal and she may be offended that you didn't take the time to think about a special gift just for her.

Okay, now that we've eliminated half the department store :) what are some suitable gifts you could consider?

Ask without asking – your could subtly lead her into a conversation about what gifts to give by saying something like, "I have no idea what to get my cousin Imelda for Christmas, could you help me out?" This will lead to a few gift suggestions that may indicate what she herself may like.

Try and choose a gift to fit her personality. If you know her likes and dislikes, so much the better. If you know her taste in music, a CD or MP3 would be a good choice. Has she got the latest MP3 player or Ipod?

Jewelry – Jewelry is always a good choice as there are so many different styles to choose from. It is very unusual to find a girl who dislikes jewelry. If you want the relationship to become more personal, you could choose a pretty ring. Unless you're planning for a future together, avoid the classic engagement or wedding ring shapes; aim for a dress style.

I love cubic zirconia jewelry as it sparkles just like diamonds, but is very affordable. A word of warning - never try and pass zirconias off as diamonds. She will find out!

If you feel that even a dress ring may be a bit too suggestive, how about some gold plated bangles or earrings. These items can be easily exchanged if necessary for something else.

Perfume – If you already know her taste in perfume, that's fine. You'll need to get it right though, as perfume is hard to return. Once you've opened the bottle, that's it. Perfume only lasts a few weeks or months too.

Books – if you know what types of books she reads, this is always a good buy. Steer clear of recipe books and erotica though. Also make it a hard cover book. You can't wrap an ebook!

A pot plant - If your girls loves flowers, a plant in a pot may be a good gift choice. She can either keep it indoors or plant it out in the garden. Make sure the plant look healthy and will last the distance until Christmas day.

Buy online – Everybody does this now and it saves so much time and hassle. You can browse much more easily on the web rather than negotiating the crowds in the offline stores.

I hope this guide has helped you make a decision what to buy your girl this Christmas. I hope your gift brings her much joy and that you have a very happy Christmas together!

Photos courtesy of Amazon.com.