Cars, travel and occasions · 10 guides
Fine Jewelry: problems and fixes, explained by Adam
Adam Bitton is the only fine jewelry member of BNI Preston Center. These guides are written for a Dallas–Fort Worth reader who has the problem right now: what is happening, what to check, when to call, and what it costs.
- Three months' salary and other engagement ring myths that cost buyers money The three months' salary rule is a slogan, not a budget. Here are the myths I hear most often across the table, and what is actually true. The straight answer on three months' salaryMyth: more carats always means a bigger-looking stoneMyth: a grading report means the diamond is goodMyth: the ring needs a flawless, colorless stone
- The ring is on the finger: insuring it, documenting it and keeping it secure Most homeowners and renters policies limit what they pay for jewelry. A short call to your agent, a folder of paperwork and a yearly checkup protect the ring for decades. Protecting the ring in its first weekWhy a homeowners policy may fall shortQuestions to put to your insurance agentThe folder that makes a claim go smoothly
- Selling a watch or diamond jewelry in Dallas: how to get a fair offer and get paid A fair sale comes down to knowing what you have, choosing a buyer who explains the number, and getting paid in a way you can trace. Here is how I would approach it from your side. Getting a fair price, in a few sentencesWhat buyers are actually paying forPreparing before you ask for a quoteTexas rules that protect you as the seller
- Lab-grown or natural diamond: how to decide for an engagement ring Lab-grown and natural diamonds are the same material with different origins, prices and resale prospects. The right choice depends on which of those matters most to you. Same material, different storyWhat a lab-grown diamond actually isCan anyone tell them apart?What the price gap buys you
- Custom or from the case: does designing your own engagement ring cost more? Most people assume custom means expensive. In practice the center stone sets the price either way, and the design work adds less than you would think. The short answer on custom versus ready-madeWhere the money in any engagement ring goesWhat a custom design adds to the billWhere building to order quietly saves money
- Cleaning your engagement ring at home: what is safe and when to hand it to a jeweler Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush handle most of the work. The harder part is knowing when a dull ring is really a loose stone, and that is where a jeweler comes in. Yes, and the safe method is simpleWhy a ring loses its sparkle in the first placeThe at-home routine, step by stepWhat should never touch a fine ring
- Before you buy the ring: questions that separate a good jeweler from a risky one A good jeweler answers every one of these questions without hesitation and puts the answers in writing. Here is the list I would bring if I were on your side of the counter. What to ask, before anything elseQuestions about the diamond itselfQuestions about the setting and the metalQuestions about paperwork, returns and the years after
- A proposal on the calendar: how long a custom engagement ring takes, step by step Once the stone and setting are chosen, a custom ring is usually ready in a couple of weeks. The time people lose is almost always before that point, and it is easy to get back. The timeline in briefHomework that saves you a weekWhat happens at the first appointmentFrom approved design to finished ring
- A jewelry box you inherited: how to tell what is valuable before you keep, reset or sell Most inherited jewelry boxes hold a mix of fine pieces and costume pieces, and the difference is not always obvious. Here is how to sort them before anyone makes you an offer. The quick way to sort an inherited jewelry boxReading the marks inside bands and on claspsWhy a stone cannot be judged by looking at itWhat makes one piece worth more than another
- You have a budget and a proposal date: how to choose the diamond without overpaying Most people buy one engagement ring in their life and have a few weeks to learn an entire trade. Here is what I tell every buyer who sits down with me, whether they end up buying from me or not. The tab you keep reopening at midnightWhy two stones that look identical are priced so differentlyHomework you can do before you walk into any storeWhen ordering online is fine, and when it is not