Diamond Tennis Bracelet
The diamond tennis bracelet is a classic piece of jewelry. It complements casual and formal styles, and is neither garish, nor gaudy. Bracelets vary in price, so they are affordable regardless of a shopper’s budget. When made of high-quality materials and well-constructed, they are also durable and long-lasting. This makes them an ideal heirloom piece. Before shopping for a diamond tennis bracelet, there are a few things you should know.
Diamond tennis bracelets, as well as diamonds and jewelry in general, should be purchased from a reputable dealer. If you are concerned about the reputation of a dealer, speak with people you know who have recently made jewelry purchases. You can also ask the jeweler for a reference from a previous client or search online for jewelry store reviews. If you are shopping in person, engage the jeweler in conversation. Reputable jewelers are able to carry on conversations about their pieces and about the industry in general. The more you learn from a variety of sources, the better able you are to make a smart purchasing decision.
During the information gathering and browsing stage of your shopping, look at loose diamonds, as well as finished bracelets. Diamonds come in a surprising variety of colors. Viewing them under the appropriate lighting helps you decide which hue you like best. When looking at bracelets, try a few on to see what style looks best and what feels most comfortable. If you are able to narrow your choice down to three or four styles in your price range, it will make your decision much easier. Keep in mind if you find a gem color, style and price you are comfortable with, the jeweler might be able to design a custom piece for you. It is better to set a budget in advance, so you do not get overwhelmed with the available choices and spend more than you originally intended. Ask the jeweler to show you options only in your price range.
There are four important factors to consider when choosing diamonds. In addition to color, you should be concerned with clarity, cut and carat. The clarity is an indication of how many impurities are visible in a diamond. When you look at a diamond under proper lighting, you might see tiny black, gray or brown flecks. These are impurities and they reduce the sparkle and brilliance of the diamond. The more impurities a diamond has, the less expensive it costs. The cut of the diamond also plays a role in how brilliant it is. A quality cut can hide impurities and works with the diamond to make it sparkle when it catches the light. The carat of the diamond indicates the size of the gem.
Another style consideration is the type of metal your diamonds are set in. You have several choices, but the most popular are silver, gold or platinum. White gold is an affordable option for platinum if this expensive metal is out of your budget, but you are not fond of yellow metal. All three of these choices are strong and sturdy enough to be suitable for an everyday piece of jewelry, but they do vary in strength. Platinum is the strongest of the metals. The karat of gold determine the metal’s strength, so if you choose gold, be sure to speak with the jeweler about how strong your bracelet will be. Fourteen and 18 karat gold are the most durable options and are therefore the most common ones used by fine jewelers. It is rare to find diamonds set in silver, but it does exist. If you have a tight budget, silver is an affordable option that can be upgraded in the future. The quality of the diamonds is more important than the metal because you can have the diamond reset in a better metal when your budget allows.
In addition to the color and strength of the metal, you will also want to consider how ornate you want the metal work to be and how much space you want between your wrist and the bracelet. This will determine the amount of metal used and the length of the bracelet.
Once your choices are narrowed to just a few options, return to the store a few time to view your favorites. The diamonds will look different based on the time of day, even with jewelery store lighting. If you see the choices a few times in different lighting, it might make your decision easier. After several viewings, you should be able to make your choice and purchase the bracelet you like best.
If you are buying your diamond tennis bracelet online, there are a few additional things to consider. The process is somewhat similar to buying the piece in person, but you might need to do a bit more research. If possible, view comparable bracelets in person. Since you will not be able to try on an online bracelet in person, you should know exactly what size you want to purchase in advance. You can have your wrist sized at a jewelry store or use a string and ruler to determine the size on your own. A string also helps you determine the amount of dangle you want between your wrist and the bracelet. The most important factors is to ensure the bracelet will not slip over your hand when worn.
Buying a diamond tennis bracelet should be a fun experience. There is a lot to know and several factors to consider, but your shopping experience should be enjoyable. Most importantly, take your time, work with a reputable company and be sure you are getting the quality piece you desire.