Indian weddings can be a never-ending juggernaut of festivities. Haldi, mehendi, sangeet, reception, a hundred dresses and a crowd of thousands to entertain! To top it all, there is the mammoth task to buy authentic wedding jewellery. This can be extremely stressful since bridal jewellery is a massive investment, and every investment must be made with careful deliberation and information. Whether you’re buying jewellery for a special occasion, or for investment(nothing like gold and diamonds to diversify your portfolio) , here’s a guide for first-time jewellery buyers, by the end of which we’re sure you’ll be able to make confident, informed decisions regarding $$all that bling$$ :
Let us start off with the very basics. We know that in the digital space that we live in these days, this is the first thing a potential buyer would do. However, it is extremely important that you check the jeweler’s credentials and reviews instead of just getting swayed by their pretty feed on Instagram. Some important things to put on the checklist are –
· Reviews and Ratings on Google My Business(This is the page that instantly opens up when you search a business and displays the address, timings and other info)
· Comments section and tagged posts on Instagram and Facebook
· Any other social platform or online directories that the business is listed in
Now of course, it would be irrational to expect a 100% customer satisfaction out of any business, but their credibility lies in their enthusiasm to address customer dissatisfaction and help solve it.
When buying jewellery for special occasions, it makes most sense to do a try on with your outfit and jewellery so that you don’t regret buying expensive pieces that don’t even compliment what you’re wearing on the big day. If trying clothes on isn’t feasible, bring your blouse or top along with you to the store to get an exact idea of what style/colour jewellery you should buy. The neckline of the blouse is also a massive deciding factor. For example, a choker style necklace looks stunning on a sweetheart neckline but lose its charm in an embellished bandh gala.
Here’s an insider tip - branded jewellery store chains tend to have poor buy-back policies and higher labour charges. This is because of their massive advertising and marketing budgets, and lack of awareness in consumers. Opt for a local homegrown store that satisfies your design needs while also being easy on your pocket by factoring in these benefits.
Ask if the jeweler can customise the design for you:
Sometimes, you have a very specific idea in mind, inspired from Pinterest or your favourite Bollywood wedding, or your own imagination. It’s best to ask if the jeweller can customise the design for you than to settle for something that isn’t quite like what you wanted. It’s also one of the hottest trends right now, since customised jewellery is unique to your personality, a one-of-a-kind keepsake that only you own and represents your precious memories.
Don’t be fooled into buying jewellery that isn’t hallmarked/certified regardless of what the seller says! Enough customer horror stories exist about buying non-certified/hallmarked diamond and gold jewellery since uncertified jewellery can mean lower carat gold/diamond than claimed. Hallmarks and certifications ensure customers aren’t misled and can get the optimum value for their jewellery in future if they decide to trade it in.
For the most beautiful, premium quality jewellery that is also priced reasonably, visit B N Jewellers (Jambusarwala). As a boutique jewellery store, we have exclusive designs and we offer customised Indian and contemporary jewellery. We also offer discounts on labour charges, have one of the best rated post-purchase services in the city. Our bridal jewellry store in Alkapuri, Vadodara has bejewelled some of the most gorgeous brides with our stunning, unique designs that are hard to find anywhere else. We are proud of our skilled kaarigars are also known to understand the customer’s vision best to create the most beautiful, customized bridal jewellery in Vadodara.