In New York City, ones relationship with their jeweler is as important as your relationship with your financial advisor, doctor or lawyer. It is important to have trust and confidence in their abilities. Whether you will primarily be shopping for yourself or purchasing gifts for a loved one, you should be able to rely upon the same person for all of your jewelry needs, year after year. Here are a few tips to help you select the best jewelers in New York City.
First and foremost, look for jewelers in New York City that have an established reputation; the longer they have been in business, the better. Ask your friends and family if there are any jewelers that they would recommend. Word of mouth referrals are more powerful than any form of advertisement, and more often than not, the best jewelers in New York City are small boutiques that don’t do much advertising anyway. Those that belong to professional organizations such as the Jewelers of America or employ certified gemologists will adhere to higher standards that those who don’t. You will also find that they have better skills and knowledge than other jewelers.
The jeweler should take the time to get to know you and your jewelry needs so that they can recommend products accordingly. While you may need a few pieces of exquisite costume jewelry for exclusive events, chances are you will need more practical, wearable pieces for daily use. A quality jeweler should recognize this and not try to up sell you on something you really don’t need. The key to accessorizing is finding quality pieces that are versatile enough to be worn on different occasions.
Full service jewelers in New York City are also more desirable. It doesn’t matter what brand of jewelry you purchase or how high the quality is, it will need routine maintenance. A full service jeweler can show you how to properly care for your precious pieces to prolong the life and polish the stone and the metal to keep it looking pristine. In the event that you need to have repairs made, a full service jeweler with certified gemologists can assess the damage and take the steps necessary to restore the piece to its original condition. This may be as simple as replacing a stone or it may require highly technical skills such as laser soldering. If over the years you grow tired of a particular setting, a full service jeweler can also work with you to redesign the piece to highlight the beauty of the stone in a new and exciting way.
You don’t have to visit the Diamond District to find quality jewelers in New York City. By taking a few steps off the beaten path, you will probably find a few boutique jewelers in New York City that you can build a lasting relationship with.