Genuine jewellery is certainly a pricey investment which requires extensive research and careful decision making on your part. While before, you may find the price tag as a good indicator whether a certain jewellery piece is genuine or fake, nowadays you need to be cautious a mile farther. A number of con artists are on the prowl selling fakes at similarly hefty prices. Go over the list of random things you need to know about buying genuine jewellery. A tip or two might just save you from being scammed.

1. When you're totally in the dark about telling a genuine jewellery piece from a fake one, you're not alone in this dilemma. Play safe by shopping in a trusted shop. Purchasing items that are of a known brand and make sure your purchase is covered by a warranty. Although this does not guarantee the complete avoidance of fraud, it does reduce the risk. Imitations of high-quality jewellery such as Chanel and Haskell have been reported online. In most cases, however, replacements and refunds were granted.

2. Do not completely trust an in-house jewellery appraiser as his opinion may be colored by his employment in the shop. When you leave the jewellery shop, have the value of your purchased jewellery piece reassessed by an independent and professional appraiser. If the value the independent appraiser gives does not even closely match to what you paid for, then return the jewellery piece and demand for a refund.

3. Be wary with names. The most cunning merchants will do anything to trick you to buying their merchandise. Jewellery pieces with elegant-sounding names sport heftier price tags and a number of people readily fall prey to such tactics. (Don't be one of them!) In fact, a number of sources reveal that misnaming the actual material is an all-time fraud, which is evidenced by a number of gemstones that are not really made of gems, but of ordinary materials. Examples include “Mexican jade,” which is really just calcite that has been dyed green, and “Arkansas diamond,” which is really nothing more but quartz.

4. Look for imperfections and defects. Synthetic jewellery pieces boast of uniformity in color, texture and shape. You may notice that the stones or pearls that are set for the bracelet perfectly match the stones or pearls set for the earrings. Such uniformity and consistency are rarely present in genuine jewellery. For instance, genuine pearls are not perfectly round; genuine gold luster does not glitter that much; genuine diamonds have inherent flaws and a few scratches. Some gemstones may have underwent clarity enhancement, however, so do not forget to ask around.

5. Seek out a certified expert for credible opinion. Ascertaining whether a particular gemstone or jewellery piece is a fraud or not isn't child's play. Before you leap to conclusions, get the verdict straight out of an expert's mouth. A certified gemologist not only has extensive knowledge about gems but also has the needed equipment and experience to provide you with credible and accurate information on a particular piece you may be interested in.