Save Money on Fine Jewelry

What are some affordable jewelry options right now?

Gold is setting record highs. Everyone is talking about the slow economy. But you still want something new and different to wear on your next evening out.

You still have a few affordable jewelry options if you think a little creatively. Silver is still very reasonable, semi precious stones are colorful and have a great sparkle, and you can always bring in your old pieces and have them cleaned and re-set. If your set on gold you can always look to older and estate pieces, which most likely have been on inventory since gold was less and sellers are more motivated.

Silver is always a great option if you prefer white metals. You can easily get a whole set for the price of one nice gold piece. I like silver because you can get something with some handcrafted detail and design, set with a nice vibrant gemstone. If you bought the same piece in gold it could cost you over 4 times as much, with the same center stone.
The main problem with silver is that it tarnishes. If this is a problem for you look for handmade pieces that already have a patina or the new Argentium brand sterling silver, which has a far better tarnish resistance then other sterling silver.

One option for gold is to re-vitalize your older pieces. Bring them in to a good trustworthy bench jeweler and have it cleaned. You'll be surprised at the difference. You can also re-set with a different stone, add or subtract from the piece to create a different look, or just trade it in to be applied to your next treasure.

And finally look for older, estate pieces. Often these pieces have been on inventory for a while and were purchased when gold was more reasonable. This gives the seller more wiggle room on the price. Its fun to look at estate pieces, and you can find some really interesting designs to wow your friends.

We are seeing the smallest amount of gold often exceeding the price of semi-precious stones. That means it could be more affordable to re-set your piece with a new stone, which creates a whole new look with minimal cost in labor.

So dig out your old pieces and see what you can come up with. It's fun to create something and can save you considerably on a brand new piece.