News

A Brief Word on Insurance
What would happen if you lost that special piece of jewelry? Would it be insured so you could replace it?

Most insurance companies require an appraisal by a Certified Gemologist before a policy can be granted. Most RJO jewelers will provide this service free of charge with your jewelry purchase.

Insurance usually pays for repair and replacement with "like kind of quality",
although unset stones and irreplaceable jewelry are often exempt.

Premiums for your insurance policy are determined by the retail value of each piece of jewelry you insure. Rates can be as little as $10 per $1000 of value, with no deductible, but they will vary according to the jewelry you insure and the state in which you reside.

Please keep in mind that the various rates available also correlate with the ease of
processing claims. It seems those that have a higher premium have little, if any, problems recovering for damages or losses.

If your insured jewelry is damaged, lost or stolen, call your insurance company and
speak with a claims or service representative who will give you complete instructions.
If you suspect your jewelry was stolen, you should report it to the police. In most instances, you will return to the jeweler who sold the item or provided the appraisal to have the jewelry repaired or replaced.

Read Your Policy Before Buying
It really does pay to read your policy, as some insurance companies will compensate you for lost jewelry under the personal property clause of your homeowner policy. Unfortunately, this usually entails a compensatory ceiling of usually less that $1,000.00. Deductibles may also apply, making your compensation inadequate to replace jewelry at today's prices.


Hard Dollars vs. Sentiment
While you would insure a new diamond ring at it's full retail value, deciding the value of an irreplaceable family heirloom is more problematic. What do you value most, your jewelry dollars, sentiment, or both? The answer rests with you.

The Special Qualities of Gold
Only gold combines all four of the qualities sought in the world's precious metals, making it a true treasure.

Beauty
Gold's color can be enhanced by adding small amounts of other metals to create yellow, rose, green, and white.

Rarity
Several tons of ore must be mined to produce just one ounce of gold. It's estimated that only 100,000 tons of cold have been discovered throughout recorded time.

Durability
Any museum of natural history holds the ancient gold coins and artifacts that bear witness to gold's enduring beauty and permanence.

Malleability
Gold can be melted and re-melted, shaped and reshaped into any design. It can also be alloyed with other metals to increase its strength.

Wearing Gold Rings May Slow Arthritis
Your gold rings do much more than make your hands more appealing; they may be keeping rheumatoid arthritis at bay.

This theory developed a few years ago, when a patient with a 47 year history of
crippling rheumatoid arthritis was spared much of the disease's ravages in her left finger, which had always worn one or more gold rings.

This prompted medical researchers in Birmingham, England's City Hospital to x-ray the left and right hands of 55 people. In 30 of the test subjects, the findings revealed less arthritic "erosion" in the left, ring-wearing fingers when compared to the fingers of each person's right hand.

Based on these results, researchers conclude that the long-term wearing of gold rings may slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in finger joints. Gold has been used as an arthritis drug for a century. This new theory speculates that gold molecules from the rings pass through the skin to the finger joints.

How to Buy Karat Gold Jewelry
Before you look at anything else on a piece of gold jewelry, search for it's quality mark. Nothing less than 10 karat gold can be legally marked as gold jewelry in the United States.

Pure (24 Karat) gold is considered to soft for use in jewelry, so it is alloyed with other metals to increase it's strength. In the United States, 14 karat gold is most commonly used in jewelry. Fourteen karat gold is 12/24ths, or slightly more than one-half, pure gold. Jewelry of this finenesses marked "14k" or "585", European designation for the 58.5 percent gold.

Gold pricing is based on kartage, gram weight, design and craftsmanship. Karatage and gram weight tell how much gold is in a piece, but construction and design complete it's value.
Prices based solely on gram weight will not reflect the quality and artistry that has gone into a piece.

Look for quality construction by inspecting any piece of jewelry carefully. Pay
special attention to fasteners or clasps, making sure catches work easily but are secure. Earring posts should be firmly attached to the piece, and gold chain should lie flat.


Your Gold Jewelry Wardrobe
A classic gold jewelry wardrobe grows as any wardrobe does, by beginning with the basics.

Your first, basic pieces should be a gold chain, necklace, classic hoop or button earring, and a link bracelet.
Additions can include a slide-on pendant, a pair of drop earrings followed by a gold ring or pin.

Begin with classically shaped pieces that are appropriate with different outfits, than add pieces that offer versatility, such as matte and polished surface treatments.


Jewelry Protection Tips
How safe is your jewelry? Where do you keep it when your not wearing it? Is it
really safe in your home? Take these precautions to safeguard your jewelry and other valuables.

Install strong locks on doors and windows, the first and most effective line
of defense against burglaries.

When away, make your home appear "lived in" by arranging to have the lawn mowed, mail and newspaper picked up, ask your neighbors to park in your driveway.

When away, utilize variable timers to turn on/off lights, television, radios, etc. to make it appear you are home.

Jewelry boxes are too obvious - place your jewelry out of site, in a fixed safe
or secure hiding place.

Remove and secure jewelry prior to exercising, gardening or performing rigorous chores.

Never place jewelry out in an open area such as a sink or counter or out in public - where it can be forgotten, knocked about, lost or stolen.

When traveling, never leave your jewelry unattended in luggage, and always store
your jewelry in the hotel safe deposit box.

Most burglaries occur during the day, the time your most apt to be away;
therefore remember to keep doors and windows locked.

Finally, insure your jewelry.

Caring For Your Gold Jewelry
Your gold jewelry should last virtually forever, but thoughtless or rough treatment can diminish its beauty - and its value. But a few simple steps can safeguard your gold from harm.

Gold's worst enemy is chlorine. Repeated exposure weakens its structure and can lead to breakage; therefore, keep your jewelry away from chlorinated cleaning products and out of swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

Protect your gold jewelry with a solution of sudsy lukewarm water, or bring it to your local jeweler for steam-cleaning.

Dry and polish jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth after cleaning and rinsing.

Keep gold jewelry free of dust, moisture, perspiration, and makeup.

Always inspect your gold jewelry for weakness or damage and bring it to a professional jeweler for immediate repair. Your jeweler will be able to restore it for you.