What you wear for your destination wedding in Goa will be the biggest thing under the scanner. Jewellery - for the bride and groom - is a significant investment, both financially and symbolically as it ties you both together. For novices, knowing how to buy jewellery can be daunting. We’re here to help you with a few tips during your wedding planning in Goa.
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Go to a reputed store
Your long-lost aunt might have a family jeweller she knows, but if you haven’t got a trusted source for your wedding jewellery, head to a reputed store. A con artist can slip you a piece that looks gorgeous but may not be of much value at all. Always insist on a bill when you buy jewellery.
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Check out Javeri's for some stunning pieces of jewellery, a name trusted for their incredible craftsmanship.
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Look for the hallmark
Jewellery sold in India will have a stamp from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). At the moment, BIS only hallmarks 14 karat, 18 karat and 22 karat gold jewellery, and jewellers are not required to have these stamps on their pieces. Hallmarking determines and records the actual content of precious metal in a piece of jewellery. So if you see a hallmark for 958, your jewellery will contain 95.8 per cent gold. Without a hallmark, there is no way of knowing the amount of precious metal the jeweller claims a piece actually has.
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When it comes to jewellery in Goa, you can trust blindly in Tanishq for quality as well as creativity!
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Check prices
The price of precious metals - particularly gold - fluctuates daily. If the rate of jewellery you are buying for your destination wedding in Goa seems too good to be true based on the price for the day, you might be getting duped. Jewellers may be able to vary the cost of workmanship and labour, but that will not affect the price greatly.
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Check for damages
Carry a magnifying glass and check the piece carefully for damages, scratches and sturdiness. The last thing you want for your wedding necklace is for the gemstones to fall out if not mounted properly. Typically with fake jewellery, any stones will be glued on rather than set in. Check the clasps for wear and tear, and discolouration that can show if another metal has been used underneath.
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Know your gemstones
Today, synthetic variants exist for every gemstone out there. Read up on the type you want to wear at your destination wedding in Goa to know what to look for. Always check them for bubbles and other flaws. Glass can even have visible seam lines. Real gemstones feel cold to touch even after a while since they have high thermal conductivity. If you breathe on them, the fog should dissipate immediately. If it’s pearls you’re looking for, run a fingernail against the surface - it should feel a bit grainy, like sand, and not smooth like glass or plastic.
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If what you are looking for are truly authentic and exquisitely cut precious and semi precious stones, look no further than Manek Gem Art International right here in Goa.
Picture Credits - Manek Gem Art International
Quick tests
Unscrupulous jewellers may try to sell you silver instead of platinum as they look quite similar to the untrained eye. Platinum is sturdier while silver is more flexible and has a black shade. Gold, on the other hand, leaves traces on unglazed ceramic. If other metals have been used, the traces will be grey or black. If you are, in fact, opting for silver jewellery, rub chalk against it. Any darkening will indicate its purity. One of the quickest tests when purchasing jewellery is to check it against a strong magnet. Precious metals will not stick, while others will.
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