Renee Newman: Home Page

Home

About Me

My Books

Buy My Books

Book Quizzes

Q & Answers

Contact Info

Appraisers

Other Books

avoidboneloss.com

WELCOME to ReneeNewman.com

Besides providing details about my background and my books, this site offers consumer information on gems, jewelry, appraisers and other books. My goal is to provide consumers and jewelry professionals with unbiased, affordable information on how to buy, evaluate and appreciate gems and jewelry. But the consumer principles I stress in my gem books can also be applied to other subject areas such as health. In both cases, you should be informed, deal with competent professionals and get proper documentation.

My overall mission is to promote consumer issues, education and the arts. This has led me to expand my book topics to osteoporosis prevention. (See www.avoidboneloss.com)

What’s New with Newman?

A new volume of my Exotic Gem Series, Exotic Gems: Volume 3 has been released and is available through gemological associations, jewelry supply stores, major bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and online booksellers such as Amazon. It features tourmaline, blue chalcedony, fire agate and matrix opal. Click here for more information about the book.

Newman’s Nuggets on Buying Quality Jewelry

1. When selecting jewelry, ask jewelers to rate the quality of the craftsmanship and explain their rating. Jewelers that sell well-made jewelry like the opportunity to show why their mountings and settings are better than those of competitors. Their answers will help you learn to judge quality and select a competent jeweler.

2. Look at the back of the piece. If it looks smooth and cleanly finished, chances are it's well-constructed.

3. If there's a clasp, verify that it works. Try to open and close it by yourself a couple times. Listen for the click.

Then pull at the clasp gently to see if it comes apart or remains secure.

4. Check for rough and sharp edges by rubbing the piece lightly against your skin and clothing.

5. Select sturdy mountings for everyday rings and bracelets. Rings that are very thin and bracelets that can bend and dent do not last long. Platinum mountings can normally be thinner and more delicate than those made of gold and silver. This is because platinum is more dense and stronger than most gold and silver alloys.

6. Get a detailed receipt. The receipt should include:

* The identity and purity of the metal(s)

* The identity and shape of the stones

* The carat weight of any major stone and the total weight of any smaller stones of each gem type.

* The treatment status of the major stones---Are the color and clarity natural?

7. Check to see if there’s a karat stamp or fineness mark and a trademark on the piece. Even though these marks aren’t necessarily a guarantee that the metal content is as stamped, they’re an indication. If you ever decide to resell the piece later on, these marks would be important. To accurately compare prices you must know the gold, platinum or palladium content.

The trademark is a mark that indicates the manufacturer, importer or seller of an item. In the USA , trademarks must be registered with the Patent and Trademark Office. Any item that has a quality mark should have a registered trademark, which indicates that the manufacturer stands behind its quality mark. If you’d like information and photos on how to read and interpret metal quality marks, consult Newman’s newest book—Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Silver & Other Jewelry Metals.

Trademarks of The Newman Gem & Jewelry Series

Loaded with detailed info on how to judge gem and jewelry quality. Since jewelry stores normally don't describe the quality of colored gems, pearls or jewelry mountings, you must learn how to judge it yourself in order to get good buys and make wise choices. My books show you how.

Well illustrated. The main points are explained with color photos and diagrams, which are linked to the text. It’s time-consuming and costly to do this, but readers appreciate the numerous high-quality illustrations showing gems unmounted as well as set in attractive jewelry with and without magnification.

Written in clear English without a lot of trade jargon and euphemisms. Cracks are called cracks or fractures, not "feathers." Fracture filling and laser drilling treatments are identified as such, rather than just referred to as clarity enhancements.

Unbiased and objective because their underlying motive is not to sell you jewelry or related services; it's to educate. Even though I used to work full-time in the gem and jewelry industry, I now make my living by writing about gems and jewelry.

Newman Gem & Jewelry Series Book Links

Diamond Ring Buying Guide, Details & Reviews

Diamond Handbook, Details & Reviews

Gemstone Buying Guide, Details & Reviews

Gem & Jewelry Pocket Guide, Details & Reviews

Pearl Buying Guide, Details & Reviews

Jewelry Handbook, Details & Reviews

Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Buying Guide, Details & Reviews

Osteoporosis Prevention, Details & Reviews

Exotic Gems, Volume 1, Details & Reviews

Exotic Gems, Volume 2, Details & Reviews

Exotic Gems, Volume 3, Details & Reviews

Rare Gemstones, Details & Reviews

Gold Platinum, Palladium, Silver and Other Jewelry Metals Details & Reviews