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 book that will help you detect fake gold, sell unwanted jewelry and be a smart buyer. It also highlights the revolutionary changes in jewelry manufacturing and design. The title is Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Silver & Other Jewelry Metals: How to Test, Select & Care for Them.
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.
Then pull at the clasp gently to see if it comes apart
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.
* 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
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
Gold Platinum, Palladium, Silver and Other Jewelry Metals
© Copyright 2003 and 2013 by Renée Newman