The Jewelry Mart 101

Want to save lots of money on jewelry? Who doesn't!?! After my first trip to the mart, I was hooked. I promised myself that I would never ever ever pay mall or department store prices for jewelry ever again. Seriously, ladies, don't even pay super clearance sale prieces, because you can get a much better deal at the mart.

The mart is made up of more than 3,000 jewelers, and you can find just about any kind of piece you would ever want (and a lot that you would NEVER want). In order to have the most enjoyable experience, here are some tips that you might find useful:

• Early bird catches the (diamond encrusted) worm - Most lots will charge a flat rate if you arrive before 9am. If you arrive later in the day, parking can be charged in 15 minute increments at some lots. So, read the fine print before you park. Also, vendors will be eager to get their first sale of the day!
  
• Wear comfortable shoes - you will be doing lots of walking and standing. Finding the perfect piece at the right price sometimes takes time. Since you will be on your feet and potentially covering a lot of area, be comfortable! It's not a fashion show, believe me.


• Do lots of research before you go - know what you want and what kind of quality you are looking for. Comparison shop at mall stores and online. Know what a fair price is BEFORE you go. Then try to get it for 25% off of that.


• DON'T BE AFRAID TO HAGGLE! If you aren't comfortable haggling, bring a friend who is. The vendor's first price will never be their last. Everything is negotiable.


• Don't be afraid to walk away and keep looking - ask the vendor to write down their item number and the price they are willing to give you (and quality rating, if applicable) on a business card. If you look around and can't find a better price, having the agreed upon price in writing will help you if you wish to return for the item later. The business card will help you find the vendor, too (they all start looking alike after a while).


• Take your time - if you are in a hurry, they will sense it and will try to make a quick sale.


• Be a jewelry snob - if vendors don't think you know the difference between a flawless diamond and one with visible inclusions, they will charge you higher prices for a lesser quality stone. Don't be afraid to tell them that you don't want a diamond with black carbon flecks, or that the diamond they pulled "just for you" matches Big Bird. One of my fondest memories was telling a vendor that it looked like his diamond looked like it had been marked with a Sharpie. Once I asked to see his loupe, he knew he couldn't fool me and only showed me stones he thought I would actually approve of.


• Ask them to show you everything they have - the first diamond they show you will probably not be the best that they have (because they assume you don't know a good one from a crappy one). Ask them to show you more that you can compare side by side. They will have many in the same price range that will look very different from one another.


• Bring as much cash as you can - if the vendors don't have to pay credit card fees, they will typically pass the savings on to you. In fact, they may only charge tax on the amount you put on your credit card. Not a bad savings!


• Round down to the nearest whole number - once you agree on the final price, ask them to round down, especially if you are paying cash. For example, if your purchase comes to $5426 with tax, ask if you can have it for $5400. Never hurts to ask, and they just might say yes!

I hope this helps you navigate the jewelry mart! Believe me, patience pays off (I never thought I'd say that!). Below is my engagement ring, and it was worth waiting for...

What are your favorite jewelry buying tips?