How to Tell If Jewellery Is Good Quality: 7 Things to Check Before You Buy

Published by Aure Jewellery  |  Category: Education  |  Reading time: 5 min

The jewellery market — particularly online — is flooded with pieces that look beautiful in photos and disappoint in person. Learning to assess quality before you buy saves you money, reduces waste, and builds a collection of pieces that actually last.

Here are seven specific things to look for when evaluating a piece of jewellery.

1. Metal Specification

Any quality jewellery brand will tell you exactly what metal the piece is made from. Not just 'gold colour' or 'silver tone' — but the specific metal, grade, and any plating details.

What to look for: 316L stainless steel, 925 sterling silver, 14K or 18K gold, 18K gold plated over [specific base metal], titanium. If a product listing says only 'alloy', 'metal', or 'fashion metal' without further specification, this is a quality warning sign.

2. Weight

Quality jewellery has a satisfying weight — not heavy, but substantial. Pieces that feel like they're made of nothing often are. Very lightweight pieces are typically made from thin, low-grade alloys.

For online purchases, weight is impossible to assess directly — look for brands that specify the piece weight in grams, and read reviews mentioning quality and feel.

3. Clasp and Hardware Quality

The clasp is where the most jewellery fails. Test it multiple times — it should open and close smoothly, engage firmly, and not feel loose or flimsy. Lobster clasps should spring back immediately and firmly. Box clasps should click positively.

Poor quality signs: Clasps that require excessive force to open, feel loose when closed, or have rough, unfinished edges.

4. Finish and Surface Quality

Hold the piece up to the light and look at the surface carefully. A quality piece will have consistent, even finish across the entire surface — no rough patches, no visible tool marks, no uneven plating that leaves thinner areas.

For plated pieces: Look for even colour across the piece. Uneven plating (lighter in some areas, darker in others) suggests poor electroplating process.

5. Solder Points and Joins

Where metal pieces are joined — at ring closes, pendant bails, earring posts — is where quality shows most clearly. Look for clean, neat joins with no visible rough solder or seams. Quality joining is almost invisible; poor joining creates bumps, gaps or rough areas.

6. Stone Setting (If Applicable)

If the piece includes stones, each stone should be set securely with no movement when gently tested. Settings should be even and symmetrical. Rough or uneven prongs are a quality concern and a practical one — they catch on fabric.

For crystal or glass stones: Check that the setting is secure all the way around and that there are no gaps between the stone and the setting.

7. Brand Transparency

Perhaps the most reliable quality indicator of all: does the brand tell you exactly what they're selling? Metal composition, manufacturing standards, quality claims — a brand that's confident in its product tells you everything. A brand that's vague is hiding something.

At Aure, every product listing specifies: 316L surgical-grade stainless steel, anti-tarnish finish, hypoallergenic, sweat-proof. That's not marketing — it's how we describe what we actually make.

Final Thoughts

Quality jewellery is an investment, even at affordable price points. These seven checks take about two minutes and can save you from buying pieces that disappoint.

Shop transparently described, quality jewellery at aurejewellery.com. ✨