Shopping for Jewelry

"Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising."
 - Mark Twain

Mr. Twain must have seen the Internet coming, specifically as it applies to trying to buy jewelry online. 
By my own account I'm a pretty good husband and father, but a lousy jewelry buyer. I wish I could say it's because gold is at an all-time high. That has nothing to do with it. Then I realized that it's the industry's fault. The online jewelers take small items and make them look gigantic. I don't know carat weights and millimeters and so I have no idea what they're selling. And no confidence hitting the buy button.

So I ventured off to the mall to see some jewelry in person. Jewelry stores have everything in glass cases pretending that it's all about security, when they know perfectly well it's so you have to interact with the salespeople. The salespeople unfurl a tiny tag to decipher the code so as to give you a price. They present every price as if it's the greatest bargain in history. I see an item the size of a pencil eraser that costs more than my first car. It's a huge disconnect.

Thankfully the fine folks at Tapper's jewelry, a family-owned chain in Michigan chose to educate me instead of sell me, like many of their competitors. So how can I safely post this weeks ahead of a milestone wedding anniversary? Because there's no surprise to be ruined. I was encouraged to finish the shopping process with my wife. She knew basically what she was getting and now she can help ensure I get the right piece, the right size and even the right price.

As long as I get the credit for "buying" the perfect gift.