Before you buy.
It's not easy to buy jewelry wisely.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Why shop at Allphin Jewelers as opposed to one of the mall jewelers?
While a mall jeweler may have more expansive advertising and more pieces in stock, they cannot match our service. Allphin Jewelers can expertly guide you through the jewelry purchasing process, ensuring that you get a fair deal on the piece that best fits what you are looking for. In addition, our warranty policy allows you to come in anytime for a free inspection and cleaning.
As for jewelry repair, we always outshine the mall store. Larry Allphin has been repairing jewelry for almost 30 years, and is widely considered one of the best goldsmiths in the Bay Area. In choosing Allphin Jewelers for your repair needs, you are choosing integrity and quality.

What do the four C’s of diamond buying mean?
Cut, color, clarity, carat weight.
Cut. This term is used to describe the quality of the cut (not the shape) of the diamond. A well-cut diamond is better suited to handle light internally by creating more scintillation (think twinkle) and sparkle. Proportions, symmetry, and polish quality are taken into account when analyzing the cut of a diamond.
Color. A diamond’s color is at its best when it shows no color at all. Diamonds are mined in a range of color, white to faint yellow or brown, to the very rare fancies such as pink, blue and green. These colors are defined by grades, and are priced accordingly.
Clarity. A diamond's clarity is determined when viewed by a trained eye under 10-power magnification. Most diamonds contain internal tiny natural “birthmarks” known as inclusions. Fewer and smaller inclusions result in increased passage of light. This is the essence of a diamond's brilliance and sparkle. Diamond clarity is graded on a seven-level scale. The highest grade a diamond can receive is IF (internally flawless).
Carat weight. Diamond size is determined by its carat weight. One carat is divided into 100 points. A 50-point diamond is 1/2 carat. Carat was derived from the use of the carob plant seed. However, you won’t need to know much about carob plant seeds when buying a diamond.

Metals
Gold comes in a wide range of colors. Since gold is a soft metal, it is alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough for jewelry.  24 karat gold is pure gold, but 14K gold is most often used for jewelry.  It can be either yellow or white.  Gold can also be coppery or rose toned.
Platinum is a white metal that looks much like white gold, but it has a slightly different luster.  It is “harder” than gold and that is a good thing – unless you damage it!  Polishing platinum is a little more difficult than polishing gold, but its hardness and beauty make it an excellent choice for wedding sets.
Silver is also a softer metal.  It polishes nicely and has a classic shine and luster.  It does tarnish – oxidation causes it to turn dark.  Tarnish is easily removed by polishing. 

Jewelry Care and Cleaning
Most gemstones and metals are fairly durable, but it’s best not to test just how strong they may be. It is common jeweler advice to take off any jewelry while working in the kitchen or garden, or while showering.  However, that’s a good way to lose your piece!  Many rings can be worn daily – but soaps, lotions, and everyday grime can accumulate and make your jewelry look dull. We are happy to provide a free cleaning and stone check.  For an even better “makeover” we’ll deep clean and polish your pieces, making them look like new.
Stones are held in place by prongs or bezels, and these supports can be damaged so that the stone is loosened.  If you know your ring has been hit or a prong has been caught or pulled, it is a good idea to have us check it before wearing it.  What you don’t want is to find your ring missing a precious diamond or other stone.
A few don’ts:  Don’t use toothpaste!  Don’t use ultrasonic cleaners on soft stones, or on pieces with small stones which can be shaken lose.  Soft stones such as pearls, opals, jade are easily damaged.  It might be a good idea to save them for special occasions rather than everyday wear.
When in doubt, bring it in to have Larry check it for you!