Last winter, I sat in my favorite armchair, watching the rain fall outside. I felt utterly defeated. My mission had been to buy a beautiful gold chain for my dad as a special gift, but the process had turned into a complete nightmare.
I assumed that a high price tag guaranteed trustworthiness. I was wrong. I learned through painful experience that when shopping for jewelry—especially for a substantial piece like a solid necklace for men real gold—you need three things:
My first attempt aimed high. I tried to purchase a famous luxury watch for my dad. I visited a well-known dealer where a friendly sales agent greeted me. When I inquired about the specific model I wanted, she smiled and called it a "hot commodity."
“We can add your name to the list,” she said. “Delivery could take about two years.”
Two years? For a watch that wasn't even a limited edition? I explained it was for a special occasion and I needed it sooner. That's when she dropped the bombshell.
She mentioned, "If you purchase other watches or jewelry pieces from us, it could help move you up the list."
I was stunned. It felt punitive, as if they were holding the brand's prestige over my head. I asked, "So I have to spend thousands on items I don't want just for a chance to buy the one I do?"
She compared the process to buying a Ferrari. But I wasn't shopping for a hyper-exclusive race car; I wanted a standard production piece. I realized some luxury retailers aren't just selling jewelry—they're selling an aura of exclusivity, and they charge you extra for that feeling.
Verdict: Steer clear of stores that force you to "bundle" purchases just to get on a waiting list. It's an unethical business practice.
After the watch hunt failed, I shifted my focus to finding the perfect necklace for men real gold. I chose a popular online jeweler that promised lifetime repairs. I bought a heavy gold chain for myself and a smaller one for my wife.
Some time later, my chain broke and my wife's clasp failed. We paid the shipping fees and sent them back for repair, with the jeweler promising a quick turnaround. Weeks went by. My calls went unanswered, and they repeatedly lied about when the chains would ship.
When they finally arrived, I slipped my chain over my head. Something felt off—it was tighter. I checked my original order: 28 inches. I measured the returned chain: 26 and 7/8 inches.
Then I weighed it. It was a full gram lighter than when I sent it. I immediately checked my wife’s chain. It was also shorter and lighter.
I called them, but they had no credible explanation. The only conclusion I could draw was that their jewelers were stealing gold links—an inch here, half a gram there. It was blatant theft.