Black Friday Jewellery deals

Check for a hallmark

In the UK, it's a legal requirement for precious metal jewellery above a set weight to be hallmarked before it's described as gold, silver, platinum or palladium. For gold, that's anything over one gram. A hallmark confirms the metal's purity, so for an expensive piece, check it's mentioned in the description.

Lab-grown or mined diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds are physically and chemically the same as mined ones, and they're usually much cheaper for the same size and quality. Their resale value is generally lower, though. Whichever you choose, compare the cut, colour, clarity and carat weight, and look for an independent grading certificate on larger stones.

Sizes and returns

Rings bought as gifts often need resizing. Check whether resizing is free, and whether sale items have a shorter return window than full-price ones, before you buy.