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SALES
Altobelli Jewelry has transitioned from its retail
store on Lankershim to provide all sophisticated
jewelry needs in a personal and private setting on
Riverside Drive. Mr. Altobelli himself will
assist you in the purchase of any jewelry, diamond,
colored gemstone or pearl.
He can assist you in any special order or redesign
of your own jewelry.
Buying fine jewelry is probably one of the most “blind” purchases a person can make because a consumer cannot really discern what they are getting just by looking at it. That is why the credentials, expertise, reputation, and honesty of your jeweler are important. Mr. Altobelli’s history ensures that you are in the
best hands.
WE BUY and SELL GOLD &
DIAMONDS
You
may have gold and diamonds which no longer serve you
which and you no longer wear. We recommend
that you do not send you gold in the mail to an
outfit you do not know for a price you do not know,
as is currently advertised on the media. Come
in to see Mr. Altobelli for an honest and immediate
quotation.
GOLD. Really Gold? At Wholesale?
How many times have you heard "I can get the
same gold chain in the L.A. Jewelry Mart for 40% less!"
Or, "I can get it for you wholesale!"
For starters, many of the gold articles stated or
stamped as being 18k or 14k are not! It is not uncommon
to find these items at 20% to 40% less in gold content
than they are purported to be. The FTC Guides require
that the content must be within .003 of what it is
supposed to be: 14k gold is .583 per cent of 24k.
The tolerance is not allowed to be less than .580.
The result of under-karating can be a dramatic change
in price. A gold chain that is 14k and priced at $100,
could be $60 if the gold content is 10K. If a merchant
is caught on one or two occasions, they
will get their "hand slapped" by the FTC
and advised to discontinue this practice. Soon enough,
they may be back doing the same thing again. So much
for "bargains!"
With regard to "wholesale", the word means
a sale for resale in which there is no sales tax,
and has nothing to do with what the typical cost of
being sold from a distributor to a retail establishment.
You may be getting a discount, but it is unlikely
that you are getting the price paid by a retailer,
particularly if tax was added to the sale. If you
don't have a resale license and you haven't paid the
tax, there is something fishy going on!
GOLD
is the quintessential anticyclical
asset. In comparison to other commodities, there is no real
correlation between returns on gold and changes in
macroeconomic variables such as Gross Domestic Product,
inflation and interest rates. Therefore, gold returns
are less correlated with the returns on equity and
bond indices than other commodities. Gold as an investment asset fulfills two related fundamental
functions: it is a safe haven in times of financial
volatility and it is a risk minimization tool.
A historical analysis of gold prices compared to the
world's equity markets reveals an inverse relationship
between returns on equity markets and the gold price.
Generally, as equity markets fall, gold prices rise.
There is a solid correlation between geopolitical
and financial market instability and rising gold prices,
as demonstrated in the lead-up to the Iraq war.
The current market is strong and there are some indicators
that predict even a higher market. But like the stock
and bond markets, there will be an adjustment. I wish
I was a clairvoyant and had "coraggio" to
jump in and out at the appropriate time!
PLATINUM OR WHITE GOLD?
Which white metal should you choose? They both offer
superior beauty and value for your money, but what
are their differences - and how do you know which
is right for what you have in mind? Your decision
should be based partly on how long and how often it
will be worn, how much you want to spend and your
personal taste.
Here are a few issues to consider:
COLOR- White gold is yellow gold alloyed (mixed) with
nickel and zinc, which impart its white appearance.
By contrast, platinum is pure white naturally. White
gold can look slightly more yellow, however, in most
cases, rhodium (platinum family) is plated over white
gold, giving it a platinum appearance.
DURABILITY- Platinum is the most enduring of all precious
metals. Even after years of daily wear, it shows little
or no sign of age - whereas white gold may wear more
quickly. Thus, platinum is sometimes used for prongs
even when the remainder of the piece is made of white
gold. However, 14-karat white gold is a high-quality
option - and if it wears thin after years of wear,
a jeweler can reinforce it with white gold.
PURITY- Most platinum used in jewelry is 90-95%
pure. The remaining 5-10 % is also
a precious metal - usually iridium or ruthenium (for
strengthening) - making platinum jewelry 100 percent
precious metal. 14 karat white gold is
approximately
60% pure. Although the alloys used in it are
not precious metals, it is an excellent metal for
all types of jewelry.
VALUE- The value of precious metals varies, but generally
you can expect platinum jewelry to cost significantly
more than a comparable piece in white gold.
STYLE- Today both white gold and platinum are popular
and fashionable in all types of jewelry. Platinum
was the setting of choice for wedding rings during
the early 1900s, and its popularity is soaring again.
REPAIRS
Altobelli can still provide you with the best
repairs in town. Altobelli Jewelers won the
award for Best Repairs in the San Fernando Valley by
the LA Weekly, and we continue to be able to supply
you with excellent repair, whether cleaning,
securing, re-sizing, or any other work that
your jewelry requires.
BEAD AND PEAL RESTRINGING
True
pearl lovers prolong the life of their pearls
by having them restrung once a year. The more you wear pearls, the
more susceptible are their cords to breakage.
We
offer professional, reliable restringing.
INSURANCE
Most insurance policies charge for coverage based
on a dollar amount per hundred dollars of coverage.
Actuaries employ reference files that provide average
costs of replacement for different levels of coverage
on different kinds of items.
Therefore, the premium is usually based upon the
insurance company's cost of replacement and not
on the appraised value. There are different types
of insurance policies and coverage. A Full Value
Replacement Policy (Agreed Value) will give you
100% of the appraised value if you decide to cash
out. Under an Actual Cash Value Policy, you will
receive only the insurance company's cost of replacement,
as determined by the actuary at the time of loss
if you decide to cash out. The FVR policy premium
will only be slightly more than an ACV policy. Chubb,
Traveler's and Safeco are a few that offer the FVR
policy. This may hold
true with other personal property as well as jewelry.
Some important questions to ask are
as follows:
1- Do I have "scheduled" or "unscheduled"
coverage?
If unscheduled, you will have limited coverage and
usually a deductible.
2- Is the coverage "all-risk", or are
there limitations?
Coverage is generally all-risk, which
can cover partial loss, damage and
mysterious disappearance.
3- If I choose to "cash out", will
I receive the amount of the assigned value?
Only if you have a full value replacement policy.
Most policies are actual cash value policies. You
will only receive the insurance company's cost to
replace.
4- Can I go to whomever I choose to make a replacement?
In most cases, only if it is the same cost as it
would be for the insurance company.
5- Am I able to replace a half-pair of earrings
or cuff links?
Only with specific coverage in the policy. It should
be noted in the appraisal.
Antiques, custom and sentimentally important pieces
should be considered.
6- Can I save money by increasing the deductible?
Yes. The more the deductible, the greater the savings.
A couple of small claims
could cause cancellation. It's wise to think about
just covering a major loss and
not making claims for insignificant losses.
Jewelers Mutual Insurance has a policy available
for $20 per $1,000 up to $15,000 and $25 up to $30,000
with no deductible. (L.A. County, other counties
are less).
It is important that you select an appraiser with
strong credentials or you may not be advised about
many options that are available to you for your
protection, as well as many other questions you
should ask your agent.
As would be the case with buying
new jewelry, be sure the merchant is knowledgeable
and trustworthy. Check with the Better
Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency in
your area to see if they have a track record of
complaints. American Gem Society Jewelers is an
excellent choice. They are an elite group of
gemologically trained professional jewelers who
subscribe to a strict code of ethics and standards,
located in cities throughout the United States and
Canada.
Jewelry Care
BANK DEPOSIT BOX- SAFE?
It is wise to have a safe deposit for your jewelry
and important documents, including jewelry appraisals,
but even wiser to keep copies of those documents
in another place. There have been many occasions
in which I have acted as an expert witness, developing
hypothetical appraisals for clients whose boxes
had been burglarized, and not only is the jewelry
gone, but so are the identifying documents!
It is very difficult preparing a list of the missing
items for a police report, trying to remember what
you had and what they contained, but more difficult
proving to the insurance adjuster that you actually
possessed them and worth what you remember them
to be. The appraisals should have photos as well.
If not, take your camera and take photos of all
of your jewelry- and why stop there? Take them of
all of your personal property. You may thank your
lucky stars some day that you did, not just for
burglaries, but for fire and water damage. And remember
to update your appraisals every three years
SKIN REACTION: JEWELRY TURNING
YOUR SKIN GREEN?
Many women are plagued with unsightly discoloration
from jewelry. It is usually a reaction of the salt
in one's system, hair spray or cosmetics that attack
the alloy in the metal, particularly perfume and cologne.
That's why it is rare to see a man with the same problem.
If the reaction is green, the item is not gold, but
gold-filled or gold/silver-plated. There's not much
you can do about that. If the reaction causes a black
discoloration, it is also the same chemistry; however,
many times it can be eliminated if the jewelry is
put on after applying cosmetics. Also, clean your
jewelry frequently, especially pearls. Small ultrasonic
cleaners (inexpensive) are great. Platinum
will eliminate the greening problem completely, and
18k gold will solve the problem in most instances.
If there is a reaction with white gold, typically
a rash, redness or itchiness, the nickel alloy that's
the culprit. Sometimes a rhodium plating (platinum
family) eliminates the problem. If not, go with platinum
or yellow gold.
If there is a rash or the skin turns white underneath
the item, it generally is that water or moisture is
trapped. After allowing the area to heal, simply
dry out the underside of the ring, etc, any time that
it has been immersed or has come in contact with a
liquid.
Drink a 4oz glass of warm water with a tablespoon
of honey and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (mixed
well) on a daily basis. Doesn't sound very delectable,
but it works to eliminate some of these problems!
This is a remedy from a book by D. C. Jarvis, M.D,
called "Folk Medicine." He recommends it
for arthritis, skin blemishes, etc. And he's not a
quack
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Have you have ever wondered what the significance
is of the “Corno” (twisted tapering horn)
or the “Malocchio” (clenched hand with
index and little fingers pointing outward) or “La
Fica” (clenched fist with thumb protruding through
the index and middle fingers)? They originated
in medieval Italy. Typically made in gold, they
are usually worn as pendants or charms. La Fica,
is frequently made out of opaque colored gemstones,
usually black onyx or ivory. They vary in length
from ¾” to 1 ½”.