EXTENSIVE 360 JEWELRY SERVICE

The Best Anywhere!

• Appraisals
• Purchasing
• Insurance Replacement Service
• Jewelry Services
• Goldsmithing, repair and restoration
• Precious Metals Recycling (GOLD RUSH)
• Warranty

Appraisal

I.J. Gems provides the area's only Appraisal service with high quality photographs of the jewelry being appraised. With experience since 1976, Jacqueline Mack-Hill provides expert knowledge and experience for Appraisals commonly used for insurance and estate appraisal. The cost of materials used in jewelry, especially gold, have increased signficantly over the past few years. If you are relying on an old appraisal to insure your jewelry with your insurance company, it is probably time to update your appraisal! If you don't have your jewelry insured, you should realize that your homeowners or renters insurance has signifiant limitations for coverage, and that a rider policy is generally needed, and that an appraisal is required to obtain the insurance.

Appraisals are prepared for various reasons and each requires a different appraisal. IJ Gems prepares appraisals for:

1. Insurance;

2. Probate estate, tax, charitable donations, and marital dissolution;

3. Resale via a process of orderly liquidatation; and

4. Forced liquidation values typically as a result of bankruptcy.

Purchasing

IJ Gems is primarily a "brick and mortar" retail jewelry store for in store purchases of in stock jewelry, custom design,custom order, and special order. The IJ Gems web site is primarily intended to display the store, products and services to the outlying service area of Hermiston, Oregon, including especially our clients from the cities of and rural areas surrounding La Grande, Pendleton, Milton-Freewater, Athena, Weston, Helix, Pilot Rock, Ukiah, Stanfield, Echo, and Umatilla, Oregon in Umatilla County; and Condon, Heppner, Lexington, Boardman, and Irrigon, Oregon in Morrow County; and to Arlington, Oregon; to Walla Walla, the Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), West Richland, Yakima, and other areas in Washington and Oregon.

The display of products in our galleries is merely representative of our vast jewelry lines, and generally do not represent the whole of any particular line of jewelry.

Purchases initiated by new customers by telephone, fax or email will require security assurances to assure your financial information is secure. Please do not send any credit card or other number financial information over email as the connection is not guaranteed to be secure.

Please do inquire about availability, pricing and anything that we can do to make your purchase intelligent and pleasurable, and please visit us in Hermiston!

Jewelry Services

• Watch repair, band and battery replacement
• Free Giftwraping
• Jewelry inspection and cleaning
• Engraving of all types

Clock Repair. IJ Gems can assist you with your valuable clock repair. We can either refer you or process your repair.

Our Goldsmith has over 25 years of experience on the Bench!

IJ GEMS USES LASER TECHNOLOGY FOR LASER REPAIRS WITHOUT DAMAGING HEAT, RESULTING IN SMOOTH, STRONG REPAIRS

On site cleaning and inspection at the Hemiston Bridal Show

You need batteries AND you need help changing those things! Come to IJ Gems for the right battery, replaced by staff that have done it before.

Goldsmithing, repair and restoration services

I.J. Gems is your full service jewelry repair service center for all your custom design, refurbishing and jewelry repair needs. With a full time in house, experienced Goldsmith, and laser technology, you can trust the experience at I.J. Gems to determine what must be done to protect your important jewelry. In addition to making repairs to your jewelry, our Goldsmith can repair most eyeglass frame breaks to a usable condition most often while you wait. See custom designs section for some related photographs!

In its life time, almost all jewelry will need some sort of service. It's a good idea to have your jewelry checked on a regular basis. A little preventive maintenance can go a long way to ensure that your jewelry is beautiful and secure for a lifetime.

At IJ Gems Jewelers we have a full time in-store repair specialist with 25 years of experience. Bring your items in and it will be our pleasure to inspect your jewelry and advise you of any repairs. We will provide an estimate for the repair and a time frame needed to properly complete the job. We will repair your jewelry with the attention to detail and care that you deserve.

In our full service jewelry repair shop, we utilize the latest in high technology equipment like our laser welder, combined with old world craftsmanship to deliver the finest in repair and restorations. Since we do most of our repairs in house, you have the security of your jewelry not leaving our hands with the added bonus of excellent quality and quick turnaround. You and your jewelry are very important, so allow us to be of service to you. Below is a partial list of services we offer.

• Free repair estimates
• Silver, gold & platinum ring sizing
• Silver, gold & platinum repairs (soldering)
• Prong re-tipping
• Loose diamond & gemstone tightening & setting
• Diamond & gemstone remounting
• Lost diamond & gemstone replacement
• Prong re-tipping and channel rebuilding
• Clasp replacement and tightening
• Chain and bracelet repairs
• Gold and rhodium (white) plating
• Jewelry reconditioning and restoration
• Eyeglasses frame repair using our laser welder
• Watch battery replacement
• Watch band replacement and adjustment
• Free cleaning and inspection of you jewelry

Insurance Replacement Service

I.J. Gems commonly works with insurance companies to provide replacement services for lost jewelry. As the authorized replacement dealer for a major insurance company, you can trust I.J. Gems to work with you and your insurance company, to locate or design the replacement for your special lost jewelry. If you have been referred by your insurance claim representative to another jeweler, then please feel free to specially request I.J. Gems as your insurance replacement specialist.

Precious Metals Recycling

IJ Gems will recycle your unwanted precious metals, essentially scrap precious metals. Recycling is generally done on a scheduled day, currently Fridays, and appointments are recommended for multiple items. You can contact our Sales Associates for an appointment with our Recycling Expert at 567-3975, or Jewelry@ijgems.com. If you email us, please put RECYCLE in the reference line.

Precious Metals Recycling is NOT pawn, and we are not a Pawn Shop. The price you get is the scrap price for metals. The information herein are 'generalities', not promises or things you ought to rely on in making your decisions. The actual detemination of what we can do for you with your item and under your circumstances happens at the store. No deal's a deal until its signed.

What Scrap Gold Do We Buy?

• Jewelry marked 10k, 14k, 22k and 24k.
• Number value: Jewelry stamped 417 - 10k, 585 = 14k, 750 = 18k, 999.9 = 24k
• Yellow Gold and White Gold
• Dental Gold will be considered.
• Platinum will be stamped PLAT .950
• Broken, bent, dented or any condition of jewelry.

What Items Don't We Buy?

• No Vermeil. Vermeil is a sterling silver 925 with a gold plating.
• No items stamped: H.G.E., G.F., 1/20 gold filled, 1/12 gold filed, 1/10 gold filled, R.G.P.
• No silver candle sticks, knives, forks, spoons or place settings.
• No Avon, costume or color beads or peals (fake jewelry), or Mardi Gras beads.
• No jewelry that is sentimental or jewelry of high family value (keep that stuff for your family!).

When you come to IJ Gems for Precious Metals Recycling we know several things. First, you are someone who wants to deal with a person rather than a Shipping Box provided by an on line recycler promising you the world; and secondly you are probably our neighbor and likely someone we hope to see back to purchase in our store. We are going to make every reasonable effort to make this exchange fair and reasonable. We hope you understand that our goal is to make a profit yet make you the best deal possible.

Some Things About Precious Metals

How is the purity of gold measured?

The purity of gold is measured using the karat system of measurement. Very simply, gold is usually alloyed (mixed) with other metals, such as copper or nickel. This makes the gold more durable for jewelry use by hardening the gold. In it's purest form, gold is 24KT. This is the highest purity measurement for gold. Most jewelry in the U.S. is sold in either 18KT, 14KT or 10KT purity. This means that the gold is mixed with other metals, usually copper or nickel. As an example, 14KT gold jewelry is about 58.5% pure, meaning 58.5% of the piece is pure gold, and the rest is the alloy. All companies pay based on the karat purity weight of the gold.

What is the difference between sterling silver and pure silver?

The biggest difference is that sterling is usually alloyed (mixed) with another metal, such as nickel or zinc to harden the silver for everyday use. Most sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, while pure silver is 99.9% or 99.5% pure. Sterling is used in a variety of flatware and decorative candelabras, as well as everyday sterling silver jewelry. All companies pay based on the silver purity and weight of the silver item. A common hallmark you will find on sterling silver jewelry is '925'.

What are platinum and palladium?

Both platinum and palladium are part of the platinum precious metals groups. These are also considered to be precious metals, based on their rarity. Both are considered hard precious metals, so they are usually only alloyed 5-10%. Both metals are also naturally white in appearance. Jewelry made in platinum will be hallmarked with 'PLAT' or 'PLT' or '950'. Palladium jewelry is usually hallmarked 'PLD' or 'PALL'.

Legal Compliance and Law Enforcement

We abide by all local, State and Federal regulations, where applicable. We do not knowingly deal with criminals and we never have. We fully comply with all legal investigations. We strive to complete all transactions within the confines of normal business dealings. If we suspect something is not right about a deal, items will be immediately returned or turned over to the local enforcement authorities. We reserve the right to not pay cash on the spot, and with your agreement will hold items for a number of days to verify ownership.

USA Patriot Compliance. We maintain strict adherence to all local, state and federal regulations regarding the purchase of scrap precious metals. We gather necessary data to ensure we identify our customers and as necessary will share with law enforcement.

Competition
We know about the competition. And you should too! You have other options if you decide to sell your items. These include local jewelers, pawnshops and other precious metals merchants. You have the right to obtain offers from as many merchants as you like before you decide to sell! If you've been checking out the options on the web, be brave, you're facing a bunch of aggressive pop ups, and sales techniques. Wonder why they want your business so badly?

Your sale to us is irrevocable, so make sure you are ready to part with your items. See Store for Details on our Precious Metals Recycling Service.

PRECIOUS METALS INFORMATION

Not sure about turning in your precious metals to a reliable second generation jeweler, interested in trusting that corporation on line? Check out ABC News on that issue at:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8159968

We cannot hope to give you all the information available on precious metals and hope you do your own research. This is intended only to help you with the basics and some other 'interesting' facts!

DEFINITIONS AND INFORMATION

SILVER and GOLD is measured in many ways but for some reason this precious metal is weighed in a system of measurements called "Troy Measurements" which is used internationally.
Troy measurements are such that one pound (lb) is divided up into 12 Troy Ounces and each Troy Ounce is divided up into 20 units called Pennyweight (dwt).

The price for precious metals is generally in troy pounds, and there are 12 troy ounces in the troy pound. The spot price on the market is generally in Troy Ounces. Pennyweights and grams are used generally in the jewelry industry so we know that there are 20 pennyweights (dwt) in the troy once or 20 x 12 = 240 dwts in the troy pound. If weighed in grams we know that there are 31.1034768 grams in the troy ounce and so with 12 troy ounces to the troy pound, 12 x 31.1034768 grams equal about 373.24 grams to the troy pound.

Pennyweight, unit of measure: A pennyweight (dwt) is an obsolete unit of mass which is the same as 24 grains, 1/240th of a troy pound, 1/20th of a troy ounce, or approximately 1.555 grams. A penny coin was literally, as well as monetarily, 1/240th of a troy pound of sterling silver. The pennyweight lost its official status in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the Weights and Measures Act of 1878. Custom jewellers still use the pennyweight in their calculations for the necessary amount of precious metals in casting items using the lost wax process. While "dwt" is the most common abbreviation for pennyweight (as "d" was the abbreviation for "penny" in the pre-decimalisation British system), some sources list "pwt" as an alternative.

Gold Filled: If an item is described as "gold filled", or "gold overlay", that means that a layer of at least 10-karat gold permanently bonded by heat and pressure to one or more surfaces of a support metal, then rolled or drawn to a prescribed thickness. The karat gold must be at least 1/10 by weight of the total metal content.

Rolled Gold Plate: Material consisting of a layer of plating of 10-karat gold or better which is mechanically bonded to a base metal. The karat gold content may be less than 1/20 but must be properly identified by weight in terms of total metal content.

Vermeil: Gold at least 15- micro-inches thick, bonded to sterling silver by an electrolytic or mechanical process.

Gold Leaf: Pure gold that is pounded into sheets applied to other surfaces by hand. Usually about 3 micro-inches thick.

FOOLS GOLD: is not gold at all. It is a gold colored mineral found in other rocks like gold often is. It is really iron pyrite and in relation to gold is worthless.

THE ACID TEST: This is an expression that has entered popular language and means the final proof, or undeniable. It comes from the need to be able to quickly and positively determine not only if an item is truly gold or not, but also what karat it is. One of gold's enduring qualities is that it does not tarnish or oxidize easily. Nitric acid does affect gold and when applied in different concentrations, can provide nearly infallible answers to questions of karat.

The letter "P": may be found following the karat designation on a jewelry item, i.e. 14KP. This stands for the word plumb, which in this instance is an indication that the gold content is no less than 14-Karat. An item may be legally stamped with a karat designation as long as it is within a specific range, but to carry the "P", it must be no less than what is stamped on it.

SILVER INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS

Properties of Silver:

Silver can be found pure, but is usually mixed with small amounts of gold, arsenic, and antimony. A natural alloy of gold and silver is known as Electrum, and is usually classified as a variety of gold. Silver is a very resistant mineral. It does not dissolve in most solutions, and won't react to oxygen or water. Its weak point is its reaction to sulfur and sulfides, which cause it to tarnish. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is found in the atmosphere in small quantities, and when silver is exposed to normal air it reacts to the hydrogen sulfide, causing the tarnish. Egg yolks, which contain large quantities of sulfur dioxide (SO2), as well as sulfur ores, should be kept away from silver. Several chemical coats are available to protect it from tarnish, and certain polishes remove tarnish.

SILVER ALLOYS:

Silver is also alloyed. Most common is “Sterling” meaning .92.5% with the rest usually copper.

Other European alloys are 87.5%, 83% and 80% silver. Some South American silversmith's use an 80% allow that does not tarnish. The actual alloy should be stamped on the jewelry.

Niello is a black mixture of silver, copper, lead and sulfur. It is used to fill in designs. Is more like enamel than an alloy.

Mexican Silver: usually 95% silver and 5% copper.

Coin Silver: 90% silver, 10% copper by US standards. Is used in some countries and could be marked "900" or "800" depending on fineness.

Silver Clad: - term referring to US Half Dollars made from 1965 to 1970. Made with an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to an inner core of 20.9% silver and .791% copper. Overall 40% silver.

Junk silver: - silver coins of circulated quality. Often used to describe bags or common US silver coins that were pulled out of circulation when silver was disappearing. Does not mean the coins are damaged. Junk silver rolls or bags usually will not contain scarce dates, low mintages, or high quality coins.

Britannia Silver: is at least 95.84% silver. In 1700, the Britannia standard for plate silver was introduced, in place of the sterling standard, to discourage the melting down of coins to make plate silver. This raised the purity of silver plate from 92.5% to 95.8%. One result was that silver was too soft for for elaborate decoration and more simple "Queen Anne" lines took hold.

Nickel or German Silver: are misnomers, as they have no silver in them at all. Instead, they are various alloys of nickel, zink and other metals with a silver appearance. An alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel, usually in the ratio 5:2:2, used in cheap jewellery as a silver substitute and as a base for electroplating with silver (an article marked EPNS is electroplated nickel silver).

The word nickel is shortened from of the German word Kupfernickel meaning niccolite ore. The word literally means copper demon, and was so called by German miners because it was often confused with genuine and valuable copper bearing ore.

German silver, name for various alloys of copper, zinc, and nickel, sometimes also containing lead and tin. They were originally named for their silver-white color, but use of the term silver is now prohibited for alloys not containing that metal. German silver varies in composition, the percentage of the three elements ranging approximately as follows: copper, from 50% to 61.6%; zinc, from 19% to 17.2%; nickel, from 30% to 21.1%. The proportions are always specified in commercial alloys. German silver is extensively used because of its hardness, toughness, and resistance to corrosion for articles such as tableware (commonly silver plated), marine fittings, and plumbing fixtures. Because of its high electrical resistance it is used also in heating coils. It was discovered (early 19th cent.) by a German industrial chemist, E. A. Geitner.

What is Alpacca?: Alpacca is a tradename for nickel silver and for electro plated nickel silver. Originally a trademark of Berndorf AG., it is now used as a generic name for nickel silver, espcially in Germany and Scandinavian countries. Often mistakenly written Alpaca. Also called New Silver.

What is Tutenag?: Tutenag is an obsolete name for an Indian metal alloy in the Nickel Silver family. The word was also used to describe zinc commercially supplied from India.

Quicksilver: is an ancient term for mercury. “Quick” meaning alive, as in the quick and the dead.

Sterling Silver: Silver has many of the properties of gold. It is malleable and an exceptional conductor. Since silver is also very soft, it is usually alloyed with copper. In fact, that is what sterling silver is, 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.

Fine Silver: 99.9% silver is called "Fine Silver." Sterling components and jewelry made in the USA are often stamped "Sterling." Goods made for international trade are often marked "925" indicating the 92.5% fineness.

Coin Silver: is used in some countries and could be marked "900" or "800" depending on fineness.

PLATINUM INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS

PROPERTIES OF PLATINUM:

The platinum family actually comprises six metals: platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, rhodium and ruthenium. The six metals are generally found together in nature, with platinum and palladium being the most abundant, and the other four being more rare.

Platinum is a natural white metal. When Platinum comes out of the ground, it is white. When gold comes out of the ground, it is yellow and has to be bleached or dyed white by mixing it with other metals to create white gold. Usually this process still does not make the metal white enough and is often plated with Rhodium. Rhodium is a member of the Platinum family and makes the gold look more like Platinum.

Called the "King of Metals", platinum is a very heavy (nearly twice the weight of gold), silver-white metal that is very ductile. Although it is a soft metal, platinum is not easily scratched and is very strong and durable. In fact, as the strongest precious metal used in jewelry, platinum also has a high melting point and good resistance to corrosion and chemical attack. Small amounts of iridium and ruthenium are commonly added to it, to give it a harder, stronger alloy that retains the advantages of pure platinum.

The most common alloys include 90% platinum and 10% iridium, or 95% platinum and 5% ruthenium. Ruthenium makes for the harder and stronger alloy.

PLATINUM ALLOYS:

Platinum is not a single metal, but a group of similar materials. The group includes platinum, iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, and osmium. Platinum is the most abundant. Rhodium is popular as a non-tarnishing plating for white gold, silver, and other platinum metals. All but osmium are used for jewelry.

The most common alloys include 90% platinum and 10% iridium, or 95% platinum and 5% ruthenium. Ruthenium makes for the harder and stronger alloy.

MARKINGS:

The amount of platinum in a product is expressed in parts per thousand. "Pt1000" means that the product is 100% pure platinum. "Pt850" means that it is 85% pure platinum and 15% platinum alloy.

When judging the value of platinum jewelry, always ensure that the material is indeed platinum (and not another metal, such as white gold) by checking for the amount of platinum content on the back of the piece.

Platinum content is usually marked as "950Pt", "950 Plat", or "Plat". In the United States, in order to be marked "Platinum" or "Plat", a piece of jewelry must contain at least 50% platinum.

Warranty / Guarantee

We will gladly accept returns on any unworn, undamaged merchandise not otherwise sold AS IS within 30 days of the sale. Any returns after 30 days are at the discretion of management, and trade in value is discretionary to management. We cannot accept returns on jewelry that has been worn, used, damaged, or which is otherwise unsellable. Repairs are also guaranteed to meet with your objectively reasonable satisfaction or we will do everything we can to meet your reasonable approval in regards to the repair. Absent express agreement to the contrary, removal from the store of a repaired jewelry item constitutes acceptance of the repair and the condition of the piece. We reserve the right to require proof of purchase, or repair, prior to granting any cash return, credit, or replacement or other remedy.