GETTING WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Earrings. The choice of earring backs is strictly personal. Earrings with screw backs should be checked carefully to make sure the screws are in good working order and are tight enough for you to fasten securely in or on your ears. Clamps should be tight, although not tight that they are uncomfortable to wear. Comfort and a sure fastener, in fact, are probably more important for earrings than any other jewelry, since there is no way you can add a guard or safety catch as you can for other jewelry.

All you can do is make ,he backs are good ones and they work well-and that means ,the earrings. Try putting both earrings on and taking them off several times. To put them on correctly, pull lobe down, place earring and adjust back. When you have them on, shake your head vigorously to make sure the earrings don't loosen or fall off. Shaking your head will also assure you of another factor: are they so heavy that they bother you or so light that you can't feel them and could lose just by using the telephone?

A store may sometimes not want you to try on earrings, in which case you should ask to see the manager or go to another store. You need to try earrings on to judge whether the design and color flatters because they are so close to your face. Then, there are size and weight. Not all earlobes are the same. Earrings that may fit one ear e too large or heavy for other earlobes. Most necklaces and bracelets will fit anyone, but not most earrings. In short, in buying expensive earrings in particular, you need to try them on before deciding you like them and can wear them.

Clasps and Catches. All clasps and catches, both regular and w ones, should be worked several times, on you and off you. Do fasten easily and firmly? Can you work them yourself without help? Make sure you try the jewelry on yourself as well as letting the , help you. If you find that you can't put the jewelry on by yourself, it may be a bad buy-regardless of cost-unless you always have someone available to help you. Lake sure the clasps are appropriate to the rest of the jewelry, that !hey are not so fragile they are apt to break or bend.

The more expensive the jewelry, the more you want to be sure that the jewelry has a safety clasp or catch of some kind. A safety clasp or catch is like a hand brake on a car-you may never need it, but when you do it is indispensable. For this reason, any very expensive piece of fine jewelry, especially with gems, that does not have a safety clasp or catch should have one added. The lack of one on jewelry with a big price, moreover, may indicate the jewelry is not what it is supposed to be. In any case, ask the jeweler to suggest a remedy and be sure to look for quality markings.

You want to be just as careful of catches and safety catches pins and brooches. Even better costume jewelry pins generally have safety catches, but make sure both the catch and clasp are sturdy and fasten firmly and easily.
In all kinds of jewelry, make sure there are no rough edges that can catch on clothes. You do not want to run the risk either of losing the jewelry or of its snagging or tearing clothes or catching on fabric when you put on or take off a coat.