Buying jewelry? Don't get bling-boozled.(Up Front)(Buyers guide)

If April showers and May flowers lead to thoughts of jewels in June, beware. Jewelry is a tricky buy, especially if you can't tell a carat from a karat. Here, 10 tips on choosing a gem of a jewel:

* Know your karats. The price of gold varies with karat number (a unit of fineness), weight, design, finishing (by hand vs. machine), and country of origin. Pure gold, 24 karat, is too soft to be molded into jewelry, so it's mixed with other metals. Changes in gold's color result from the metal mix-in. Anything less than 10 karat, about 42 percent gold, can't legally be sold as gold. "Fill," "overlay," or "electroplate" indicates a thin gold coating.

* Check a diamond's four C's. Value is based on (in descending order): cut, color, clarity, and carat (weight). Diamonds and other gemstones can be mined or made in a lab. It's nearly impossible to tell the difference, but an ethical dealer will reveal if a stone is synthetic or has been treated. Most jewelers adhere to the Gemological Institute of America's grading system, but you'll need help interpreting. Very valuable stones should come with a detailed description from the GIA or another group.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

* Buy from a certified gemologist belonging to a group such as the GIA, Jewelers of America, or American Gem Society. Also ask friends for names of jewelers they trust. Make sure the dealer allows plenty of time to return jewelry for a refund.

* You might save online, where markup is low, but you won't see the jewelry firsthand, gem and mounting might be sold a la ...