In the months of April to June, the global gold price experienced a sharp decline, prompting many citizens to rush out and purchase gold jewelry at what they believed were favorable prices. However, this surge in sales was quickly followed by an increase in complaints, as several pieces of jewelry—especially those with intricate and fashionable designs—were prone to breaking or deforming.
Experts advise that when buying gold jewelry, consumers should not be swayed solely by trends and aesthetics. Instead, they should prioritize practicality, choose appropriate sizes, and go for durable styles. Additionally, with gold prices still on a downward trend, it’s important not to assume the market has hit its lowest point just yet.
Reported by Jing Nan
**Customer: A Letter Chain Broke Within Two Weeks**
Recently, reporters found that the number of complaints and maintenance requests for gold jewelry in major Guangzhou shopping malls has risen significantly. Among these issues, breakage is the most common, particularly with styles like snake bone chains, letter-shaped pendants, and hollow designs.
Miss Li, a white-collar worker, bought a 6-gram snake bone chain during a May sale for 2043 yuan. However, within days, she noticed that the middle part of the necklace had become stiff and couldn’t be straightened. Upon closer inspection, she discovered it had cracked. The mall staff explained that snake bone chains are especially prone to breaking, regardless of whether they are made of platinum or gold.
Later, Miss Li purchased a bracelet featuring the word "SMILE." Upon returning home, she noticed a small piece of gold had fallen off the letter "I" and immediately took it back for a replacement. Unfortunately, the new one also had issues—its letters were too long, causing discomfort and frequent bumps. After wearing it for less than three weeks, the letter "M" cracked again.
**Merchant: Difficult to Make Up the Difference Through Trade-In**
In addition to breakage, deformation and flattening have also become common problems in the current gold jewelry market, especially in innovative and complex designs such as 3D models and three-dimensional doll pendants. Due to the softness of gold, these items can easily get crushed or distorted when bumped during daily wear.
Some high-end brands have introduced “hard gold†lines, which are more resistant to deformation due to their higher hardness and detailed craftsmanship. However, because they use less gold material, they tend to be 7 to 12 times more expensive than traditional solid designs. Moreover, even these products are not completely immune to deformation, as external factors can still affect them.
Most major shopping malls in Guangzhou and member units of the Guangdong Gold and Silver Jewelry Chamber of Commerce state that there is currently no standardized system for repair and replacement of gold jewelry. Each merchant has its own quality commitment. If a product breaks or deforms within 1–2 weeks, most will replace it. Beyond that, customers may only be able to trade it in, paying the difference between the original price and the replacement cost—typically 10 to 30 yuan per gram.
Given the high cost of gold, most merchants prefer to return the item to the furnace rather than repair it. While some large malls offer maintenance services, the costs are often high. Even simple repairs can cost tens to hundreds of yuan, making it unattractive for many consumers.
**Reminder: 4 Grams or Less Is Not Recommended for Wearing**
Compared to other alloys or stainless steel jewelry, gold is extremely costly, and the production process is very precise. Many consumers fall into the trap of choosing cheaper-looking options, thinking that a slightly lighter weight is better. However, even a small difference in weight, such as 0.7 grams, can significantly affect the size and length of the jewelry.
According to information from Guangbai and Dongshan Department Store jewelry counters, fine chains weighing 4 grams or less are typically around 35–42 cm in length and are usually worn only by women with very thin necks.
**Consumption Advice: Don't Be Too Hasty When Buying During Price Drops**
Ms. Zhu, Marketing Director at Guangzhou Jiasheng Jewelry, suggests that classic and simple designs are the most reliable and practical when purchasing gold jewelry. Complex styles, such as hollowed-out or silk-like designs, are more likely to catch on objects and deform. Matte finishes are also less desirable compared to traditional smooth ones. New 3D doll pendants, letter, or text-based gold jewelry from lesser-known brands often suffer from breakage and deformation.
Xie Chun, Vice President of the Guangdong Gold Association, reminds investors that while summer festivals bring lower prices and promotional events, it's a good time to shop—but not necessarily to buy blindly. With international investment banks and financial institutions still suppressing gold prices, it's unclear when the market will stabilize. Therefore, it's not advisable to rush into purchases. That said, those who bought gold at higher prices previously don't need to worry, as gold jewelry retains long-term value and doesn't require constant monitoring of price fluctuations.
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