Once you have found the perfect gem, all you need to do is make sure it is displayed well and held securely in place.

In judging the quality of the jewelry setting, you should pay close attention to details. Is the metal holding the stone even and smoothly finished so it won't catch on clothing? Is the stone held firmly and square in the setting? Is the metal well polished with no little burrs of metal or scratches?

Inexpensive jewelry often is very lightweight to give you a bigger look for the money. If a piece is lightweight, pay special attention to the prongs holding the stone, and ask if yourself a few questions before selling it - Are the prongs sturdy?
Do they grip the stone tightly so that the stone won't fall out?

When buying a necklace, make sure it lies well around the neck. Try it on or ask the person selling it to you to model it so you can check how it fits against the skin. For earrings, check to make sure that they hang well from the ear and don't tip forward. Designs that are asymmetrical should have a left and right which mirror each other.

If a piece of jewelry is really well made, the back will be well finished also, giving as near a perfect surface as possible.

If you are buying a gift and you are not sure about the style of the piece of jewelry that they will appreciate, why not give the perfect gemstone in a black velvet pouch and let the lucky recipient design her own perfect setting: many jewelers offer custom design services. Gems can speak louder than words. You can choose a gemstone that symbolizes what you want to say with your gift, such as rubies or diamonds for passion and love.