It doesn’t matter whether you are purchasing jewelry for loved ones or yourself. It’s important that you know the proper methods of purchasing, selling, and caring for your jewelry. This article will provide you with tips and tricks to get the most from your jewelry shopping time and efforts.
When buying a new piece of jewelry, be sure to check on the current fashion trends. The only thing that can make picking out a fantastic piece of jewelry better is if you get it at a discount.
You never want to use bleach, ammonia, or any other cleaning solvents that are not designed specifically for cleaning jewelry. These can erode both the color and the materials of your jewelry.
For jewelry to stay shiny and new-looking, it is important to keep it from tarnishing. Exposure to water can affect the finish, so avoid it. Exposure can result in tarnishing, rusting or dulling of different metals. If you are looking to protect your jewelry from the ill effects of water, try applying clear nail polish, just a thin layer, on the piece itself.
Your jewlery needs to be kept in a place where it is protected from air and humidity. Some good examples of proper storage would be,a jewelry box that is closed, or a small draw string bag. Certain metals begin to tarnish when exposed to humidity. Tarnish can be removed from precious metals like gold and silver, but they cannot be removed from other metals.
You should ensure the quality of the pieces of costume jewelry that you purchase for your collection. While normally is a beautiful investment, a piece of costume jewelry that is in poor condition is not worth buying. The most useful pieces in your collection are the ones that are in excellent condition.
Silver Jewelry
The stone is an important part of a piece of jewelry so should be considered carefully. Any stones that you choose should go with your skin tone and reflect your personality. Neutral colored stones will work well with any outfit in your closet. A piece that is hard to wear is not as useful as one that goes with everything.
Arm yourself with a magnet and a magnifying glass when shopping for sterling silver jewelry. To spot scams, see if the magnet attracts the piece. If it does, then shout “FAKE!” at the top of your lungs and move to the next store. Another way to tell if a metal is sterling silver is to check for a hallmark stamp, for example .sterling, .ster, or .925. Silver jewelry that lacks a hallmark may be a fake or composed of other metals.
Your belt will get a little pizzazz if you accent it with a brooch like this. The best places to pin the brooch for maximum visual impact are the middle of your waist and at hip line.
When you purchase jewelery ensure you know what you are buying. Jewels come in natural, synthetic and imitation forms. Natural and synthetic gemstones are both actual gemstones, while an imitation gemstone is just a plastic mold made to look like a gemstone. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
One way to ensure that your jewelry stays clean is to put it only after you have applied your make-up and it has had time to set. The grime and dust in makeup are attracted to the jewelry, and if you put on the jewelry before the cosmetics, it can cause the pieces to look dull. This is particularly important in the case of necklaces and earrings.
Jewelry should last for years to come. Go to a dealer you can trust to make sure you get a quality item at a fair price. They should show a lot of craftsmanship, as well as be well-made. Ask the jeweler about the history behind the piece and learn more about who made it, as well as the origin of the materials. When you are looking for jewelry of the highest quality, it is important to be careful in your choice, as you want something that will last a lifetime.
Before you buy, ask the jeweler if and how the gemstone was treated. Gemstone treatment can affect the type of care the piece needs. If your gem was treated you have to find out how to clean it properly.
The brooch will call attention to your belt and make it more interesting to look at. Place the broach in the middle of your waist for the best effect.
Buying jewelry is better if you keep watch for sales. You could save a lot of money if you take the time to look for better prices. Check online, in the store windows, and in the paper for the greatest sales. If you buy fashion items at the end of their season, you can save up to 50%.
It is critical that the photos and descriptions you use to sell jewelry online are attractive and high-quality. This is extra important because the customer can not handle jewelry with an online transaction. Take photos that clearly focus on the jewelry, without a distracting background.
The diamond cut and clarity can make the stone more appealing than the size. You must think of the person who will be wearing the jewelry.
Know your options when shopping for diamonds. Each diamond is different and has its different flaws. A diamond’s flaws must be seen in person for you to truly understand the impact it has on the stone’s beauty. Furthermore, jewelers may be willing to extend a discount to compensate for certain types of flaws. Shop several different jewelers to find the ideal diamond in your price range.
Dry saunas and steam rooms can cause damage to jewelry. The reason for this is that the heat and the moisture can taint the jewelry and cause problems.
Try to purchase sets of jewelry as a gift for someone. You can often find great deals on jewelry sets. You can easily make that one purchase into two gifts for different occasions by breaking the set up and presenting it to them on the different days. It’s a good way to ascertain that you are never without a great gift to give a loved one.
Look at a lot of different pieces before settling on a diamond jewelry purchase. Each diamond is unique with its own individual flaws. Some flaws are not as obtrusive as others, but you need to see a diamond in person to discern if a flaw is important or not to you. Furthermore, jewelers may be willing to extend a discount to compensate for certain types of flaws. Shop around and find the best diamond you can for the price you can afford.
Don’t wear jewelry when swimming. The life and luster of your jewelry can be damaged by the strong chemical chlorine. Salt water is similarly abrasive to some jewelry. To extend the life of your jewelry, and protect the beauty, take off all jewelry before going into the water.
Buying jewelry in sets is worth considering when you want to give that special someone a gift. You will find that a great deal of stores offer discounts when you buy sets of jewelry. You could divide the set up and give one piece as a gift for each holiday throughout the year. This way you can have a gift ready for someone months in advance and know that they will like it.
It is possible to make money while keeping your pieces when it comes to jewelry like bracelets and gold necklaces. Carefully remove an inch or two from the piece, then sell that section. Just be sure to leave enough length so that you can continue to wear it. With several chains of real gold, you can earn a good bit of cash, even a couple hundred dollars, just by shaving a few inches off of your jewelry.
If you’re going to spend a good deal of money on a jewelry item, purchase something to last a lifetime. Quality and durability are usually givens when you spend big, but style and fashion also come into play. Trends in jewelry can be fleeting and result in unworn pieces later. Try and find classic items that never go out of fashion.
It is hard to tell the difference between natural and fake rubies and sapphires. Synthetic stones cost much less than high-quality ones that come from a mine, and their physical and chemical properties are virtually identical. Before purchasing jewelry that is claimed to be natural sapphire, you should hire an expert gemologist to look over it for you.
You can earn a little cash from your solid gold necklaces and bracelet without selling them. Just clip off a few inches of excess and you can sell it while still actually keeping a full piece to wear. By pruning your gold pieces, you may be able to bring in a tidy sum.
Alexandrite is a beautiful stone that is often overlooked for jewelry. The stone’s color can change from shades of green to purple, depending on the light. You can find the stone featured in pendants, rings, earrings and a variety of other pieces.
Onyx and crystal jewelry looks beautiful and can make a statement. It’s possible to save money, and be happy with your results.
When buying jewelry, be sure and stay within your budget. A beautiful ring will soon lose its allure if you have placed yourself in a significant amount of debt just to acquire it. Usually younger couples would like to start out with a less expensive ring at first. Then, they can get nicer rings after their finances are more secure.
It may be tough to figure out how to best present jewelry that you are selling at informal events like craft fairs and flea markets. When looking for materials that you can use in your jewelry, also be on the lookout for creative display materials. A wide variety of everyday items can be used to display your jewelry creatively.
To update the look of an older necklace, layer it with bulky and more modern pieces. If you add a cross or heart pendant necklace to a grouping of others, it gives the entire grouping a lovely, personalized touch.
It has become quite common to see people wearing both yellow gold and silver jewelry. To do this well, you should have a jewelry item that has both gold and silver in it. If you do not do this, the look will appear tacky and not stylish.
Before you decide on a selling price, have a piece of fine jewelry appraised by a certified gemologist. If you do so, you have a very good idea of what the piece is worth, which makes you much better prepared to evaluate offers that are made when you put it up for sale.
Never clean jewelry at a sink unless the drain is securely plugged. It’s all to easy to lose that precious piece as it slips from your soapy hands. Plugging the drain will prevent such a disaster of losing your jewelry.
Jewelry that is taken care of is extremely valuable both in monetary worth and sentimental value. When you protect your jewelry you help protect both your investment and your memories. With the vast amount of information available on jewelry, you may never stop learning how to get the most out of the jewelry you own. By continuing to absorb this information, you can care for your jewelry this way.
You can save a lot of money when you buy previously owned jewelry. While these pieces are much more affordable than their newer counterparts, they are typically comparable in quality and appearance.