Shopping for jewelry can be lots of fun; however, this can also be extremely stressful if you’re aiming to purchase an expensive jewelry piece. There are so many different things that are used in making jewelery and they are worth different amounts. When a shopper is lacking the knowledge to recognize the appropriate prices for the different materials, they may pay much more than necessary. Use this advice to make the most of your next jewelry purchase.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. If the piece you are examining is not silver and is made from non-precious metal, it will be attracted to the magnet. You can generally tell genuine sterling silver by its stamp, which will look something like “.925 ster.” If the piece is not hallmarked in any way, be leery of its authenticity because oftentimes it is a sign of a fake.
Get a polishing cloth for your jewelery. It will allow you to make your jewelry look as good as new without the use of chemicals. Simply use the two-sided polishing cloth to polish your jewelry the same way you would polish a glass. The first side is designed to polish, while the other is for adding shine.
Know what is trendy before you buy a piece of jewelry. Getting a nice piece of jewelry is good, but getting it at a discount is even better.
Keep your jewelry in a relatively air-tight container, and minimize its exposure to humidity. Ideally, you should keep them in drawstring bags or in a jewelry box. Continued exposure to humidity extremes or air causes metals typically used in jewelry to tarnish. You can restore the precious metals back to their former glory, but plated jewelry is different. Trying to polish those pieces can reveal the non-precious metals underneath, such as copper.
Costume jewelry needs special care. Many of their settings are glued instead of set. Don’t submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with abrasives. The best care is to wipe with a warm damp cloth and then dry with another cloth. This will ensure that your costume jewelry looks perfect.
Ask about any insurance a jeweler may offer when you are buying jewelry. Insurance policies allow you to bring a defective or broken piece into the jewelry store for repair. Many jewelers also have insurance for lost or stolen pieces.
If you are getting jewelry for someone you consider to be one-of-a-kind, think about buying a piece that’s the same: unique and specially-crafted. If you buy something that will go along with their personality it will show them you thought about them!
If you want to maintain the look of your jewelry, you should prevent it from becoming tarnished. Remove your jewelry if you plan on spending time in or near water. Exposure can result in tarnishing, rusting or dulling of different metals. A very light coating of clear nail varnish can be applied to some jewelry, and this will add an additional line of protection against the elements.
Apply your makeup before putting on your jewelry. The sparkle of a piece of jewelry is a magnet for loose or wet makeup, which will leave it tarnished and dingy. This is particularly important in the case of necklaces and earrings.
Caring for your jewelry properly is important; you should definitely give it some consideration. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone. Along the same lines, enhancing different stones and settings requires you to take different steps. Consult with a jeweler if you are unsure exactly how to care for your own jewels.
Before buying jewelry or a fine stone, find out if it was treated in any way. If it was, find out how. Different treatments come with different requirements for cleaning and storage. You do not want to try to clean a treated gem with a solution that may strip the treatment and damage the gem in the process.
A brooch is a great accent for your belt, adding eye-catching interest. You can pin in at the front-center of the belt or near the hip.
Buy jewelry on sale whenever possible. Finding the right sale can save you a lot of money. Check the newspaper, the Internet, and signs in store windows to find the best sales. Buying styles that are waning in popularity is often an excellent way to save money on original jewelry.
If you are selling your jewelry online, make sure it is presented attractively. Handling jewelry often helps the customer make up his mind but this is not possible with online transactions. Take your jewelry photographs in a manner that focuses only on the piece, not anything in the background, and keep the background very plain.
It is possible to remove the knots from jewelry that has become tangled. Do not give up, but instead get a piece of plastic wrap. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and cover it with a little baby oil. After the necklace has loosened, try to untangle it by hand. If this does not work, consider using a sturdy pin or needle. Be sure to use extra caution due to the slippery oil. Wash with dish soap and pat dry.
This rule applies to dry saunas as well as steam ones. Significant damage can occur to the piece because of the high moisture and high temperatures.
If you are selling your jewelry online, make sure it is presented attractively. Since your potential customer will not be able to examine the piece in person, your presentation is very important. It is essential that the jewelry be placed on a background that does not draw the attention away from the piece.
A strong clasp is essential to any necklace or bracelet. It is extremely easy to lose your valuable chains, pendants and stones with jewelry that has a flimsy clasp. A safety clasp is available and is recommended for valuable bracelets and necklaces. For very expensive items, some consumers choose to increase security with an additional clasp or two.
This goes for any type of sauna, either steam or dry. The moisture and high temperatures in saunas can do real damage to your jewelry.
Remove your jewelery prior to swimming. Your jewelry’s luster and life can be damaged from the chlorine that is present in the pool water. The cumulative effects of salt water can affect jewelery just as badly. Removing pieces before heading into the water will extend their life and protect their beauty.
Using robe hooks will help to stop necklaces from becoming tangled. You can keep your necklaces organized by length, color or material when you install a row of robe hooks on a wall or right on the inside of your closet door. This will avoid necklaces getting tangled and knotty, and it is the perfect alternative to a jewelry box.
Don’t buy a piece of jewelry based solely on the brand. It will be difficult for others to tell where you purchased an item, and if you’re only buying something because of the name, it could very well be overpriced. There are several high quality brands.
When you set out to buy jewelry, buy a piece because you love it, not because of who makes it. Many people won’t know where you got it, and many sellers try to sell these brands so that you pay a lot for them. It is not difficult to find quality jewelry that is made by different brands.
Expensive Jewelry
Displaying your jewelry can be a little confusing if you are trying to sell your goods locally. While you source your jewelry materials, keep an eye out for display ideas. Use your imagination. Many types of craft boxes make excellent display pieces.
When buying an expensive jewelry piece, you want it to last for many years. Although more expensive jewelry is normally high quality, there are other factors to consider. Very often pieces that are currently trendy wind up looking foolish later. Try and find classic items that never go out of fashion.
A beautiful and oftentimes overlooked gemstone is Alexandrite. Ambient lighting determines this gemstones color. It can vary from yellow to purple to green, depending on the angle of viewing and the lighting source. It looks stunning in necklaces, rings and bracelets.
If you have a bracelet or necklace made of gold, it’s possible to get a bit of money out of it without selling the whole piece. Cut off a bit of excess chain to sell, while keeping enough to wear. By clipping a little off of several chains you can make several hundred dollars.
It’s no longer uncommon to see people wearing yellow gold and silver jewelry at the same time. However, you have to find jewelry that incorporates both metals into one piece. If you do not, the look will appear dated and sloppy.
You can make a real statement with a stand-out piece of onyx or crystal jewelry. Be kinder to your wallet; you might find that the results are gorgeous.
Surprise the love of your life with beautiful jewelry to express your love for them. A piece of jewelry she never knew was coming will please any woman. You will enjoy looking at her eyes sparkle with joy when she opens her box.
Pair large, gaudy jewelry with quiet, simple outfits. Instead of this, you should wear a classic black dress or some other solid clothing item that can clearly highlight your particular jewelry piece.
Illusion settings are a great way to get more bang out of a diamond. This setting has a mirrored plate upon the ring prior to the diamond being set. The diamond is mirrored as you wear it and made to look huge and super sparkly. Repairs can be complicated for this kind of setting, so keep that in mind when making your choice.
When you make jewelry to sell at flea markets, craft sales and holiday sales, you may be at a loss for ways to display it beautifully. When you are shopping for materials to make your jewelry, also look for items that you could display it on. Baskets, boxes, wig stands and various racks can be used to display your wares if you apply some creative thought.
Consider your price range before you go engagement ring shopping. Diamond shopping may be an emotional endeavor. It is very easy to throw your budget out of the window when you see something extra special.
Now that you know these things, you’ll have a much easier time buying rings, earrings, bracelets, watches, and other jewelry items. Follow the advice in this article, and you will be saving money in the jewelry store before you know it!
Although jewelery cleaner specifically geared toward silver jewelry is ideal, this will do if you don’t have any cleaner available. A tiny amount of the toothpaste should be applied to a paper towel or soft cloth. You want to rub the jewelry with the toothpaste, and then rinse it clear of the paste, or at least wipe it off. It might not be exactly perfect, but it will not have tarnish.