Jewelery has always been associated with beauty. Jewelry not only reminds us of our important relationships, it also helps memorialize those special occasions. Expanding your knowledge about jewelry can make the buying and selling experience become more rewarding.
For example, you should never use bleach, turpentine, or ammonia on your jewelry. Harsh chemicals will dull your stones and dissolve the enamel on your jewelry.
Precious Metals
Keep your jewelry stored somewhere that is free from humidity or air. Keep your jewelry in a drawstring bag or in a box that is made for jewelry. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious metal. Polishing will work to restore the color and shine for precious metals, but with non-precious metals, polishing will not help the change in color.
A piece of jewelry should be long lasting. When buying jewelry, only buy from dealers with good reputations, so that you don’t buy a piece that seems durable, but really isn’t. You should be able to notice a quality piece by its craftsmanship. A good jeweler can provide you with some background on the piece, such as who crafted it, where it was manufactured, and where any stones in it came from. It is important that your pieces are high-quality if you want them to last a long time.
Look at what they are wearing now. Do they like hoops or studs? Does the person prefer chokers or loose fitting necklaces? These answers should give you a reasonable starting point for your shopping.
When you buy a piece of jewelery, inquire about the jeweler’s insurance policy. These policies dictate whether or not the jeweler will replace or fix your item of jewelry if it is damaged. You can even find insurance on jewelry pieces that were stolen or misplaced.
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished in order to keep it looking it’s best. Never wear your jewelry when you are going to be near water. Many of the metals become tarnished, rusty or dull when they get exposed to the elements of water. If you want to give your jewelry a measure of protection from this element, coat it thinly with clear nail polish.
Costume Jewelry
If you want to start a costume jewelry collection, it is important to be aware of the pieces’ condition. Costume jewelry is pricey and can retain its value in many cases, but pieces that are damaged aren’t worth much and aren’t worth the time to restore. Investing in quality means that you can enjoy the jewelry for many years to come.
Costume jewelry should be treated differently than your other jewelry. A lot of the stones in costume jewelery are glued in and not set in. Avoid using harsh chemicals on these pieces, and do not immerse them. The best way to maintain your costume jewelry is to use a moist, warm cloth first, then dry it off with another cloth. This method will keep your costume jewelry stunning and beautiful.
If you’re shopping for an individual who likes unique pieces of jewelry, you should consider purchasing an item that is made specifically for this person. This means you have taken the time to think about the gift and make it as personal as possible. Customized jewelery will also help you convey the right message.
One key thing to remember is to only put your jewelry on after you’ve applied your makeup. All the grime and dust from your makeup attracts jewelry. Therefore, putting on jewelry beforehand can make the piece look dingy. This is even more necessary for earrings and necklaces.
See if your gem has had any treatments prior to buying, and if so, which treatments. Different treatments require different types of care. Knowing the proper care techniques for your gemstone will prevent you from accidentally damaging it by stripping it of its protective treatment.
When photographing jewelry for online sale, you need to make the presentation of the piece as attractive as possible. This is very important since customers cannot handle the jewelry in an online transaction. It is essential that the jewelry be placed on a background that does not draw the attention away from the piece.
Don’t buy jewelry just because of its brand. Very few people will recognize where you got this piece, and if a seller can have you buy something because of the brand, you are probably paying too much for it. Remember that there is top-quality jewelry available under any number of different brands.
Unfortunately, if you are dead set on real gold jewelry, you will run into the problem of high prices. If you simply must have that gold ring, necklace or bracelet, be flexible in terms of karats. Buying 18 karat jewelry means you will get a piece that is at least 75% gold. Experts agree that this is the sweet spot on the price-quality curve.
You can actually earn money off of your gold bracelets and necklaces without giving them up entirely. Instead, you can just trim off some excess chain and sell it, and keep the important part to wear. When gold prices are high, a little bit of scrap metal can earn you a nice amount of money.
Pair large and ornate jewelry pieces with 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.
An extremely popular jewelry stone is the ruby. While it’s true that rubies are red, there are many different shades of this color from maroon to clear deep rose pinks. Rubies are a durable stone. They can take abuse as well as any fine jewelry. Because of this combination of looks and strength, rubies are one of the most practical choices in fine stones.
It has become quite common to see people wearing both yellow gold and silver jewelry. To pull this off, you need to buy a jewelry piece that contains both metals at once. Otherwise the look is out of style and doesn’t look right.
Owning, buying, and selling jewelry involves priceless investing. Perhaps it symbolizes great memories from the past or even great times to come; jewelry is always emotional.