Taking the next step into the wondrous and complex land of jewelry can sometimes be quite challenging. Choosing the right pieces, buying at the best prices, cleaning without ruining, or selling to make a profit, are all fraught with a certain difficulty. However, by keeping the helpful tips listed below in mind, you will soon find yourself acting like a pro in the field!
If you have metal allergies, make sure to purchase nickel free jewelry. Nickel is a common alloy that is mixed in with precious metals such as sterling silver to make them more pliable. Silver itself is very liquid in its original state and therefore not substantial enough to be properly molded into jewelry. Oftentimes, another alloy such as nickel is added. Make sure you check what you are purchasing to make sure it is nickel free.
Attending yard-sales is a great way to build up a collection of jewelry. Many people sell old costume jewelry for practically pennies. This is a perfect opportunity to stock up on broken pieces that can be repaired or made into new jewelry later. Many new beautiful pieces of jewelry can be born of old broken pieces. Use yard-sales to build up your collection.
Essential to anyone buying jewelry for reclamation purposes is a pocket-sized gram and carat scale. While a scale can’t determine the purity of the gold and silver you encounter in your jewelry hunting, a pocket scale can at least give you a basic starting point to determine fair pricing and valuing of your jewelry finds.
If you are not too fond of wearing a wedding or engagement ring on your finger, you can always put it on a chain. This is a safe way to ensure your ring will not fall off. Also, by putting your ring on a chain, it will not be in the way of your daily activities.
Make sure that you have a silver polishing cloth on hand for your silver jewelry. All silver tarnishes, so a polishing cloth will help you quickly and easily, have your silver jewelry looking like new without having to deal with smelly, messy silver polish. You can buy a polishing cloth for about $5.
To make sure no one can tell that you’re wearing costume jewelry, choose pieces that have a real metal setting. A gold or platinum setting can give an artificial gemstone a much more authentic look. This will make sure that you still look elegant even when you’re buying your jewelry on a budget.
When buying jewelry as a gift, it is important to consider the body type of the person you are shopping for. Some body types look better with larger or smaller pieces of jewelry. Considering the body type of the recipient would make a big difference concerning whether they will actually wear the jewelry.
You should check your rings periodically for loose stones or bent prongs. It is best to catch these issues early and have the ring repaired by a professional jeweler than to lose a precious stone. Most jewelers can re-tip worn prongs to ensure your stone stays secure.
When storing your jewelry, follow any specific advice which is provided by the manufacturer. Different gem stones have different sets of rules for safe storage. Try to keep your pieces of jewelry from touching each other while being stored, since this can lead to scratching each other. If a piece of jewelry has its own box or pouch, use it for better protection of your valuable assets.
When purchasing jewelry, you should spend plenty of time comparison shopping within your price range so that you can get the best-quality jewelry available. Jewelry is one of those commodities where quality matters a great deal. A modest but well-crafted piece is a better buy than something which is extravagant but shoddy.
When you are wearing pearls you have to make sure not to expose them to any harsh hair sprays, perfumes, or other chemicals. They tend to lose their luster very fast if they are exposed to these chemicals because the nacre (skin) of the pearl will start to peel off.
One thoughtful way to increase the memorability of jewelry given as gifts is to coordinate jewelry given over time. A series of gifts, each of which matches previous pieces given, shows thoughtfulness and taste that is sure to be appreciated by the recipient. Building a matching set of jewelry through multiple gifts demonstrates a commitment to the relationship between giver and receiver.
When buying jewelry for someone that you care about make sure that you buy something that suits them both in color and style. This is important because it would come across as you not paying attention to their likes and dislikes. You want to make your purchase a special one.
Carnelian is a beautiful semiprecious stone very popular for use in jewelry. The fiery orange, yellow and red swirls are often spectacularly carved into ornate shapes that catch the light in dangling pieces like pendants or dangling earrings, but can also be found in such pieces as rings and bracelets.
Pay attention to the construction of a piece of jewelry. The more claws that hold a stone in place, the better. Clasps need to be easy to open, but not flimsy. If a clasp is very thin, it could come loose or break quite easily, causing you to lose your jewelry.
So, after reading and applying the helpful tips listed above, you should feel a bit more at ease in the wonderland that is jewelry. You should feel empowered and ready to act like a seasoned trader. What a wonderful hobby or business involvement with jewelry can be!
