Whether your purchase jewelry for friends, inherit valuable pieces or receive jewelry as a gift, it is important that you are aware of the best buying, selling and cleaning jewelry practices. This article is going to show you great ideas for getting the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to jewelry.
Do not use any chemicals on your jewelery stones. This can cause your stones to turn and dull in color, along with eating away any enamel on the pieces.
The use of polishing cloths are helpful in cleaning your jewelry. This is a natural way to shine all of your jewelry without relying on abrasives or other harsh chemicals. You can use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry in the same way you would polish a drinking glass. Use the side of the cloth that is designed for polishing to remove fingerprints, dust and other surface imperfections, and then use the opposite side to buff the jewelry and make it gleam.
You should always store your jewelry very carefully. Use a box that has several different compartments and hooks to keep your pieces apart. Avoid simply piling them on top of each other in a box. This can harm fragile and fine pieces, along with severely tangling necklaces with other pieces.
The metals in jewelry can tarnish if exposed to humid air, so you will want to store them in a way that protects them. Ideally, you should keep them in drawstring bags or in a jewelry box. When non-precious and precious metals are expose to air and humidity, they tend to tarnish. Precious metals, through some work and polish, can be restored to their original condition. Non-precious metals are coated, which means that polishing will allow copper metal to come through.
If you are shopping for sterling silver jewelry, you’ll need a magnet and an eye for the real thing. You are able to detect fake pieces of sterling jewelry with a magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. Sterling silver will always be hallmarked with a stamp such as .925, ster. or sterling. If a particular piece is not stamped, you should be cautious of its authenticity.
Sterling Silver
Jewelry should last for years to come. When you are ready to chose your next selection of jewelry, make sure you find a reputable dealer that will make sure that you find a high-quality piece. Any piece that is high quality will have its craftsmanship and quality shining through. A credible jeweler should offer a complete history of the piece, including information about the creator and the source of the gemstones. It is important to choose a high-quality piece to ensure that your jewelry will last a lifetime.
Take a magnet and a keen eye with you when you head out to purchase any jewelry made from sterling silver. You can tell if a piece of silver is sterling or not by using a magnet. Sterling will not react to the magnet, but non-precious metals will be attracted. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling,” “ster,” or “.925.” If there is no marking on the piece, it may not be sterling silver.
Find out what the ideal methods are for maintaining each piece of jewelry you own. Different cleaning techniques are required for different types of jewelry. Not all jewelry should be cared for in the same way. Talk with a professional if you aren’t sure what sort of care each jewel requires.
Look at the condition of costume jewelry before making a purchase. A piece that isn’t in very good condition won’t be worth it, and since you may be thinking of an expensive item as an investment, it’s important to watch for wear and tear. Make sure you have a piece that is in excellent condition, because this will be a lot more fruitful for you down the road.
Many people find it hard to shop for unique individuals. The trick is picking something unique for them, maybe something made just for them. Show your affection for the person by recognizing their unique qualities; put some thought into the purchase and be creative.
Find out what the ideal methods are for maintaining each piece of jewelry you own. Metals, gemstones and settings all have different storage and cleaning requirements. Along the same lines, enhancing different stones and settings requires you to take different steps. Talk with a professional if you aren’t sure what sort of care each jewel requires.
If there are knots in your necklaces, you can easily untangle them. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, but saran wrap can come to the rescue. After you place the necklace on top of the wrap, cover it in baby oil. If the jewelry is tangled and knotted, try using needles to unknot the strands. Clean with warm, soapy water and gently pat dry.
Consider unique pieces of jewelry for unique individuals. Finding something that shows you put thought and effort into the gift is more important the the gift itself, so whether or not what you choose exactly what they wanted, they are sure to be pleased.
When selling jewelry on the Internet, make the extra effort to present it in the best light possible. As the potential buyer cannot physically touch the piece, this is important so that the jewelry is presented in its best light. Take photos that clearly focus on the jewelry, without a distracting background.
By wearing a brooch, your belt will be accented and look more interesting. Pin it in the center of your waist or towards your hip.
That includes dry or steam saunas. The moisture and heat can cause your jewelry to become damaged.
Put your make up on before the jewelery. All the grime and dust from your makeup attracts jewelry. Therefore, putting on jewelry beforehand can make the piece look dingy. This applies to necklaces and earrings more than anything else.
Before you purchase a diamond ring, necklace or bracelet, shop around and compare your options. Every diamond varies and has individual flaws. When you see the diamond in person, the flaws, of course, can become much less important. You can also use the flaws as a point for discussing a discount. Make sure you browse different shops to locate the best diamond for the price range you have in mind.
Gems are given chemical treatments in the process of cutting, polishing and setting. When you are thinking of buying, ask what treatment a stone was given. Gemstone treatment can affect the type of care the piece needs. For example, you would not want to use a jewelry cleaner that is incompatible with a certain type of treatment. Doing so could result in irreversible damages to the color and surface of the stone.
Keep your jewelry in place with a strong clasp or closure. If your chains and pendants with costly gems do not have secure clasps, you may lose them. For especially valuable necklaces and bracelets, adding a safety clasp to the piece is a good way to safeguard them. Some opt for two or three clasps on their extremely valuable pieces of jewelry so that they stay safe during wear.
Plastic Wrap
Don’t wear jewelry when swimming. Swimming pools contain chlorine, which can age many types of jewelry prematurely. Salt water can be equally damaging over time. Take your jewelry off first to keep it from becoming damaged or tarnished.
Untangling knotted chains can be easy if you know how to do it. It’s easy to give up on some knotted metal mass; however, you should instead use plastic wrap. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and cover it with a little baby oil. Use a straight pin to untangle the knot. Then wash off the baby oil or mineral oil with dish soap, and then pat dry.
To conveniently hang your necklaces, try using robe hooks. These will go nicely on a closet door or wall. You can use more than one by lining them in a row, and you can hang the necklaces by length or color. This little display looks appealing and keeps chains from tangling at the same time.
If you are selling your jewelry online, make sure it is presented attractively. This is extremely important because the potential buyer can not handle the item that is being sold. Photograph jewelry in a setting that concentrates the viewer’s attention solely on the jewelry; avoid distracting backgrounds.
When you set out to buy jewelry, buy a piece because you love it, not because of who makes it. The brand may be a significant factor in the price. Usually, brand names like Cartier and Tiffany are much more expensive than jewelry without the brand name for the same piece. There are excellent quality jewelry pieces from various brands.
Jewelry that has been cared for properly retains its sentimental and economic value. When you protect your jewelry you help protect both your investment and your memories. This is more information out there, and by continuously education yourself, you can get more from your own jewelry.
If you are a jewelry maker who sells at craft fairs, holiday markets and such, you may have trouble coming up with ways to properly display it. When on the look out for material involved in the creation of your piece, don’t forget about creative displays. There are many different things that can serve as adequate jewelry displays.