Learn Jewelry Shopping For First Time Buyers
No matter who you are buying jewelry for or why you are buying it, whether for yourself or as a gift, it is important to know the proper way to care for jewelry as well as buy and sell it responsibly. This article offers some basic guidelines for preserving the appearance and value of jewelry ownership.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. Use the magnet to detect fake jewelry; real silver will not be attracted to the magnet, but the cheaper metals will. There should be a stamp hallmarked that says something like .925 sterling or ster, on sterling silver If there is no hallmark, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.
Keep jewelry stored safely and away from humidity or air. Air and humidity can tarnish metals that the jewelry are made of to tarnish.Precious metal jewelry can be polished to fix tarnish, but non-precious metal needs a special polish.
Make sure you know what kind of gem you are getting when you are buying jewelry. You have three options as far as the type of gem: natural, imitation and synthetic. “Real” can mean natural or synthetic, and an imitation stone could be glass or plastic. Natural gems are those that are actually from the earth, whereas synthetic ones are made in labs.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, you need both a discerning eye and a small magnet. You can detect fake sterling silver with the magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. If there is no marking on the piece, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.
Most jewelry is intended to last for a life time. 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. 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. You’ll create an heirloom tomorrow if you choose high-quality jewelry today.
Before you buy anything new, research the latest trends. The only thing that beats getting a new piece of jewelry better is if you get it at a discounted price!
Make sure a piece of jewelry is still in style before you buy it. The only thing better than picking up a gorgeous bauble is getting it on sale!
Always ask the jeweler about an insurance policy options before buying anything. If you can get insurance, you can take it back and see if they will fix it! Some jewelers even offer insurance on jewelry pieces that have been misplaced or stolen.
Prevent your jewelry from tarnishing so that it keeps looking great. Don’t take your jewelry into the water, regardless of whether you are showering or hitting the beach. A lot of metals will rust, tarnish or dull when they come in contact with water. 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.
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best. Try not to wear jewelry away from water. Water can cause some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. If you must take your jewelry somewhere wet, coat it thinly with clear nail polish.
If you are interested in collecting costume jewelry, be sure to stay conscious of the condition. While normally is a beautiful investment, a piece of costume jewelry that is in poor condition is not worth buying. A piece that is free of any defects or wear not only looks better, but is also a better investment.
Consider the stones when you are buying jewelry. The right stone will enhance your skin tone and suit your personality. Neutral colored stones will work better to match all your clothing.
You should carefully consider how to best care for your jewelry. Take into account that different types of material takes different types of care, like stones and metals. What can be beneficial to one type of stone can actually cause harm to another. If you can’t find information about caring for a specific piece of jewelry, consult a trusted jeweler.
Costume Jewelry
Keep your jewelry unsoiled by only putting it on after all of your makeup has been applied. Makeup will settle into your jewelry making it look dull and dingy. This tip especially applies to necklaces and earrings.
You need to pay special attention when you are buying costume jewelery! A fair amount of the stones in costume pieces are set with glue. Don’t immerse costume jewelry in water or clean it with abrasives. The best way to clean these pieces are to wipe with a warm damp cloth and then dry with another cloth. This keeps costume jewelry that you have looking its best.
The diamond cut and clarity can make the stone more appealing than the size. Keep the individual you are buying the diamond for in mind.
Pin it in the center of your waist or your hip.
Make sure you look around for awhile when you decide you want to shop for jewelry. No diamond is without its flaws, and every piece is unique. Some flaws may not seem that critical to you when you see the diamond in person. You can also use the flaws as a point for discussing a discount. Shop around to find a great, high-quality diamond at an affordable price.
Before you buy, it is important that you learn about the treatment process it underwent. The way to care your stone needs is dependent on what it was treated.
Buying jewelry in sets is worth considering when you want to give that special someone a gift. You can often get a better price if you buy an entire set. You can make it fun and split the set up to give them parts of the set on each holiday as they come. This is a fabulous way to always have a gift that someone will love.
You could save a lot of money if you take the right sale. Check online, online, and even storefront windows. If you buy the older fashions that are from the previous season, you can get it for almost 50 percent off of its original price.
Use attractive robe hooks to hang your necklaces, keeping them tangle-free. Organize these hooks in a row and use them to keep your necklaces free-hanging and untangled. You can group them by style, length or other criteria. Not only does this keep necklaces from tangling up into knots in your jewelry box, but it makes an attractive accent to your decor.
Plastic Wrap
When you are making a serious, high-dollar jewelry purchase, make sure that you can get years of use out of it. The more expensive a piece of jewelry is usually means it is higher quality. When selecting a piece, also consider the various styles available. Even if everyone is wearing a piece at the moment, it might look outdated next year. Try to find something timeless and classic.
Untangle knotted messes of delicate chains and necklaces. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, you should instead use plastic wrap. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and add a little baby oil. Use a straight pin to untangle the necklace. Wash with dish soap and then pat dry.
Traditional simple clothing can be paired with colorful ornate jewelry to add some interest. Wear something that will keep attention focused on your jewelry, such as a simple, solid-color outfit like the reliable “little black dress.”
Have definite plans for every piece of jewelry before you buy it. You do not need a lot of jewelry you will never wear. Think about your most-worn wardrobe pieces when choosing different pieces.
When purchasing a piece of fine jewelry, stay within the limits of your financial budget. There is no reason to take on debt because of a shiny ring or fancy necklace. If you are young and just starting out in life, consider an investment that is less of a burden on your finances. You can always add to the ring when finances are better or add a nice ring guard as an anniversary present.
When photographing jewelry for online sale, be sure to develop attractive and persuasive imagery of the pieces. This is quite key since your customer can not physically see and feel the person that may purchase it cannot hold it before purchasing it.
Before you even begin searching for an engagement ring, be sure that you are knowledgeable about the price of diamonds. Diamond shopping is an emotional experience. It is very easy to throw your budget out of the window when you see something extra special.
A good quality clap is very important for any necklace or necklace. If your chains and pendants with costly gems do not have secure clasps, your gemstones are in constant jeopardy. You can have a safety clasp on any existing piece that may require additional protection. You could even want to add an extra clasp on your jewelery for added protection.
If you are unable to afford the wedding ring of your dreams, consider buying something smaller and then upgrading later on when you have more money to spend. You can get that new ring on a special occasion in the future, like an anniversary. In some instances your jeweler may offer a program where they will buy back the simple ring in partial trade for your better one.
The chlorine in pool water will corrode your jewelry and decrease its shine. Salt water is equally damaging over time. Taking it off before swimming will protect their beauty and keep it looking beautiful for years to come.
To show off your rings, make sure your hands and fingers look good. Manicures, either professional or done at home, will make your hands as attractive as your rings.
If you are wearing a simple outfit, don’t wear a gaudy outfit to match.Try wearing a simple or solid color to bring attention to jewelery.
When choosing an engagement ring, take into account the style of your partner’s life and the ring. It is key to find a ring that exemplifies your relationship and the person that will wear it. Because your ring represents so much, you want it to be perfect for you.
If you are a jewelry maker and sell it at craft shows and other sales, this is where you need to look!When searching for the materials that you will use to make your jewelry, also be on the lookout for creative display materials. You can make attractive jewelry displays out of virtually anything, like boxes, racks, cigar boxes even a wig stand could make an offbeat place to show your wares.
It is extremely important to properly clean your jewelry. Before you clean your jewelry, make sure that there are no breaks or loose gemstones that could potentially worsen or fall out if you were to clean the item. If so, take the item(s) to your local jeweler or gemologist and let them clean your item.
A beautiful stone that people do not often think of is Alexandrite. Depending upon the lighting levels, an Alexandrite stone will change colors from green to purple. It looks stunning in necklaces, rings and pendants.
Wearing cufflinks or not can be a tough decision. Usually, when you are wearing a high quality formal dress shirt, it is appropriate to wear cufflinks with the shirt. Cufflinks help complete the look, so try matching them to the suit and to the shirt style you plan on wearing.
Keep your fashion and costume jewelry away from steam cleaners or powerful chemicals.
If diamond jewelry is part of your everyday attire, the pieces should cleaned by a professional on a biannual basis, preferably every six months, starting from the date you purchased or received the items. The jeweler will thoroughly clean and polish your jewelry and inspect it to make sure there is no damage to it.
If you have a piece of jewelry you like from your childhood, layer them with more mature pieces.
An investment in high-quality jewelry is one that you’ll live with a long time. Take your time, and eventually you will find just the right piece for you.
This gives you sell your item at the right price as you now have an honest opinion of what that is.
Synthetic gemstones are becoming a popular alternative to natural gemstones. There is not much difference in appearance between these and natural stones. The primary difference is cost, since synthetic stones are created in the laboratory rather then uncovered during the mining process.
Illusion Setting
If you’re shopping for a choker, pick one that is just 16 inches long. For a perfect fit, you should measure your own neck and subtract an inch. This will give you the ideal fit.
If you are looking for diamond brilliance without the price tag, consider an illusion setting. An illusion setting is created by using a mirrored plate on your ring before the diamond being set. The diamond is mirrored when on your hand so that it appears larger and magnifies the amount of light it reflects.The difficulties of doing it this setting is that they can be difficult to fix.
Jewelry that has been cared for well over the years has higher value than jewelry that has not. By educating yourself on proper jewelry care and maintenance, you can preserve the money and memories invested in your pieces. As you learn more about jewelry, you will be able to protect your jewelry even better.
