Buying or selling jewelry can be very intimidating to someone who has never done it before. It can easily lead to a bit of information overload because of all the resources available to those new to jewelry practices. Below are some tips to assist you in getting all of this information organized to where you can start buying and selling jewelry much smarter.
When you purchase jewelry, you are investing in an item that will last a lifetime. Whenever you buy jewelry, make sure you go to a reliable, experienced dealer, so you know you’re getting an outstanding piece of jewelry. A valuable piece of jewelry will be well-made and feature superior 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. Unless you purchase jewelry that is of high-quality, the piece is not likely to last a lifetime.
Use a toothbrush and small bit of toothpaste to clean your precious gems. This works really well on diamonds. The toothpaste is a non-abrasive scrubber and the toothbrush is small enough to get into those little nooks and crannies. This method is safe to use as often as you like.
Men are very picky about the jewelry they wear, especially when they are gifted some that may seem feminine. When selecting jewelry for a man, make sure it something that goes with the way that they dress. Also, when selecting what you will get for him make sure that it is subtle and not flashy.
When cleaning silver, it is best to invest in a jeweler’s rouge cloth. It has a polishing compound on the red side which is safe to use with all gemstones, and the yellow side is intended for giving a polish that will sparkle. This will keep your jewelry looking gorgeous for a long time to come!
If you would like to buy a pair of earrings for a loved one, make sure they have pierced ears first! It is a major faux pas to pick up a pair of gorgeous baubles only to find out they’re unwearable. If you can, check her jewelry box, or ask someone close to her who might know like her Mother.
You need to take special care of costume jewelry. A fair amount of costume pieces are set with glue. Don’t immerse costume jewelry in water or use chemicals on it. It is best to have two cloths ready, one warm with water and one dry, to use to wipe your jewelry. This helps keep costume jewelry looking sparkling clean and new.
To help you clean and maintain your jewelry in top condition, remember to polish your gold and silver with a jewelry polishing cloth. Alternatives, such as a regular cloth or paper towel, have the potential to damage your gold or silver because they are not gentle enough for these delicate precious metals.
While gold is often mixed with other metals in large amounts, platinum tends to be more pure. The most popular type is 900 Platinum, which is 90 percent platinum. Since there is so little of other metals used in the pieces platinum is considered hypoallergenic and is the preferred metal of people with allergies.
If you have extra beads left over after a jewelry project, use them to make a pair of earrings. Earrings are generally less time-intensive than other jewelry options, and you will not need as much material to complete them. A simple option is to thread bicone crystals and small seed beads, alternating the different types, and then attaching the ends of the thread to an earring finding.
When considering jewelry for your wedding be sure that you shop for it in plenty of time for your wedding date. This is important so that you not only get the best prices for it but also to ensure that it is available for you with plenty of time to spare.
When it comes to men’s jewelry fashion tips, it is important to consider the fact that gold and silver should never be mixed together. While this may seem obvious to some people, this can be a common clashing mistake for many men. No matter what part of your body it is on, do not wear silver and gold at the same time.
Sterling silver is a porous metal that oxidizes when it comes in contact with oxygen. To keep your silver jewelry looking clean and shiny, wipe any dirt or other substances off with a warm, damp cloth. Dry it thoroughly and polish with a polishing cloth to restore its natural luster and shine.
To get an impressive diamond on a limited budget, consider dropping your standards on color and clarity just a little. Clarity ratings like SI1 and SI2 are not perfect, nor is a color rating of H or I. That said, the naked eye cannot see the difference between these and higher ratings.
One easy way to give old brooches a new life is to use them as buckles on everything from hats to pants to purses. While brooches worn the intended way may look outdated, a decorative brooch clipped onto a plain hat, scarf or purse makes for an eye-catching and unexpected accent.
Hopefully, these tips have provided you with some very valuable information, as well as given you a way to organize all the thoughts and information you may have already had on buying or selling jewelry. Keeping these tips in mind when you start buying or selling can help you in the jewelry world.
