Are you buying or selling jewelry for the first time? You probably don’t even know where to start. It’s no secret that buying or selling jewelry for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. Below are some tips that can help to make getting either process a tad bit easier for you.
Save some of your most fragile jewelry for special occasions only. Some fragile stones like opal and peridot should only be worn for special events and then carefully stored until the next occasion. This may seem irritating since you want to be able to wear your best pieces, but it can prolong their life if you avoid exposing them to harm too often.
If you are looking to purchase fashion jewelry, make sure to invest a few dollars. While fashion jewelry is available in almost every design and price range under the sun, purchase something in the mid-price range. If you go too cheap, you may end up purchasing something with unhealthy metal alloys or inferior quality workmanship.
When buying diamonds, do not fall for the selling ploy of deceptive jewelry lighting. Many of these have quartz or halogen bulbs. The kinds of lights they emit can really make stones appear much brighter. This is because they shine it purposelessly behind them to give them a false glow in an attempt to attract customers.
If you would like to start collecting gemstone jewelry, make sure that you do your research first. It is important that you know what to look for in spotting fakes and what to look for to identify genuine gemstones. It can also be beneficial to know what different countries and areas different gemstones are indigenous to. This can help determine if what you’re looking at is real or fake.
To keep your rings from overpowering your hands, never wear more than two on the same finger. Rings can easily look excessive, and even a series of thinner rings can look overwhelming. If you are wearing an oversized ring, it is best to wear only a few other rings along with it.
Do some research on the best way to clean your particular piece of jewelry. Depending on the metals and stones used in your jewelry, along with how they are set, you will need different maintenance methods. Each piece is individual in its needs so don’t assume what works well for one piece will work well for all. When in doubt about the right way to maintain your jewelry, just ask a professional jeweler.
Clean your turquoise jewelry with warm water and a soft toothbrush. Never use chemicals on turquoise, as it is very susceptible to damage. Simply lightly scrubbing it and drying it with a soft dry cloth can keep your turquoise clean and undamaged, allowing it to last much longer than if you were to use any solutions.
Never use solutions or chemicals on emeralds. Chemicals, especially ammonia, will degrade emeralds to the point that they are unrecognizable. Emeralds are especially porous gemstones, so make sure to take great care when cleaning and storing these precious stones. If you are not careful with these, they will quickly lose their worth.
Look for jewelry stores that are accredited members of the Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, as well as the Jewelers of America. You are assured the best quality at the lowest price by stores with these certifications. You will find these certifications held by most big chain type outfits.
Clean your diamonds at home between jeweler cleanings. You can simply, and cheaply, keep your diamonds sparkling as bright as ever. All you need to do is get a small amount of toothpaste and put it on a dry cloth. Rub the stone completely. Rinse and enjoy the return of the sparkle.
Once you have decided that you are going to purchase a piece of jewelry and are ready to start shopping, consider taking a friend or family member with you. This way, you have someone else to bounce ideas off of and another viewpoint for the items you are considering.
If you are wearing a large, ornate necklace, don’t add large ornate earrings. Instead, do without earrings or wear something simple that complements your necklace, face and clothing. Likewise, if your earrings are large, dangly and attention getting, wear a simple choker or chain or no necklace at all.
If you create jewelry to sell, such as at a flea market or craft sale, you need to display it to its best effect. Always try to be as creative as possible, as this will draw the most eyes to your display. Use your imagination. Many types of craft boxes make excellent display pieces.
The most important aspect of choosing what jewelry to wear is color- design appeal has its place, but the immediate effect a piece has on an observer will be to impress the color combination between the jewelry, the skin, and clothing and other jewelry. Try to create interesting and non-chaotic color combinations when choosing jewelry to wear with an outfit.
Research the options for rings. Often times when you walk into a jewelry shop they are able to spot a sucker. They may try and throw around a lot of new vocabulary that may or may not be important. If you understand the industry you will not get duped when buying that expensive piece of jewelry.
As you have seen, buying or selling jewelry is not as intimidating as they may appear at first. Just think of all of the benefits you now have by knowing more about jewelry in general. You can now make smarter decisions when you buy or sell to avoid losing money.
