You need to have some knowledge of what to look for and expect from purchasing or selling jewelry. You need to know what resources are available to you and who can provide you answers as to what you need for your jewelry needs. The tips below can help you with how to start.
Do research on your fine stones, especially if you engage in regular activities that may chip or completely cause them to break into pieces. Not all stones are created equal. Some quartz, peridot, amethyst, to name a few, are among the most fragile stones and will require very gentle wear, care and storage.
When purchasing jewelry from a respected jeweler, inquire as to whether they offer an insurance policy. You want to know if they will be able to repair or replace the piece if it was to break. In some instances, you can even insure your jewelry against loss or theft.
The first step to a bridal outfit is the dress, and then everything else, including your jewelry, should be selected afterward. Your jewelry should not only match your dress, but highlight and color that is found in it. If you have sequins that shine opalescent pink, then highlight that with a rose topaz earring, for example.
Check for wear and damage in every piece you buy. Spending money on jewelry can be a worthy investment, but if the item you invest in is not in good condition, you will be wasting your money. Thoroughly examine each piece to be sure your investments are truly worth the money.
Clean your jewelry with warm water and mild soap, rinse it out, and then dry thoroughly. It also helps to polish the piece of jewelry with a soft cloth. Excess water remaining on jewelry in storage can tarnish precious metals, sometimes beyond repair. A soft cloth can also help to restore luster and shine to your jewelry while removing excess water from the piece.
If you’re making wire jewelry and don’t have wire cutters, just use a pair of fingernail clippers. The fingernail clippers are small and great for fine cutting. They will be able to manipulate through most sterling silver wire with ease. The fingernail clippers will no longer be useful for your nails though, because wire will dull them fast.
Make sure your jewelry matches at least a few of your outfits. You do not want to purchase pieces that you can only wear for very special events, as that may be impractical. Finding simple and elegant pieces that match several outfits is not as difficult as it sounds, and you will probably enjoy the search!
Cure the green skin of copper jewelry easily. When you wear jewelry that has a copper base you may soon find yourself turning into a martian. The green is caused by the metal oxidizing. Stop it in its tracks by applying clear nail polish to any jewelry surface that will be touching your bare skin.
When giving a piece of jewelry to someone, you must always remember to keep the receipt. This applies to almost anything you purchase, but this definitely applies to a piece of jewelry because of how expensive it is. If you want to return the piece of jewelry for whatever reason, you need the receipt to get your money back. Otherwise, you will be stuck with a useless piece of jewelry that you spent lots of money on.
If you have gold jewelry, it is important that you do not use harsh chemicals when you try to clean them. Harsh chemicals can make your gold jewelry dull and cause it to lose its natural luster. You should clean your gold jewelry with mild cleansers and warm water.
When soldering a wedding ring and an engagement ring together, make sure the jeweler polishes the rings. Engagement rings are often worn for some time before the wedding band is and it will look like the rings do not match if they are not polished to look new.
Avoid spraying your perfume or hairspray after putting your pearls on. Instead, spray first and then put your jewelry on. Pearls are extremely porous and absorb chemicals found in things like hairspray and perfume very easily. Minimize the contact between your pearls and such chemicals to keep them beautiful.
When it comes to taking care of your jewelry, be sure that you take it off before using any sort of personal care products. This is important because items such as hair gel, hand lotion, and shaving cream can cause damage to your jewelry. This may either be permanent damage, or time consuming temporary disfigurement.
If you are purchasing jewelry as a gift try to be sneaky. Use a friend, or snoop around when they aren’t looking to find their jewelry size. You wouldn’t want to spend all the time and effort on jewelry for that person and then come to find out it doesn’t even fit them.
When buying jewelry online, read the descriptions carefully. Look up words if you do not know what they mean. It is easy to take a flattering picture, but a description should give you a good idea of what you are buying. You should pay attention to size, colors and materials.
Shop early for wedding rings to avoid problems. Since wedding rings can typically take 6 weeks to arrive, the earlier, the better. If you are ordering custom-made jewelry it can take even longer. You may also choose to have the inside of the ring engraved, but be sure to add this to your order to avoid extra time delays.
As you have seen in the above tips, there is a lot of knowledge, you can acquire before purchasing or selling jewelry, and it is this knowledge that can help you with your future jewelry needs. Do everything you must to get the pieces you need or to sell more of your pieces.
