When you are buying or selling precious jewelry, doing your homework can have its benefits. However, it can leave you scratching your head as to where to start.
The metals in jewelry can tarnish if exposed to humid air, so you will want to store them in a way that protects them. For maximum protection you can choose to store them inside of a small drawstring or a closed jewelry box. Continued exposure to humidity extremes or air causes metals typically used in jewelry to tarnish. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.
Sterling Silver
Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. Jewelry made with non-precious metals will be attracted to the magnet, revealing any fakes. True sterling sliver always has some sort of hallmark stamp on it, such as .925, sterling or ster. Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.
Quality jewelry should stay beautiful forever. When buying jewelry, only buy from dealers with good reputations, so that you don’t buy a piece that seems durable, but really isn’t. If a piece of jewelry is of high quality, it should be made well and exhibit top-flight craftsmanship. Ask the jeweler about the history behind the piece and learn more about who made it, as well as the origin of the materials. Take your time when selecting a high-quality piece if you want it to last you for a long time.
Keep your jewelry from tarnishing as best as you can. Don’t take your jewelry into the water, regardless of whether you are showering or hitting the beach. Some metals will tarnish, dull or rust when exposed to water or perspiration. A single coat of transparent nail polish may help protect certain types of metal.
You need to pay attention to care and maintenance if you intend to build up a costume jewelry collection. Costume jewelery pieces can be expensive but they are not worth the investment if they look too old. Maintaining a piece of costume jewelry’s condition preserves the beauty and value that attracted you in the first place.
Wear the jewelry piece for a day so that you can get an idea of how comfortable it is and if it hangs right. It will also allow you to see if it can withstand every day wear and tear.
A brooch can add visual interest and an accent to an otherwise dull belt. To add a twist to tradition, place the brooch at your hip.
Determine whether or not your stone received a treatment, and what kind, prior to purchasing it. It is important to understand the varying treatment processes because each one requires a specific care regimen. Cleaning a treated gem using the wrong chemical might damage it.
Try searching for sales when purchasing jewelry. Finding a store offering extreme markdowns is a way to realize tremendous savings. Use the resources at your disposal like the Internet, newspapers, and even window shopping to find the best sales. You can occasionally get fading fashion styles for a fraction of their original prices.
Plastic Wrap
Be careful when untangling your delicate necklaces. Don’t give up on getting the knots out, instead get a sheet of plastic wrap. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and cover it with a little baby oil. You would then untangle the necklace using needles. When your necklaces are straight, use dish soap to wash the oil off and pat them dry.
Avoid both steam and dry saunas. The high levels of moisture and heat are very damaging to the jewelry.
Ensure that the clasps of your jewelry are sturdy and reliable. Weak clasps can cause the loss of expensive pendants, chains and stones. With a more expensive piece of jewelry, it is a good idea to insist on a safety clasp. It is common to have two or three clasps for expensive jewelry.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. The chlorine in pool water will corrode your jewelry and remove its shine. Over time, salt water is just as harmful to your jewelry. Lengthen the jewelry’s life, and ensure it keeps its beauty by removing any precious items before entering the pool.
Try using robe hooks for storing your necklaces in a tangle-free way. They can be hung anywhere, like a closet door, and give you the ability to organize your necklaces by size or color if you want. This keeps your necklaces from balling into a knotty cluster in the jewelry box, and it looks lovely, too.
If you plan to invest a great deal of money in a piece of jewelry, opt for a piece that will last many years. You usually get good quality when you buy something expensive, but think about styles too. Something that you think is trendy at this time may not look so great several years from now. A classic design will stand the test of time.
When you make jewelry to sell at flea markets, craft sales and holiday sales, you may be at a loss for ways to display it beautifully. The next time you go shopping for new materials, look for things you can use for display. You can make attractive jewelry displays out of virtually anything, baskets, racks, cigar boxes even a wig stand could make an offbeat place to show your wares.
It’s now common to see silver and yellow gold being worn together. If you wish to achieve this, you should get jewelery that has both metals combined into one. If you do not, the look will appear dated and sloppy.
Learning how to make informed decisions on the buying and selling of jewelry takes time and effort. Add these tips to your arsenal of knowledge to make more informed choices with your own jewelry.
