When you are buying or selling precious jewelry, doing your homework can have its benefits. Jewelry buying can be an overwhelming process for beginners.
Make sure you organize your jewelry properly. The right jewelry box that has separate compartments, hooks and holders to keep the pieces apart is the best choice. Avoid simply piling them on top of each other in a box. Not only can this harm the fine and fragile pieces, but things like necklaces can get severely tangled up with other necklaces or other jewelry.
Jewelry should be stored in an air-tight and humid free area. A drawstring bag or closed box offers the best protection from moisture in the air. 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.
Do some research on the best way to clean your particular piece of jewelry. Every metal, setting, and stone has different requirements when it comes to care. Cleaning and maintenance techniques that work perfectly on one stone might cause damage to another. For the best information on how to look after your jewelry, you should talk to a jeweler.
Costume Jewelry
Remember that even costume jewelry needs careful attention. Stones in costume jewelry are usually held in place with glue instead of a physical setting. You will need to avoid immersing your jewelry and make sure to stay away from the use of harsh chemicals. Use a damp cloth, then dry it with another clean, dry cloth. This helps keep costume jewelry looking sparkling clean and new.
Having an ornate piece at your waist will naturally draw eyes by adding interest. Think about placing it near your hip or at waist level.
Keep your jewelry unsoiled by only putting it on after all of your makeup has been applied. The dust, oils and particles from makeup rub off on jewelry; putting on jewels first means they will get dingy and dull with a film of makeup over them. This is particularly important in the case of necklaces and earrings.
Before you buy a gemstone, it is important that you learn about the treatment process it underwent. The type of care required will differ depending on the kind of treatment. You can easily damage your gem, stripping the former treatment off, by cleaning it with the wrong solution.
Shop the sales to get great jewelry on a budget. The right sale will save you a lot of cash. Use the resources at your disposal like the Internet, newspapers, and even window shopping to find the best sales. Sometimes, buying fashion styles that are on their way out can save you almost half of the original price.
Baby Oil
You can untangle delicate necklaces that have become knotted. If you are about to give up, get some baby oil and plastic wrap. After you place the necklace on top of the wrap, cover it in baby oil. Untangle it with the use of a needle. Then wash off the baby oil or mineral oil with dish soap, and then pat dry.
Have definite plans for the jewelry you purchase. You don’t need a box full of unused jewelry. Think about which outfits you will wear the jewelry with while you are shopping.
If you’re in the market for diamond jewelry, make sure to comparison shop. Every diamond is unique in both its beauty and imperfections. When you see the diamond in person, the flaws, of course, can become much less important. In addition, each jeweler evaluates the flaws as a basis for setting different prices. You can make the most of your investment if you take the time to comparison shop and hunt down the best diamond that falls within your price range.
Never swim with your jewelry on. Chlorine from a pool is a chemical and can tarnish and damage precious jewelry. Salt water is similarly abrasive to some jewelry. It is advisable to remove all jewelry prior to participating in any water sports to protect and extend the life of your jewelry.
One often overlooked stone in jewelry is Alexandrite. The stone’s color can change from shades of green to purple, depending on the light. You can find the stone featured in pendants, rings, earrings and a variety of other pieces.
Always be mindful of your budget when you are buying jewelry. A beautiful ring will soon lose its allure if you have placed yourself in a significant amount of debt just to acquire it. When just starting out, a young couple might be better served getting a cheaper ring. Then, later in life, when they are more financially secure, they can splurge on a fancy ring.
Use just a damp cloth to wipe off your jewelry, taking care to protect the setting. After a gentle cleaning, take out a soft cloth and dry the piece completely. Don’t ever use steam cleaners or any kind of harsh chemicals on costume or fashion jewelry.
Illusion Setting
Using an illusion setting may be an original choice, if you like the effect of a larger, more brilliant diamond. A mirror is placed beneath the diamond in an illusion setting. The diamond is mirrored as you wear it and made to look huge and super sparkly. There’s only one problem with this setting: it can be hard to fix if the piece becomes broken.
You should have a good idea about the costs associated with diamonds before you venture out to make a purchase. Finding the perfect diamond can be emotional and exhilarating. Do not get distracted and forget about your original budget.
So, as you have seen, it is true that buying or selling jewelry requires research, work and effort so that you can buy the pieces that you want, or sell the pieces you have, for profit. Add these tips to your arsenal of knowledge to make more informed choices with your own jewelry.