Selling or buying jewelry requires a massive amount of research and knowledge in order to obtain pieces that you want or need. This can make it hard to know where to start.
If you are shopping for sterling silver jewelry, you’ll need a magnet and an eye for the real thing. Precious metals, like sterling silver, will not be attracted to the magnet. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.
When shopping for a diamond, it’s crucial that you do comparisons. Look at what you like close up, and compare them to other pieces you have seen. Some diamond sellers use misleading practices to try to increase the apparent quality of their merchandise, so you should be wary of these tactics.
What color gold do they seem to favor – white or yellow? Do they normally wear a bracelet? What type of earrings do they prefer – drop and dangle or studs? Take a mental note of this important information. This information will allow you to purchase that special piece that they will treasure for life.
Before adding a piece of jewelry to your collection, research current trends. The only thing that beats getting a new piece of jewelry is getting it for a discounted price!
You want to ensure that your jewelry always looks its best so do everything you can to stop it from tarnishing. Don’t wear jewelry near water. Exposure can result in tarnishing, rusting or dulling of different metals. Painting a thin layer of clear-colored nail polish on your metal jewelry can add a protective barrier to it.
When you are buying new jewelery, think about the stones you want to get. Choose a stone that reflects both your personality, skin tone and lifestyle. Neutral colored jewelry is nearly always a good buy, because they blend in well with any outfit. A piece that is hard to wear is not as useful as one that goes with everything.
Costume Jewelry
Costume jewelry needs to be handled carefully. Many of their settings are glued instead of set. For this reason, costume jewelry should never touch water, and you should avoid using detergents on it. For best results, use a warmed, damp cloth to wipe your jewelry and then use another cloth to dry it. This helps keep costume jewelry looking sparkling clean and new.
Having an ornate piece at your waist will naturally draw eyes by adding interest. Try pinning it at the center of your waist or near your hip.
Before you buy any gemstone, determine what, if any, treatment it received. Care for your gemstone is different, depending on how it was previously treated. Treatments can interaction with certain types of cleansing solutions, so doing your research can spare you from a chemistry mishap.
Always look for discounts if you want jewelery. Finding a store offering extreme markdowns is a way to realize tremendous savings. Watch for sales in the newspaper, on the Internet, and even in the stores themselves. If you buy fashion items at the end of their season, you can save up to 50%.
Dry saunas and steam rooms can cause damage to jewelry. Many pieces can be seriously damaged by extreme temperatures and moisture levels.
When buying diamonds, remember to shop around. Every diamond is unique in both its beauty and imperfections. Once you see a diamond yourself, certain flaws will be less of a concern to you. And each jeweler will set price differently according to flaws. You should always shop around to find the best possible diamond for a price that you can afford.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. The chlorine in pool water will corrode your jewelry and remove its shine. Likewise, salt water can also damage your jewelry. Take off your jewelry before swimming to ensure that it lasts as long as possible before you have to replace it.
You will want to avoid necklaces getting tangled, which can damage them. Try to find some attractive-looking hooks to hang them. Organize these hooks in a row and use them to keep your necklaces free-hanging and untangled. You can group them by style, length or other criteria. This organizational tip can help you from getting a tangled mess of necklaces in your jewelry box.
If you are truly desirous of an elegant piece of jewelry, high gold prices may be a hindrance to you. If you insist upon a gold ring or necklace, you can still save some money by compromising on karats. The best combination of price and quality is an 18k piece made without less than 75% pure gold.
Onyx jewelry or crystal really stands out. You don’t have to waste money to get great results.
It may be tough to figure out how to best present jewelry that you are selling at informal events like craft fairs and flea markets. When you are out looking for materials to create your jewelry, remember to think about creative displays. There are many different things that you could use like a cigar-boxes, baskets, different racks or even a wig stand. With a little creativity, any thing can be turned into a jewelry display case.
As this article helped point out, to get the pieces of jewelry that are profitable and fit your needs, it can take research and patience in order to enjoy success. With these tips in place, you can start experiencing success.
