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.
For example, you should never use bleach, turpentine, or ammonia on your jewelry. This could cause the stone to change color or become dull in appearance, and it may eat away at the enamel on the piece.
Ensure you are certain how to keep your jewelery in one place so it is not damaged. It is better to use boxes, compartments, holders, and hooks for keeping pieces separate. Do not ever just throw them in a pile. Heavy pieces should not be placed in the same compartment with fragile pieces.
Don’t keep your jewelry in open air or someplace with a lot of humidity. A jewelry box or drawstring bag out of a humid area is ideal. Air and humidity can cause the metals that the jewelry are made of to tarnish. While precious metals can be polished back to their original luster, non-precious metals are only coated in which case polishing causes the copper metal underneath to show through.
Sterling Silver
When shopping for genuine sterling silver jewelry, you need both a discerning eye and a small magnet. If an item of jewelry is attracted by a magnet, it is not sterling silver! Only non-precious metals can be drawn to a magnet. There should be a stamp hallmarked that says something like .925 sterling or ster, on sterling silver Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.
Find out more about the gems you look at. Ask about where they came from and to which category they belong. Gems can be natural, imitation or synthetic. Imitation gems are made out of glass or plastic; natural and synthetic gems both consist of real gemstone. The only difference between natural and imitation gemstones is where they are made. Natural occur naturally, while synthetic stones are grown in labs.
Take the time to notice what kind of jewelry they already wear. For example, if they wear earrings, are they hoop or studs? Do they prefer white or yellow metals? Paying attention to these aspects of their current wardrobe will help you make a purchase they are more likely to enjoy.
Check to see if your jeweler offers an insurance policy before purchasing an item. Then, if something actually happens to the jewelry, you can return it or have it repaired. In some instances, you can even insure your jewelry against loss or theft.
When you are buying new jewelery, think about the stones you want to get. Any stones that you choose should go with your skin tone and reflect your personality. Neutral colored stones go well with many different outfits. Do not buy something that looks nice on the shelf but that you will never use.
You need to know how to care for each piece in your jewelry collection. Each type of stone, metal, and setting requires different type of care. Processes that may work for one type of jewelry may be harmful to others. It’s best to speak with a jeweler before you attempt to care of an unfamiliar piece of jewelry.
Costume Jewelery
You will need to take special care when you are buying costume jewelery! Many embellishments on costume jewelry are only secured with glue rather than set into the piece. Don’t immerse costume jewelry in water, and never wash costume jewelery pieces with harsh chemicals. To care for it best, wipe your jewelry with a damp, warm cloth and dry it with a different cloth. This keeps dirt from building up and making your jewelry look dull.
When selling jewelry on the Internet, make the extra effort to present it in the best light possible. Your customer can’t actually see the jewelry, so they must make the decision solely based on your pictures. Don’t let the background overwhelm the picture.
The prices for diamonds vary greatly so shop around before making a purchase. Every diamond is unique, and there will always be tiny flaws. You may not care too much about some flaws if you realize they’re difficult to discern. Jewelers can price their diamonds differently according to the flaws in the diamonds. Comparison shop between various jewelers to locate the best diamond in the price range that you can afford.
When you are making a serious, high-dollar jewelry purchase, make sure that you can get years of use out of it. Quality of the design is not the only thing you should analyze when purchasing expensive items. You also need to determine if you are going still going to want to wear the item in the future. Even if everyone is wearing a piece at the moment, it might look outdated next year. Be on the lookout for something timeless and classic.
High gold prices are only one of the drawbacks of having your heart set on gold jewelry. You can have gold pieces at a lower price by buying gold that contains fewer karats. A piece of jewelry that is 75% gold is said to have 18 karats, which is high quality but still affordable; a good combination.
Onyx and crystal, for example, can be especially striking and make a strong impression. You don’t have to waste money to get great results.
Traditional simple clothing can be paired with colorful ornate jewelry to add some interest. Wear a solid color or the “little black dress” to highlight interesting pieces.
You’ll want to properly display your hand made jewelry when setting it up to sell. You may be able to purchase something where you buy your other materials. All kinds of racks, baskets, cigar-boxes and even oddball things like wig stands can be transformed into jewelry display cases with just a little creativity!
As you can see, it does indeed require some knowledge and effort for both the buying and selling of jewelry. If you use these suggestions you can be a winner!
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