If you want to buy or sell jewelry, then it is important that you have an understanding of what you are doing in order to be successful. Jewelry buying can be an overwhelming process for beginners.
Harsh Chemicals
Don’t use things that contain harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, acetone or turpentine, to clean your jewelry. Harsh chemicals will dull your stones and dissolve the enamel on your jewelry.
Jewelry should be stored in an air-tight and humid free area. For maximum protection you can choose to store them inside of a small drawstring or a closed jewelry box. Certain metals will be tarnished when exposed to humidity or air. Polishing will work to restore the color and shine for precious metals, but with non-precious metals, polishing will not help the change in color.
Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. Take the magnet with you to find fake pieces of jewelery, sterling silver will not stick to the magnet. Your sterling silver jewelery should always be imprinted if it is real. The stamp may read “.925” or “ster”. If there is no marking on the piece, it may not be sterling silver.
Before you make a final jewelry-buying decision, take a look at what’s new and trendy. Getting a great deal on beautiful bauble makes getting it even more enjoyable.
Ask about insurance from your jeweler before purchasing a new piece. That way, if something were to happen to your jewelry, you can easily bring it back to the jeweler who will fix or replace it. There are even some jewelers that will cover the replacement if the piece has been lost or stolen.
If you can prevent your jewelry from tarnishing, it will surely look much more attractive. When wearing your jewelry, you should avoid exposure to water. Water can dull and rust some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. A very light coating of clear nail varnish can be applied to some jewelry, and this will add an additional line of protection against the elements.
Costume Jewelry
Costume jewelry has different, specific care requirements. Many of the costume type settings are glued-in, rather than set-in. Costume jewelry should never be submerged in liquid, nor cleaned with chemicals. The best way to maintain your costume jewelry is to use a moist, warm cloth first, then dry it off with another cloth. This will keep any costume jewelry that you have looking great.
If you are getting jewelry for someone you consider to be one-of-a-kind, think about buying a piece that’s the same: unique and specially-crafted. Show your affection for the person by recognizing their unique qualities; put some thought into the purchase and be creative.
A brooch will add an interesting aspect to the belt. You can pin it centered at your waist or closer to your hip.
Before buying jewelry or a fine stone, find out if it was treated in any way. If it was, find out how. You will need to know what type of care it might require as a result of the treatment. If you use the wrong cleanser because you are uneducated about the gem, you could strip off the treatment and even damage the stone.
Plastic Wrap
Learn how to unravel a knotted necklace, even one with delicate loops. It’s easy to get frustrated when trying to get the knots out of a badly tangled necklace, but try using some plastic wrap before you call it quits. Put the tangled necklace onto the plastic wrap, then pour a little mineral oil or baby oil onto the piece. Use a sewing needle to untangle the necklace. Wash it gently with a bit of dish soap and then pat it dry.
Through work, effort, and research you can be a success at buying and selling jewelry. These suggestions will help you to make intelligent choices in the jewelry market.