Whether your purchase jewelry for friends, inherit valuable pieces or receive jewelry as a gift, it is important that you are aware of the best buying, selling and cleaning jewelry practices. You can make sure that the time and money you devote to your jewelry does not go to waste by reading this article’s tips.
Keep your whole jewelry collection sparkling with a polishing cloth. This is a natural way to shine all of your jewelry without relying on abrasives or other harsh chemicals. Just polish each piece with the special cloth in the same way you would polish a piece of glass. First use the polishing side, and finish with the other side to make it shine.
Precious Metals
Make sure to store your jewelry away from humidity and air. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. When non-precious and precious metals are expose to air and humidity, they tend to tarnish. Precious metals are able to be polished and retain their luster, but the non-precious metals have a coat, and polishing will cause the metal under it to show through.
A piece of jewelry should be long lasting. Whenever you buy jewelry, make sure you go to a reliable, experienced dealer, so you know you’re getting an outstanding piece of jewelry. Any piece that is high quality will have its craftsmanship and quality shining through. The jeweler must be able to provide a history of the piece. This will tell you who made the piece, and where the components came from. This way, you can ensure you are paying a fair price. A quality item of jewelry will last a lifetime or more, so take the time to do your research.
If you want to maintain the look of your jewelry, you should prevent it from becoming tarnished. Jewelry should not be worn near the water. Some metals will tarnish, dull or rust when exposed to water or perspiration. If you want to give your jewelry a measure of protection from this element, coat it thinly with clear nail polish.
When shopping for jewelry, think about the stones in the pieces. Think about your skin tone, and also think about your personality as you choose your favorite stones. If you choose a neutral color it will match anything you wear. There is no point in buying something that is not functional.
You need to take special care of costume jewelry. Many of their settings are glued instead of set. Do not dip your jewelery in chemicals that may harm them. It is best to have two cloths ready, one warm with water and one dry, to use to wipe your jewelry. You will be able to maintain its nice appearance with this method.
You should try to find out whether a gemstone was treated prior to purchasing it. If it was treated, you should discover the way it was treated. Different treatments come with different requirements for cleaning and storage. You can easily damage your gem, stripping the former treatment off, by cleaning it with the wrong solution.
Look for sales when you want to buy some new jewelry. If the deal is good, you may be able to save some serious money! Check ads in the newspaper, on the Internet, and in stores for the best deals. If you purchase something on clearance, you might save 50% or more off the original purchase price.
When photographing a jewelry piece to sell online, aim to present it attractively, in a well-lit, close-up and clear photograph. As the potential buyer cannot physically touch the piece, this is important so that the jewelry is presented in its best light. Be sure your photographs show good details of the jewelry and few, if any, details of the surroundings.
If jewelry is handled properly, it can be worth a great deal, both in monetary value and in the emotions that are tied up in it. If you take care of your jewelry, you can have it last longer. There’s always more to learn, and as long as you keep discovering about the delight of jewelry, there’ll be more to enjoy.