The idea behind jewelery is almost as wonderful as wearing it. Jewelry holds on to memories of important and happy occasions and pays respect to the owner and giver’s relationship. By knowing more about jewelry, and the buying and selling process in particular, you will find the purchase of each piece a rewarding and memorable experience.
You can keep the jewelry in your collection sparkling by using a special polishing cloth. You can keep your items shiny without using chemicals. Use this two-sided cloth on your jewelry as though you were cleaning glass. Use a two-sided cleaning cloth, one for polishing and one for shining.
Don’t use acetone, bleach, ammonia or turpentine to clean copper. This can cause your stones to turn and dull in color, along with eating away any enamel on the pieces.
Sterling Silver
If you are shopping unmarked sterling silver jewelry, then by all means bring a magnet. You can tell if a piece of silver is sterling or not by using a magnet. Sterling will not react to the magnet, but non-precious metals will be attracted. There should be a stamp hallmarked that says something like .925 sterling or ster, on sterling silver If there is no hallmark, the piece is probably not authentic and may, indeed, be counterfeit.
Your diamond shopping experience is missing something important if you are not comparison shopping. Look at the pieces up close before purchasing them, and be sure to compare them to others. Beware, there are many tricks to enhance the look of a sub-par diamond.
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? Just paying attention to what they wear now will make buying for them much easier than asking a salesperson.
You should ensure the quality of the pieces of costume jewelry that you purchase for your collection. Costume jewelry can prove to be a good investment, but also a costly one; keep in mind the pieces you wish to add to your collection don’t show too much wear. An item in good condition holds its value better in the long run.
Costume Jewelry
Special care is required for costume jewelry. Many of their settings are glued instead of set. Keep your costume jewelery away from water or chemicals. Simply wipe it with a damp warm cloth, followed by a soft, dry cloth. This will ensure that all of your costume jewelry looks like it did the day you bought it.
To keep your jewelry looking clean, only put it on after your make-up is applied and set. Jewelry will get grimy from the makeup as you apply it, attracting dirt that will make it look dull. Especially keep this tip in mind for necklaces or earrings.
Learn how to unravel a knotted necklace, even one with delicate loops. Don’t give up on that tangled mass of jewelry. Instead, get a piece of plastic wrap. Put the chain on the wrap, then pour on a bit of mineral oil or baby oil. Untangle it with some needles. Next, use dish soap to clean the piece. Finish by using a soft cloth to pat it dry.
This means steam saunas and dry saunas. The high temperatures and damp environment can corrode the surface of your jewelry and cause long-term damage to the piece.
You will want to avoid necklaces getting tangled, which can damage them. Try to find some attractive-looking hooks to hang them. Put these small hooks along a bedroom wall or even on a closet door to organize and hang your necklaces from. If done right, this will have a nice appearance and prevent the jewelry box tangles necklaces are prone to.
When buying jewelry, you should not buy something only because of the brand. Few people can identify jewelry brands on sight. A jeweler who convinces you that a brand is worth paying more for is probably just out to get as much of your money as possible. It is not difficult to find quality jewelry that is made by different brands.
If you want to make a few extra bucks without selling your jewelry, you can do this if you have bracelets or necklaces made of gold. Cut off a bit of excess chain to sell, while keeping enough to wear. If you can do this with several chains made of real gold, you might make a significant chunk of pocket change.
Onyx or crystal pieces can make their own statement. You don’t need to completely empty your wallet on a new jewelry piece to be pleased with the results.
If you’re going to wear gaudy jewelry, don’t wear a gaudy outfit to match. Wear something that will keep attention focused on your jewelry, such as a simple, solid-color outfit like the reliable “little black dress.”
Selling, owning or buying jewelry means you are investing in something that is nearly priceless, which in itself is the memory. Every piece of jewelry has the ability to carry huge amounts of emotion, whether it is memories of a good time or hope for the future.