Regardless of how you obtained your new piece of jewelry, sometimes understanding all you need to know about it can be confusing. Without being given the necessary information, it can be hard to know where to start. Read on to discover a few handy tips that can make you a wiser owner, buyer and giver of jewelry.
Don’t use things that contain harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, acetone or turpentine, to clean your jewelry. Harsh chemicals can destroy the enamel, and ruin the stones in your jewelry.
Be cautious of storing all of your pieces of jewelry together. It is better to use boxes, compartments, holders, and hooks for keeping pieces separate. Resist the urge to jumble all your pieces together in one box or basket. Fragile jewelry could easily be damaged by doing this, not to mention the nuisance of having to untangle necklace chains that could get caught together.
Keep jewelry stored safely and away from both air and humidity. A jewelry box or drawstring bag out of a humid area is ideal. Both air and humidity can lead to tarnished metal. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.
Be sure to pay attention to details like type of metal and shape. This information will allow you to purchase that special piece that they will treasure for life.
Insurance Policies
Make sure you check into insurance policies when you make a jewelry purchase from a jeweler. If your jewelry becomes damaged, you can return it to the source and have it repaired. Some jewelers have insurance policies that cover lost of stolen jewelry, also.
Make careful note of the condition of costume jewelry you wish to collect. Costume jewelry, while expensive, can be a great investment. However, if a piece shows wear it will lose value. Pieces that are in great shape will fetch you better prices down the road, should you choose to sell them.
Consider the stones whenever you buy jewelry. Choose a stone that goes well with your skin tone or the kind of clothes you wear and reflects your personality. If your wardrobe is made up of a wide variety of colors, choose stones of a shade that will match whatever you choose to put on. Non-functional jewelry is just a waste of money as it will sit unused.
For a gift that is as unique as its recipient, look for handcrafted or customized pieces. This will express the time you spent to get their gift just right, just the kind of sentiment you want to show your special friends.
Know what you want to do with jewelry prior to purchasing it. You want to ensure that you purchase a piece of jewelry that you will actually wear. Take a look in your closet and consider what outfits your jewelry will accessorize.
Buying jewelry just because it is a name brand is not a good idea. Most people will not really know where you discovered the piece. Sellers try to get you to buy brand name jewelry just because it is more expensive. There are excellent quality jewelry pieces from various brands.
Think of expensive jewelery as an investment for the years to come. This goes not only for the quality of the piece but also the style of it. Trends in jewelry can be fleeting and result in unworn pieces later. A classic design will stand the test of time.
Gold Jewelry
The price of gold is a major limiting factor to being able to afford beautiful gold jewelry. If you decide you must have real gold jewelry, you may want to save money on the karats instead. Many people believe that 75 percent pure gold is the most ideal ratio of price and quality. This grade is commonly referred to as 18 karats.
If you own gold jewelry, you can earn money from the necklaces and bracelets without giving up your collection. Just cut off any excess. If you have enough of these pieces, you can clip off so little that people won’t even notice the difference. By pruning your gold pieces, you may be able to bring in a tidy sum.
Jewelry is a very large topic, and there are a lot of things to know about it. If you are diligent about doing your research, you’ll be able to make educated purchasing decisions and learn how to care for those purchases. When you first start out with jewelry, it is like a whole other world, and it is one flush with excitement and beauty. These tips should be a useful first step on your journey.