Jewelry is not only beautiful but a wise investment. When buying jewelry there are many things you must consider to ensure you are getting the right piece, as well as the best quality and value. The following tips can help you to make wise choices when it comes to the purchase and care of jewelry.
Try making your own jewelry pieces. It just takes some tools and some materials to get started. More specifically, there are many kinds of materials you can use. You can use wire, string, beads, yarn, thread, glass, stone, metal, etc. The only limitation is your hands and your imagination, so have fun with it.
The best tool for any jewelry hunter, whether searching for personal treasure or for the profit in reclaiming gold or silver, is a jeweler’s loupe. Jeweler’s loupes are small, but powerful magnifying instruments designed specially for use in examining jewelry at very close range. Some jeweler’s loupes also have a built-in, battery-powered light which can be very handy if examining pieces in a dimly lit area. Most jeweler’s loupes are extremely economical in cost and can help you make the most of your jewelry-buying dollar, especially when buying from second-hand sources.
When buying or selling jewelry, consider looking into specialized pawn shops. These shops are going to have individuals who know what they are talking about. They will be able to appraise the approximate value of the jewelry much more accurately than a typical pawn shop, allowing you to have peace of mind with your sale or purchase.
To open a jump link when making chain jewelry, hold the jump link steady with pliers your left hand, and grip the opposite side of the opening with pliers in your right. Gently twist your hands towards each other. This twisting action helps the jump ring maintain its circular shape without distortion, which will occur if you try to push the sides together without twisting.
To keep your jewelry looking its best, make sure to remove it when handling harsh chemicals, such as when you clean your house, or when using beauty products. The chemicals in household cleaners and beauty products can be very hard on your jewelry, stripping them of their luster and leaving them dull and lifeless.
You can untangle delicate necklaces that have become knotted. Before giving up on a tangled knotted mass of precious metal, source some plastic wrap. Place the tangled pieces on this plastic with some mineral or baby oil. If the jewelry is tangled and knotted, try using needles to unknot the strands. Next, use dish soap to clean the piece. Finish by using a soft cloth to pat it dry.
Always take off all types of jewelry before you go to sleep. This will help you to avoid two major problems at the same time. The first is that it is easy to lose pieces in your sleep. The second problem is that sleeping on jewelry can add stress to it and greatly shorten the lifespan.
Always keep all of your jewelry organized in a way that makes sense to you. There are many great options for jewelry boxes and drawer organizers to help you keep your fine pieces in order. This way you know exactly where everything is when you need to wear your nicest pieces to impress!
In the end, a jewelry purchase is a matter of personal style combined with an adherence to sensible advice. You can put the facts in this article to good use and still find (and maintain) a piece that fits in with your taste. Hopefully whatever you buy will also turn out to be a good investment.