Taking the next step into the wondrous and complex land of jewelry can sometimes be quite challenging. Choosing the right pieces, buying at the best prices, cleaning without ruining, or selling to make a profit, are all fraught with a certain difficulty. However, by keeping the helpful tips listed below in mind, you will soon find yourself acting like a pro in the field!
With gold prices at an all-time high, it’s a great time to invest in gold jewelry. You may have been tempted to sell your old gold or even buy some new gold as an investment. Be smart when dealing with private jewelry sales. Investing money into a cheap gold testing kit is a wise decision to save yourself from getting duped into unintentionally buying gold plated jewelry that is essentially worthless.
It is becoming more and more popular to purchase expensive jewelry online. Before you do, however, be sure to check out the business you’ll be purchasing with at the Better Business Bureau. When you’re making a big ticket purchase, such as an expensive piece of jewelry, you need to know that the company you’re purchasing from is reputable. You want to make sure that they will send you a quality product and back it up with customer service too.
If you are considering a titanium wedding band, remember that it cannot be re-sized and may be a bit more difficult to cut off in an emergency than rings made from precious metals. Titanium rings are less likely to bend or crush under pressure, however, so an accident that would heavily damage a gold or platinum ring may not harm a titanium one.
Don’t buy novelty jewelry unless you know for sure that the person you’re buying it for will like it. If your wife is a fan of Sleeping Beauty, then a dwarf pendant is an appropriate gift. Don’t just buy an item of jewelry because it’s cute, make sure it’s appropriate, too.
When buying vintage jewelry, become familiar with the different time periods associated with each piece. A Victorian era piece may interest you more than one of a different era, so knowing the differences will help you be able to quickly spot the pieces you are most interested in purchasing, rather than spending lots of time browsing.
If you choose to make and sell jewelry at craft bazaars or flea markets, take time to ensure that each piece has a clearly marked price tag that cannot be tampered with, yet can be removed without damaging the merchandise. Although nobody likes to think that theft can happen to them, it is best to protect your investment of time and money.
When you want to store your fine jewelry, you should follow the instructions that were provided with your specific piece, and follow them exactly. Generally, you do not want pieces touching each other to keep them from scratching. It is best to store your jewelry in the box or pouch it came in.
If your crystals have dirt in hard to reach places, you should soak your jewelry in warm water with mild detergent. Then you should use a toothbrush to carefully scrub your jewelry off. This process will safely get rid of dirt on the outside of your jewelry, without damaging your precious crystals.
Make sure that you understand the language and jargon the jewelers speak. When you go looking at jewelry they will throw out information about the grade of the stones. It is important that you know what they are talking about and it will save both you and the jeweler time if you understand at least a little bit about the language that they use.
Try to have the wedding band and engagement ring soldered at least a week before the wedding. This way your bride will not be stuck at the alter fussing around trying to fit the rings together. Getting this process done before the wedding will also make the pictures look great because you will have already had the rings polished as well.
When buying jewelry, look for stones that actually flatter your eyes of complexion. Avoid red stones if you have very pale skin, and avoid paler stones if you have dark skin. A stone with a color similar to your eyes will do wonders for you. Find something that you can easily wear with your outfits too.
If a piece of jewelry starts to darken or turn black, the problem may not be a matter of quality of the piece. This effect can actually be traced to a high acid content in the wearer’s skin. Often, but not always, a high acid content may also indicate a higher probability of an allergic reaction to metal alloys.
If you are wearing a large, ornate necklace, don’t add large ornate earrings. Instead, do without earrings or wear something simple that complements your necklace, face and clothing. Likewise, if your earrings are large, dangly and attention getting, wear a simple choker or chain or no necklace at all.
If you are purchasing jewelry for another person, spend some time observing them before you make your purchase. Figure out what kind of jewelry they usually wear and pay particular attention to its quality. If you are having difficulty figuring it out, ask one of their friends or family members. This will help you choose the perfect gift for your loved one.
One way to make your jewelry purchases more memorable is to spend the extra money for engraving. Put some thought into the phrase you want to have engraved. Make it something that will remind your jewelry’s intended owner of the relationship they share with you. An engraved piece of jewelry is always one that helps strengthen interpersonal bonds.
So, after reading and applying the helpful tips listed above, you should feel a bit more at ease in the wonderland that is jewelry. You should feel empowered and ready to act like a seasoned trader. What a wonderful hobby or business involvement with jewelry can be!
