You need to have some knowledge of what to look for and expect from purchasing or selling jewelry. You need to know what resources are available to you and who can provide you answers as to what you need for your jewelry needs. The tips below can help you with how to start.
When choosing jewelry for an outfit, think about not only what color or colors your clothes are, but also what color your jewelry is. If you’re wearing a necklace on a silver chain, try to pair it with a silver ring or earrings with silver findings. Try to avoid mixing different colored metals unless you have a single piece, such as a watch, that combines both.
When getting body jewelry, find a licensed piercer who uses a needle. Even when piercing ears, it’s best to avoid piercing guns. Piercing guns are not as sterile, can lead to infection, and may damage skin and tissue. Avoid these risks, and look for a licensed piercing shop no matter what you’re getting pierced.
Make sure that you clean your jewelry on a regular basis. Although it may not seem important, when you don’t clean your jewelry, you are taking the risk of getting skin irritations. This is because dirty jewelry can hold bacteria and germs in it. Also, cleaning jewelery will make it look brand new, even if it’s old.
When choosing jewelry to wear to your wedding, decide first if you wish to buy it or rent it. Often the jewelry you wear as a bride isn’t necessarily something you’d wear again, so renting is an excellent choice and will get you a higher grade of item than you might be able to buy outright.
Clean your diamonds at home between jeweler cleanings. You can simply, and cheaply, keep your diamonds sparkling as bright as ever. All you need to do is get a small amount of toothpaste and put it on a dry cloth. Rub the stone completely. Rinse and enjoy the return of the sparkle.
Be highly aware when you go in a shop to buy new jewelry. The people running the shop have had years of training to guide you right into buying a diamond that has been getting dusty in their case. If you feel the least bit pressured, you should leave and try another shop, or come back later.
May’s birthstone is the intense green stone known as emerald. If you truly want to express your devotion to a certain special person, be prepared to pay dearly as this particular stone is very hard to come by. Fortunately, emeralds can be created in a lab and are a gorgeous and affordable alternative that would make an ideal pendant or right-hand ring.
You should learn how to use the jeweler’s magnifier (loupe) so that you can see the inside of the stone and check to see if there are damages or chips on the inside of it. If there are any chips or damages that will greatly reduce the value of the stone.
Make sure that the gold on the piece of jewelry you are buying is real. Many jewelers try to sell fake gold as real gold, and you do not want to pay good money for fake gold. To tell if it is real, use a magnet. Real gold does not stick to a magnet, so if it does stick, then it is fake.
Buying and selling jewelry wholesale is a great way to make a profit doing something you love. Before you begin to invest in bulk or wholesale rings, earrings, and necklaces, find out what business steps are needed to make your operation legitimate. In some states, this means applying for a vendor’s license.
Avoid storing multiple bracelets and/or multiple necklaces together, especially if they’re thin. They can easily tangle and outright tear while you’re trying to get them untangled. If you’re storing them in the same box, pick up some small bags to keep them in separately. A little time to separate could save you some big money.
If you don’t have jewelry cleaner handy, you can shine your gemstones and diamonds with toothpaste and a toothbrush! It does an excellent job of making precious stones sparkle safely and economically. Just coat the jewelry item with toothpaste and scrub gently with an old toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water and polish with a soft, dry cloth.
Store your earrings on a long piece of ribbon. Tie the ends of the ribbon to each end of your mirror and then tack the earrings to the ribbon, using the backs to keep them in place. This gives you easy access to your favorite pairs, and is also a decorative feature in your bedroom or bathroom.
Jadeite is a popular stone for jewelry because it is tough and durable and comes in a very wide range of colors, from the classical apple green to a pure white, deep yellow, fiery orange, deep purple, and everything in between. It is frequently carved into bracelets or very ornate pendants, or insets.
When shopping for pearls, know the difference in the types of pearl jewelry that is available. Natural pearls are ones that occur in nature, with no interference from human activity. These, however, are very rare and even more expensive, if they can be found. Cultured pearls are genuine, but have been carefully cultivated by pearl farmers. Fake pearls are really just plastic or some other composite that is basically worthless. Be sure that you buy from a reputable jeweler to avoid getting ripped off.
If you decide to use a toothbrush to clean your vintage or fine jewelry, take special care to use only a brush with the softest bristles available. You should also purchase a toothbrush that will be used only for jewelry. The peroxide and other cleaning ingredients in toothpaste residue can be damaging to delicate metals and stones.
As you have seen in the above tips, there is a lot of knowledge, you can acquire before purchasing or selling jewelry, and it is this knowledge that can help you with your future jewelry needs. Do everything you must to get the pieces you need or to sell more of your pieces.