The history and uses of jewelry are as fascinating as the array of styles and materials used in the designs themselves. Jewelry often is given to commemorate momentous and milestone events in people’s lives and to celebrate loving relationships. 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.
If you are shopping for sterling silver jewelry, you’ll need a magnet and an eye for the real thing. As a precious metal, silver should never be attracted to a magnet. Also, look to make sure that silver is hallmarked and stamped with .925, sterling or ster. Silver jewelry that lacks a hallmark may be a fake or composed of other metals.
When you are shopping, think about the color or type of gem you want to buy. There are different types of gems, including imitation, natural and lab produced. While both natural and synthetic stones are still real, imitation is just glass or plastic made to look like the natural stone. Natural stones are found in mines, while synthetic stones are produced by machines.
What color gold do they seem to favor – white or yellow? Do they normally wear a bracelet? What type of earrings do they prefer – drop and dangle or studs? Take a mental note of this important information. Noticing these things lets you choose jewelry more suited to their tastes.
Know what is trendy before you buy a piece of jewelry. The only thing that beats getting a new piece of jewelry is getting it for a discounted price!
Prevent your jewelry from tarnishing so that it keeps looking great. Never wear your jewelry when you are going to be near water. Water can cause some metals to lose their luster or to become tarnished or rusty. Clear nail polish, applied in a thin coat, can give jewelry some added protection.
Wearing the jewelry yourself can help you decide if it will be appropriate for your intended recipient. In this way, you will be able to tell if the item will withstand normal wear.
Do some research on the best way to clean your particular piece of jewelry. Various settings, types of metals, and gemstones need different types of care to protect them and make sure they get cleaned properly. Cleaning and maintenance techniques that work perfectly on one stone might cause damage to another. If you are unfamiliar with the correct way to clean or maintain a piece, consult a jeweler.
Costume Jewelry
You need to take special care of costume jewelry. Many of the costume type settings are glued-in, rather than set-in. Don’t submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with harsh chemicals. Simply wipe it with a damp warm cloth, followed by a soft, dry cloth. This keeps dirt from building up and making your jewelry look dull.
Doing this will not only accentuate your waist, it will also act as the accent piece for your outfit. Pin it to the middle of the waist or close to your hip.
Get the tangles out of a delicate necklace that’s in a knot. It’s easy to give up on some knotted metal mass; however, you should instead use plastic wrap. Lay the necklace on the plastic wrap, and then cover it with a thin coat of mineral oil or baby oil. Use a straight pin to untangle the knot. Then wash off the baby oil or mineral oil with dish soap, and then pat dry.
Do not buy a piece of jewelery if you are not sure when you are going to wear it. What’s the fun in buying jewelry you never actually wear? Think of the outfits that you own, and use those to help you choose your jewelry.
When selling a piece of jewelry online, you should aim to present the piece in an attractive manner. This is very important to remember because the person that may purchase it cannot hold it before purchasing it. Photograph jewelry in a setting that concentrates the viewer’s attention solely on the jewelry; avoid distracting backgrounds.
Get some robe hooks to display your necklaces and keep them from getting tangled up. Attach the hooks in accessible areas of your bedroom or closet, and drape necklaces across them in compatible groups. This organizational tip can help you from getting a tangled mess of necklaces in your jewelry box.
Long chains can be shortened and the excess metal can be sold for a profit. By removing several inches of excess material, you will be able to sell a small amount of gold while still having enough of the piece to wear. With real gold and several chains, you could shorten the pieces to get hundreds of dollars.
Onyx and crystal jewelry looks beautiful and can make a statement. Be kinder to your wallet; you might find that the results are gorgeous.
A most commonly chosen stone used in jewelry is the ruby. The ruby is known for being red in color, but the shades of red it appears in are quite varied. They can be found from the deepest of maroons to a light rose pink and all the hues in between. In addition, they’re very durable and can resist various chemicals. Their beauty and strength make them some of the best choices for jewelry.
Proper care of your setting requires you to gently wipe the piece with a damp cloth. Follow this by drying it with a separate soft cloth. Don’t ever use a steam cleaner or any harsh chemicals on fashion and costume pieces.
Jewelery is a great way to surprise the woman you love. Every lady loves to get a piece of jewelery from the one they love. The joy for you will be in watching the amazement show on her face when you give her the box.
Buying, selling or owning jewelry, involves investing in something almost priceless, which is the memory itself. Whether your jewelry symbolizes happiness from the past or hopes for great times in the future, every piece of jewelry is linked to human emotion.
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